Chapter 429 The Banquet
Eleanor panicked. Seeing Carlos's darkening expression, she quickly said, "Carlos, it seems Winnie accidentally wore the same dress." Winnie scoffed coldly at Eleanor's crafty statement. Ishara cast a helpless glance at Angela before speaking, "Angela, I've already asked you not to spread baseless rumors... Winnie has explained that it was merely a coincidence. Furthermore, my dress is conservative, while hers is more revealing and flirtatious. They're completely different." Her words carried two hidden implications: first, to deflect blame onto Angela; second, to provoke a reaction. Winnie tugged at the corner of her mouth and chimed in, "Ishara is right. Since she is so slender, revealing dresses are harsh on her figure, so I can't compare to her." There was some laughter among the guests as one of them remarked, "Ishara is quite slim; she probably wouldn't be able to fill out a mermaid dress." Ishara clenched the handkerchief in her hand. That wench was insinuating she had a poor figure. Sean, Bryan's son, chimed in and commented as well, saying, "Looking at it, Ms. Winnie's dress isn't particularly vulgar; she actually looks very pretty in it. I was just thinking, she's good-looking, and in Trento City's debutante circle, she's a knockout." Sean was a well-known playboy and didn't have a good reputation in the Rodriguez family. Eleanor immediately curved her lips and glanced at a slightly somber Bob, hinting with a smile, "Winnie, look how popular you are with the young gentlemen around! Ishara just doesn't know how to dress up—plain-faced. If Mr. Lawrence likes her, it's really her good fortune."
She then turned to look at Bob and asked, "Mr. Bob Rodriguez, why hasn't Mr. Lawrence arrived yet?" With a turn of the conversation, everyone looked at Bob, their expressions showing awe. "Mrs. Blanchet, Lawrence had to return to Lymington for a moment. He'll be here shortly," Bob said with dignity. Having sized up the situation, he recognized who Winnie was and turned to Carlos. "Mr. Blanchet Sr., is this your illegitimate daughter?" He asked very directly, making Carlos slightly embarrassed. He corrected Bob with some courtesy and said, "Mr. Bob Rodriguez, she's my eldest daughter, Winnie Anderson. Winnie, come say hello to Bob Rodriguez." Winnie had seen Bob but hadn't interacted with him before. Sensing his cold tone, she still bowed politely and greeted, "Hello, Mr. Bob Rodriguez." Bob only remembered this girl as she had caused trouble for Lawrence before. He disliked her, especially seeing her in a bold red dress as it didn't seem like the attire of a well-behaved girl. Bob did not respond to her, instead turning to look at Ishara, saying, "This young lady has been raised well, knowledgeable and polite, low-key and gentle." "You flatter me, Mr. Bob Rodriguez!" Eleanor's heart leaped with joy. This was Bob Rodriguez's approval of Ishara, and moreover, his ignoring of Winnie's greeting was tantamount to a slap in the face! The onlookers also noticed Bob Rodriguez's apparent distaste for the newly returned Winnie. After all, being an illegitimate daughter, she wasn't deemed suitable for public attention, especially not in the eyes of the esteemed Rodriguez family. Carlos looked at his daughter with concern, comforting her, "Winnie, Bob Rodriguez might just not be familiar with you." "Dad, it's okay. I don't need to be liked by everyone," Winnie said indifferently, especially since it was Lawrence's father. Just then, someone at the door announced, "Mr. Lawrence is back!" A striking figure entered the room, clad in a serious and crisply tailored black suit. His long legs and handsome features were particularly eye-catching. The nobility of Camellia Mount had been discussing Lawrence, and at this moment, all the debutantes turned to look. Among them was also Winnie, who reflexively raised her cold gaze. Lawrence's lips were tightly pressed, his brow adorned with a weary coldness, catching a glimpse of Winnie in the crowd. He suddenly remembered Dr. Moore's admonition upon returning from Lymington. "Madam Rodriguez's condition is deteriorating rapidly. The stress she's under is preventing her from eating, and vomiting will worsen her anemia. She needs a blood transfusion at least a week in advance to stabilize her leukemia. Get that girl ready as soon as possible!" Lawrence's heart grew cold, and as he looked at Winnie, he clenched his fist. The man indifferently averted his gaze, searching for Ishara. "Lawrence!" Ishara, in a red dress, her pale face adorned with a smile, walked toward him. Angela glared at Winnie triumphantly, supporting Ishara as she went over, complaining, "Mr. Lawrence, you finally came. If you hadn't, your girlfriend would have been trampled on." Ishara quickly pinched Angela. "Angela, don't say those things..." Lawrence's gaze landed on the girl's face. "What's going on?" Winnie was wearing the same red dress, despite her explanation. However, Angela perceived it as a deliberate attempt to overshadow Ishara. Angela immediately recounted the earlier events, embellishing them. Lawrence's gaze, from a high vantage point through the crowd, glanced at Winnie, the woman in a one-shoulder mermaid red dress, her delicate face, smooth long hair slightly curled, a hint of brownish-red lips curved, like a vintage beauty. The dress was somewhat body-hugging, outlining her beautiful figure. Lawrence's Adam's apple moved, his gaze turning chilly. Winnie's eyes gleamed with mockery as she easily discerned Angela's intentions. She had no interest in playing along anymore. Carlos had been engaged in conversation with Bob Rodriguez, leaving Winnie to fend for herself amidst the other distinguished gentlemen. Not a single debutante approached her, but she didn't mind. She simply turned to grab a glass of water. "Child, feeling lonely?" Suddenly, an elderly voice came from behind. Winnie turned around to see an old lady, dressed unassumingly but with a distinguished air. She thought that it was just an elderly lady attending the banquet. Winnie responded politely with a smile, "Granny, are you alone too?" "The way I'm alone is entirely different from your situation. Earlier, there was talk about your scheming nature, but when I look at your outfit, it seems quite outdated, and you've only applied a touch of lipstick. Conversely, Mrs. Blanchet mentioned that her daughter lacks a sense of style. Those Chinese-style gowns are worth a fortune. Although that girl may appear plain, her makeup is flawlessly done, very meticulous." Finally, someone understood. Winnie laughed, saying, "You seem to have quite good vision despite your age." "I know a bit about fashion, after all these years," the old lady said kindly. Winnie was amused, her eyes gentle as she held the old lady's hand. "Granny, let me help you to a less crowded place." After taking a few steps, Winnie kindly returned the cane to her, not expecting the old lady to hold onto her hand, chuckling as she looked her over. "Everyone's praising your sister, but I think you're not bad." Winnie felt warmed by the stranger's kindness. "Thank you for comforting me. I also think you have a keen eye." The old lady laughed. "Go mingle, girl. Get to know some people, like Lawrence." Winnie paused briefly, a thought crossing her mind, 'Could this person be one of the Rodriguez family's grandmothers?' But she pursed her lips slightly, shaking her head. "I'm not interested in him." From a distance, Ishara noticed Winnie speaking with Bob's mother, Leah Rodriguez, and her hand clenched slightly...
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