Chapter 23 The banquet
She forgot to exit after typing and directly sent the photo. Winnie quickly enlarged the picture and realized how sheer her clothes were.
Olivia had chosen a dress with hollow patterns. The parts she couldn't cover were stuck there thus revealing her fair and supple side waist as delicate as the willow branches.
Winnie immediately wanted to retract the message but it was already too late. The man sent another message. "Ms. Winnie, is this an invitation or a show off?"
Winnie's face turned crimson. His deep and low rumbling voice played in Winnie’s head. Winnie could almost imagine how seductive it would sound if he said that sentence in full masculinity.
As she felt a flush creeping up her face, she quickly typed, "I sent it to the wrong person, Mr. L. It wasn't meant for you!"
"If you can't show it to me then who do you want to show it to?" The man coldly asked.
Trembling with her small hand, Winnie had no choice but to send him screenshots of Olivia's messages.
That annoying woman was still outside asking her to try on a parade of sheer clothes. "How about it, Winnie? I don't know which one your mysterious husband would like?"
Winnie replied, "Look, my best friend wants me to try them on!"
The man directly answered Olivia's question, "They are all good. Tell your friend that I'm looking forward to seeing Ms. Winnie wearing them."
This man's way of speaking was too artistic. When he played the devilish charm while maintaining a serious demeanor, no woman could help but be drawn to the intoxicating melody of his maturity.
Winnie's face turned red and she immediately changed the subject, "Mr. L, I used your card just now but I will return all the clothes. Thank you for not blocking the card."
The man, however, responded wisely, "Let's just say your fashion spree didn't go unnoticed."
Winnie was stunned at this man's sharp thoughts and frightening intellectual.
He lazily replied, "No refunds. It's just pocket money. You don't need to save."
Winnie felt that he must come from a wealthy background if he thinks that millions of dollars is just pocket money. She wanted to ask what kind of job he had.
He seemed to have something to do and he suddenly sent a message.
"I will be on a business trip tonight."
"Oh," was Winnie’s simple reply.
"Just like that?" Mr. L asked as though looking for something more.
Winnie thought for a moment and added, "Safe travels!"
He seemed to be amused and let out a chuckle. "Remember your duty, be obedient and take care of the baby!" he commanded dominantly with his thick brows furrowing.
His tone sounded like a warning yet she was not deterred by his words. He might have veiled them ambiguity for no reason. Winnie held her warm face and wondered to herself, 'Who gives you the right to tell me to be obedient?'
It's better not to be here. It's more convenient for her to do her own thing.
-
After the man left, Winnie didn't idle either. Every day, apart from going downstairs to have meals with Madam Rodriguez, she locked herself in her room to draw.
Suddenly, Sophia called and she answered with a cheerful laugh, "Winnie, what have you been busy with recently? Tomorrow, we're having a charity dinner at home and Mrs. Davis will announce Ava and Daniel's engagement. Your dad said as the eldest daughter of the Anderson family, you must attend. Ava also hopes to receive your blessing! Shall I send you the invitation?"
Listening to her hypocritical tone, Winnie couldn't help but admire her audacity. The woman had snatched Daniel from her, yet dared seek Winnie's approval.
As for Matthew forcing her to come back home, it's probably because there are too many influential people attending tomorrow and he's afraid of being accused of mistreating his eldest daughter.
Remembering the last time Matthew invited her out, she anticipated the outcome. Winnie's heart turned cold and she sneered.
"Why should I join in the fun? Wasn't the last incident enough? I'm not going."
But Sophia continued as though she hadn't heard her, still babbling on, "Winnie, there is no lingering grudge between a father and daughter. Be more understanding. Although you have willingly fallen from grace all this time, your dad and I have never given up on you. We just want you to meet more wealthy people..."
Winnie didn't want to listen anymore and was about to hang up when she received a message from Olivia.
"The oil painting your enemy loves will be auctioned at the Anderson family's charity event tomorrow night! Will you go?"
Winnie pursed her lips, and said "Alright, I'll go! I just hope you won't regret it."
Without giving the other person a chance to reply, she hung up the phone. This might be a feast of treachery, but she had to go in order to bid on the oil painting.
...
The next afternoon, Olivia came with a card. Winnie was currently penniless and needed her help to sell her painting.
"Olivia, I'm really troubling you today."
Olivia replied, "Forget the formalities! You could've gotten hurt last time, how can I stay away? Besides, rumor has it the CEO of Imperial Jewelry might be there, so I can't afford to miss it."
Winnie helplessly said, "Fangirl."
When they arrived at the entrance of the Anderson family, Olivia was stopped. But she gave Winnie a nod of agreement. Winnie knew she would find a way to sneak in.
She calmly entered the venue where the Anderson family's hall was filled with an air of grace and elegance.
Standing there coldly, she saw the silhouette of Daniel and Ava embracing on the second-floor wedding room doorway. Her fists clenched tightly. That was the wedding room she personally designed, now being occupied by someone else!
As her gaze wandered, she noticed the backyard swimming pool, the lakeside, the mountains. All of these were her grandfather’s assets, the original Anderson family only had a small piece of land.
Matthew was not cut out for business especially after the downfall of the Wens in the earlier years. It was Winnie who ventured into business and helped Matthew stabilize his position in recent years.
Yet, this is how they repay her, her mother, and her grandfather.
"Winnie, you're here!" Ava walked toward her, accompanied by debutantes.
It was already a small rumor that she would be marrying into the Davis family, one of the four major wealthy families. These debutantes knew that Ava was about to climb higher so they were all busy trying to please her.
Someone sneered at Winnie. "Ava, how dare she still show up?
"She has fallen from grace. Just look at her shabby appearance. I heard Lily say that Winnie Anderson now wears replica clothing of high-end brands?
"With her character, it's fortunate that Daniel saw through her promiscuity early on. Ava, you are the perfect woman for Daniel."
A cold smile flashed in Ava's eyes but she kindly advised, "Please don't say that. Winnie is already miserable enough. I invited her today because I hope everyone can accept her again and give her another chance."
"Ava is right."
Sophia led a group of noble women over, calmly holding Winnie's hand. "Winnie isn't a bad person at heart, she just played around a bit and did some things out of line. Let's all treat her kindly."
"But I can't allow my daughter to be friends with her, Mrs. Sophia. Please understand my situation."
Ava and Sophia looked at Winnie with pity in their eyes.
The whole room continued to relentlessly ridicule Winnie.
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