CHAPTER 73: CHAPTER 73: A PARTY HELD ESPECIALLY FOR CINDY LYNN

Tanya Sinclair drove to the address Vincent Hawthorne sent.

The Dissonance.

The entrance looked rather unremarkable, just two carved wooden doors, but Tanya knew better—it was merely an appearance.

This place was on Central Street, a prime location in Aris, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. The Dissonance occupied half the street with its red walls and black tiles blocking off entry, a threshold ordinary people could never cross in their lifetime.

Parked by the roadside near the entrance were expensive cars, especially sports cars.

Tanya parked her car near the street entrance, anxious that Joy might catch a cold, and walked quickly.

Her hair was tousled, her body covered with a thin layer of sweat, and the large bag slung over her shoulder made her look a bit disheveled.

But she didn’t care about any of that and reached out to push the door.

At that moment, a stretch limousine pulled up behind her.

Tanya instinctively glanced back, her eyes cold.

The woman stepping gracefully out of the car was Cindy Lynn.

She was dressed like she was attending a red carpet event.

A champagne-colored strappy gown, holding a delicate silver clutch, her hair elegantly twisted in a playful rose twist at the back, with stray locks deliberately styled to enhance her gentle beauty.

Cindy also saw Tanya and was somewhat surprised.

"Ms. Tanya?"

Tanya couldn’t be bothered with her, pulled open the door, and walked in quickly, but Cindy pursued relentlessly.

"It really is you, Ms. Tanya, but why are you dressed like that here?"

She always carried this air of concern and kindness, making her nauseatingly innocent.

Tanya found her irritating to look at.

"What I wear has nothing to do with you. Get out of the way."

"Cindy, who are you talking to?" Rhys Lucas’s voice sounded behind Cindy.

With one hand in his trouser pocket, he strode over and saw Tanya standing in front of Cindy.

Rhys looked Tanya up and down, a look she was all too familiar with.

When she met Rhys for the first time at university, as Vincent’s girlfriend, he had scrutinized her with that same enigmatic gaze.

It was a look that exuded innate arrogance and disdain, impossible to conceal even with the finest upbringing.

"Did Vincent ask you to come without telling you what kind of occasion tonight is?" he asked with cold derision.

Tanya just found it amusing.

Did he think she was eager to be here?

"I came to bring Joy clean clothes and shoes."

"Really?" Rhys sneered.

He clearly didn’t believe her and assumed it was just an excuse to see Vincent.

"Let’s go." He turned to Cindy, bent his arm, and smiled courteously, "Princess, everyone’s waiting for you. You’re the only star of tonight."

Cindy pursed her lips in a smile, "Senior Brother Lucas, don’t tease me like that."

She took Rhys’s arm and glanced back at Tanya with a sense of pity. The two walked side by side to the main hall.

There was only one path, so Tanya could only follow behind them.

At the end of the corridor, a large intricately carved door stood open, leading to the hall starkly different from the entrance—luxurious and opulent.

The nearly black ground exuded phosphorescent glow, circular seating surrounded a few crystal square tables, all of which could rotate 360 degrees. The place was already lively, and amongst them were faces familiar to Tanya.

The people here tonight were almost all friends from Vincent’s circle, possessing either wealth or power or both.

"Whoa, the lead actress is here!" someone shouted, and a spotlight focused on Cindy.

Apparently, tonight’s occasion was specially arranged for Cindy.

So, this was the so-called surprise Vincent mentioned?

Not for her, but for Cindy?

Tanya couldn’t help but coldly laugh inside, staying a few steps behind Cindy, perfectly hidden in the shadow under the lights unnoticed.

She hurriedly walked in from the side, looking around for Joy’s figure.

"Let me introduce to everyone—Junior Sister Cindy! Our Crestwood’s campus goddess, a balance of beauty and wisdom!" Cody Crawford, always the lively one, shouted into the microphone, "And the winner of this year’s International Designer Competition first prize!"

Everyone seemed alright with the previous information, as Cindy was beautiful enough, but in their circles, the least lacking were beautiful people. However, the weight of the International Designer Competition’s first prize was significant.

The five-yearly International Designer Competition meant those designers nominated for the finals could see their worth multiply by dozens of times, enough to boast for years.

And Cindy had won a prize in her youth that many seasoned designers couldn’t acquire in their lifetimes!

Applause erupted at once.

Cindy just smiled gently and lightly in the spotlight, as if she truly descended gracefully like a goddess.

"Who’s that woman?" a young gentleman asked Cody Crawford next to him with interest, "Who invited her? Playing the role of a maid?"

Cody looked in the direction he was pointing and saw Tanya.

She was still wearing her professional attire from that day at work, her long hair a bit messy, but her figure and aura still stood out. In a setting where everyone was meticulously dressed and draped in designer brands, Tanya’s simplicity made her even more distinct.

Still, why was she here?

Cody felt a bit perplexed.

...

After searching around, Tanya finally saw Joy’s tiny figure, sitting on a small sofa surrounded by two big teddy bears.

Joy had taken off her shoes and socks, a warming blanket covering her, her little arms raised high holding a tablet, video chatting with a few classmates, showing them Cindy, her mom for the night.

"See, I wasn’t bragging, right? My Cindy mom, isn’t she especially beautiful? She’s amazing and even won the first prize at the International Designer Competition!" Joy’s small face was full of pride, boasting gleefully.

The kids she was video chatting with were all envious.

"Joy, your mom is too amazing."

"And she’s so beautiful, like a fairy!"

Joy beamed with happiness upon hearing the compliments, more pleased than if she herself had been praised.

"But Joy, is she your real mom? Why do you call her Cindy mom and not just mom?"

"Yes, yes, we all call our moms, mom directly."

Joy bashfully countered, "She is my real mom!"

A kid doubted, "But you guys don’t look alike."

Joy pouted unhappily.

Indeed, she and Cindy mom didn’t resemble each other much...

She didn’t want to show them anymore and was about to put the tablet down when Tanya’s figure came into view.

"Joy, mom’s brought clothes for you."

The kids she was video chatting with also saw Tanya and heard what she said.

"Joy Hawthorne, so she’s your mom!" They all snickered.

"No, she isn’t!"

Joy angrily exited the video chat immediately and threw the tablet aside.

"Why are you here!" Joy looked at Tanya with a face full of displeasure.