Chapter 231 Banquet
The banquet was at 7 PM.
After work, Anna didn't go home; she changed into her gown and did her makeup in the break room of Colin's office.
When it came to high society banquets, Anna was a natural, handling everything with ease.
After all, she used to attend banquets frequently. She was a qualified companion: obedient, sensible, and quiet. All she needed to do was stay by his side, which was Colin's requirement for her.
Anna pursed her lips. She knew very well that men brought women to banquets for vanity. Since she took Colin's money, she wouldn't let him lose face.
Anna's white gown made her look as pure as an innocent girl.
Colin was very pleased with his choice of gown.
As soon as Anna stepped into the banquet hall, she couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you say Bella would be here too? I'll go find Bella later, and you can do whatever you want."
Colin sighed helplessly, "You're my companion. If you don't stay by my side and wander around, what does that look like? Don't you feel guilty taking this money?"
Anna gave a professional fake smile, "Alright."
Anyway, Anna thought that after accompanying Colin, she could then enjoy herself with food and drinks.
The opulent and stylish banquet hall was filled with big shots from various companies, scantily clad ladies, and elegantly behaved gentlemen, all wearing the perfect mask of hypocrisy, playing their roles.
Anna's role tonight was to be the perfect companion.
Despite what Colin said, he walked away as soon as he reached the center of the banquet hall.
Anna didn't feel bored. Since Bella hadn't arrived yet, she could only eat by the dessert table.
"Anna, what are you doing here?"
A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind Anna, making her stiffen.
She composed herself and turned around, "What? Do you think that just because the Powell family went bankrupt, I shouldn't be at such a banquet? That I shouldn't be wearing a gown here but a T-shirt eating street food?"
Caleb didn't expect Anna to still be so hostile towards him. He said, "Anna, you know I never thought that way, and I didn't mean it."
Caleb took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter's tray, handed one to her, and said, "Anna, I told you before, everything I said was true. There's no need for us to be so hostile. It's not like we can avoid each other forever, right?"
Anna's grip on the champagne tightened, feeling a bit bitter, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.
She only said, "Caleb, you have your path to follow, and I have mine. I think it's better if we don't interact. Look at you now, doing well, dressed in designer clothes, looking like a gentleman. You freely move in high society, and there's nothing wrong with that."
"I've come to understand that there's nothing wrong with a man climbing up the social ladder, so I understand you. But we are no longer in the same world."
Caleb didn't mind her words and just smiled, "I never, and have never, used you as a tool to climb up. You are the only person I have truly loved."
Hearing Caleb's words, Anna felt uncomfortable and turned her head away.
They might have truly loved each other once, but how could she find that true love again now?
Caleb's every move and expression used to make her heart race, and now Caleb was even more charming than before.
Dressed in a suit, he was the epitome of a mature gentleman, stirring ripples in her heart.
Hearing his words, Anna felt deeply moved. They might have loved each other, but that was in the past.
Anna said, "Do as you please, I have things to do."
Anna placed the champagne on the dessert table and turned to walk towards Colin.
She had only walked halfway when a middle-aged man suddenly blocked her path.
"Miss Powell? I didn't expect to see you here. What a coincidence."
Anna looked at his lecherous eyes with some malice. Did this man know her?
"And you are?" Anna took a step back to keep her distance from the man.
The middle-aged man smiled, his face full of wrinkles, "I'm Lorenzo Ross. You forgot that I'm a good friend of your father's?"
Anna looked at Lorenzo, trying hard to remember, and finally recalled him from distant memories.
A stingy and miserly man!
When the Powell family had their downfall, she sought help from everyone, but no one was willing to help her.
The only one who was willing was Lorenzo, but his condition was that she sleep with him.
Anna was desperate at the time and almost agreed. Lorenzo was old enough to be her father, and she found him repulsive.
Seeing him now, Anna felt even more disgusted, "Mr. Ross, right? Sorry, I have something to do and no time to reminisce."
Anna turned to leave, but Lorenzo stepped forward to block her again, "Anna, don't you want to know the truth about what happened back then?"
Anna looked at him coldly, "What do you mean? What truth?"
Lorenzo smiled lecherously, looking at Anna, "Of course, the truth about the Powell family's bankruptcy."
Anna immediately looked at him warily, "Are you saying there's more to the Powell family's bankruptcy?"
"Of course. If you want to know, you can come find me tonight." Lorenzo slipped a room key card into Anna's hand, then winked at her and walked away.
Anna felt a wave of nausea. She walked to the entrance of the banquet hall and threw the key card into the trash without hesitation.
Did Lorenzo still think he could deceive her? Did he think she was still the naive and gullible Anna from before?
Having experienced the downfall of her family, she wouldn't easily believe the words of a lecherous middle-aged man like Lorenzo.
Not long after, Anna saw Bella arrive. She immediately went to Bella's side, looking her up and down several times.
Bella laughed, "What are you doing?"
Anna said, "You said those old folks from the Windsor family went to The Windsor Villa to give you trouble. I was scared to death. Are you okay?"
Anna had gone to The Windsor Villa the next day, but Sterling had the place surrounded by bodyguards so tightly that not even a fly could get in, so she naturally couldn't get in either.
Bella smiled, "I'm fine. See, I'm perfectly okay."
Anna thought about it and nodded. With Sterling around, Bella wouldn't be in any danger, but Bella must have been frightened.
Anna had begged Colin to take her to The Windsor Villa, but Sterling had refused, saying Bella was recovering from the shock. She had no choice but to give up.
"Aren't you still recovering? Sterling actually brought you out?" Anna asked.
"He didn't want to bring me out at first. I begged him to take me out for some fresh air. I was going crazy being cooped up at home. Zoey was watching me closely, and I couldn't even get out for a breath of fresh air. I knew he had a banquet tonight, so I asked him to bring me along," Bella explained with a smile.
Bella also wanted to see what Sterling was up to tonight.
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