Chapter 303 Who Brought You Here?
Katherine glanced away and turned her attention to the banquet hall's entrance.
Bernard, in a light-colored suit, strolled in like he owned the place, soaking up the spotlight.
Guests swarmed around him, eager to toast and greet, making him the center of attention.
Earlier, when Alex arrived, he got the same treatment. But his cold demeanor quickly made people back off, realizing he wasn't up for small talk.
Bernard, on the other hand, handled the flattery like a pro—smiling, nodding, and toasting back.
As Katherine watched, Bernard noticed her too. His gaze lingered for a moment, recognizing she didn't belong there, before he went back to chatting and clinking glasses with an older gentleman.
Katherine shrugged and shifted her gaze, scanning the entire banquet hall.
Most of the guests were middle-aged or older, with only a few young faces scattered around.
This birthday bash was clearly aimed at an older crowd, not the kind of party young folks would enjoy.
No dance floor, no fancy symphony orchestra—just a stage where high-priced opera singers from Janetrick performed for Macus.
Macus was a big opera fan. Katherine had done her homework, so she wasn't surprised by the banquet's vibe.
But really, how many young people today can sit through an opera?
Most of them came to drop off gifts, stayed politely for a bit, and then found an excuse to leave.
For them, sitting with the elders to watch opera was pure torture!
Katherine, though, loved opera. Growing up in the countryside, she remembered an old man in the village who adored opera. He'd haul a bulky record player to the village entrance and sing along to the tunes.
With no TV and few playmates, Katherine soon exhausted the books in the village library. To kill time, she'd hang out with the old man and his opera, eventually developing a fondness for it.
So, staying at this banquet to listen to opera wasn't torture for her; she actually enjoyed it.
Plus, the Ayers family mansion felt oddly comforting and familiar to her.
She thought, maybe her mom had brought her here when she was little? Her mom's home was always beautiful and warm, though she couldn't remember the details, just the feeling.
Thinking of this, Katherine looked over at Macus again. He was chatting with some older folks, discussing the opera scenes on stage.
Macus seemed healthy and upbeat, yet a touch of sadness crept into his demeanor whenever he spoke of his missing daughter and granddaughter.
Katherine felt a pang of bitterness. Her mom must've been the darling of this family, but marrying the wrong man ruined her life.
Bernard's voice interrupted her thoughts. "What are you doing here?"
Startled, Katherine quickly composed herself and turned to face her boss. "Mr. Mitchell, I'm here to celebrate your grandfather's birthday."
Bernard's frown deepened. "Who brought you in?"
"It's Scarlett." Katherine lied smoothly. She had promised Sunny not to reveal that he had brought her in. If she said she snuck in, she'd be kicked out for sure. Mentioning Scarlett was her safest bet.
Bernard's frown didn't disappear, but he wouldn't blame Scarlett. For his sister's sake, he didn't call for security.
Just then, Billy rushed in, looking flustered. "Sir, there's an urgent call for you."
Bernard shot Katherine a cold, impatient look before taking Billy's phone. "What is it? Found it? Where?"
He barked a few more words into the phone and then walked off to a quieter spot to continue the call. He didn't come back.
Katherine listened to the opera for a while, then decided to explore the mansion in hopes of uncovering clues about her mom's disappearance.
As she wandered, she stumbled upon a large family portrait. The painting featured dozens of people. She recognized Macus, the elderly Mrs. Murong, her mom, the old Mr. Mitchell, a young Bernard, and herself as a baby in her mom's arms.
The brushstrokes were unmistakable—it was her mom's work. She must've painted it when Katherine was just born, back when she had a home and a mom by her side.
But life took a cruel turn. Something happened that she couldn't understand, and her mom was wronged by the Mitchell family and driven out. Her mom took her and fled. They got separated, and Katherine never saw her again.
One thing puzzled Katherine: why didn't her mom return to her own family when she was wronged? Why did she entrust her young daughter to an old classmate instead?
There were too many unanswered questions, and no matter how she thought about it, it didn't add up.
Suddenly, Katherine sensed something off. She turned sharply and saw a figure trying to sneak away.
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