Chapter 124
Andrea’s demeanor had shifted from her usual sweet compliance to a touch of defiance. A challenging glint played in her eyes as she gave Genevieve the once–over.
Genevieve glanced at her and, without a word, attempted to walk past. But Andrea stepped forward to block her path, a cold edge to her brows. “Ms. Lawrence, you are not welcome here. Make yourself scarce before anyone notices.”
Genevieve let out a light chuckle, her eyes leisurely sweeping over Andrea, her voice loaded with implication. “I wasn’t invited by you, and you certainly don’t have the right to send me away.”
The lights poured down upon them, casting a glow on Genevieve’s radiant skin. She was breathtakingly elegant, a beauty that couldn’t be concealed.
Andrea’s smile faded as she leaned in and whispered, “Genevieve, whatever you did to my family, I’ll make sure you taste the same.”
“We’ll see about that.” Genevieve smiled dismissively, considering Andrea beneath her notice. Spoiled heiresses with more ego than ability were a dime a dozen in these circles.
True socialites who stood their ground had more than just their family’s backing; they needed their own cunning and skills.
Just as she was lifting her dress to step down, she saw a dashing man in a suit approach her. “Ms. Lawrence, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Johnson Lewis from TuringTech Innovations.
Genevieve was momentarily startled, then beamed. Mr. Lewis, nice to meet you!”
Genevieve had been looking for him for so long, and he finally showed up. However, considering Johnson was often spotted at gay bars, she guessed his preferences might not align with hers, but she always had a soft spot for LGBTs.
Johnson was nothing if not courteous, his gaze was gentle, not making Genevieve feel the least bit
uneasy.
But when it came to the topic of the acquisition, Johnson’s response was a bit hard to read.
They were in a crowded area, not exactly ideal for business discussions. People constantly came over to greet them, disrupting their flow.
They hadn’t gotten far
Genevieve looked to “their conversation when a small commotion started in the crowd.
Genevieve looked to see what it was: it was a staff member wheeling in an ornate multi–tiered cake with “A Lifetime of Happiness” written on it.
She paused and thought, ‘Is the engagement mentioned by Andrea true?”
Quincey and Presley were front and center, with Andrea in a striking red dress standing by their side, the blush on her face saying it all.
And Anthony came over at the urging of Presley. There was a hint of irritation on Anthony’s face as he scanned the crowd, not spotting the person he was looking for. Quincey pushed him to Andrea’s
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Chapter 124
side and stood in front of the cake.
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Andrea’s hands trembled slightly as she picked up the cake knife, glancing towards Anthony who was furrowing his brows. But then he took hold of the knife’s handle and made the first cut. The guests immediately erupted into applause.
Genevieve’s gaze shifted. away, lost in thought. Johnson caught her eye and said with a grin, ‘I heard today’s cruise party was thrown by Mr. Hoffman himself, for a special woman. Could it be the lady he’s rumored to be engaged to?”
Genevieve smiled and said, ‘I don’t know. Maybe.”
Johnson gave her a knowing look. “I can see that after your divorce, you’ve thrown yourself into your work. It’s quite admirable.”
Genevieve smiled and said frankly, “I just find careers way more interesting than men. The effort you put into your work pays off, but throw your feelings into a man, and it’s like tossing a pork bun to a dog–it never comes back.”
Their conversation was still in full swing when Anthony finally spotted her. He looked frosty as he saw her enjoying a lively chat with Johnson and approached with evident dissatisfaction. “Why are you here?”
Genevieve paused, her smile receding slightly. “I don’t believe I need to check in with you about. where I am?”
The last thing she wanted was a public spat with him–talk about a humiliating spectacle!
Anthony completely ignored the sharp edge in her voice and suggested, “The auction upstairs is about to start; want to check it out?”
Genevieve frowned, not really willing to go up, but Johnson had already stood up, smiling: “Actually, I just spotted some acquaintances, I’ll say hello, Ms. Lawrence. And we can catch up later!”
With a gentle nod that left no room for objection, Johnson excused himself. Without the desire to sit with Anthony, Genevieve decided to head to the second floor.
Upstairs was just as opulent and dazzling but with noticeably fewer people. The auction items were extremely pricey, hence only those truly interested in the bidding had ventured up.
Genevieve’s gaze scanned the antiques and jewels encased in glass. The centerpiece, a deep blue gemstone named “Siren’s Tear,” was undoubtedly the showstopper of the night. But conspicuously, its starting bid was not listed, indicating tonight’s top bid might just be for the “Siren’s Tear.”
Her eyebrows raised in curiosity. Anthony came up behind her and said, “Do you like it? I could buy it for you.”
“No need,” Genevieve pursed her lips. “I can afford it myself.” Not that she wanted it, anyway.
At that moment, Andrea appeared, swarmed by a crowd. As the day’s rumored fiancée, her every move was the center of attention. Standing there with the Hoffman family, cutting the cake, it sure looked like she was about to become part of the family for real. The engagement rumors seemed
Chapter 124
more like a sure bet now.
Andrea came over with a smile. “Ms. Lawrence, don’t be shy. Let Anthony here buy you whatever you fancy.”
Her gracious offer made her seem all magnanimous, like she was already the lady of the house.
Anthony nodded in agreement his gaze fixed on Genevieve.
But Genevieve truly didn’t want to get caught in the middle of these two–it felt like accidentally stepping in dog poop while walking down the street, utterly revolting.
She forced a smile. “I’d feel guilty accepting gifts from others. I prefer buying things for myself.”
Andrea couldn’t help but laugh. “Ms. Lawrence, as the head of an entertainment company, you’re the epitome of a strong independent woman. My family’s always telling me to take a page out of your book!”
Her words were laced with an overt compliment but bore a subtle sting of satire and challenge. The crowd could definitely pick up on the underlying tension but silently revelled in the sharp exchange between the two women.
Genevieve maintained her calm demeanor, smiling naturally. “No need to take cues from me, we all have our strengths. After all, Andrea, your achievements in piano are unrivaled, aren’t they? You must have won tons of those international competitions, right? Like the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Queen Elizabeth, or the Van Cliburn piano contests. So many accolades, you must’ve lost count!” Genevieve’s innocently curious gaze fell on Andrea and she looked humble.
Andrea’s face stiffened, her color draining from her lips. She had been playing piano for years. receiving accolades that were, well, easy to exchange with money. Genevieve had listed some of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions–contests Andrea had never even been a contender for…
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