Chapter 77 Beauty is just a facade
Outside the East Wing, she stopped her brother, irritated. “What's gotten into you, Steve? You've been out of sorts ever since you saw that girl. She's just the Lutzes' protégée, why all the fuss? Don't tell me you're interested in her?”
Steve Laser didn't answer right away. He looked back at the East Wing entrance with a heavy, thoughtful expression.
The name “Katherine Lutz” didn't seem to fit the image of the person he believed he had recognized. Pietra Laser felt a pang of envy. Before returning, she had heard rumors that the girl in the Arbex's custody was extraordinarily beautiful.
Initially skeptical, upon seeing Katherine up close, she had to admit: the girl's beauty was on a higher level, something out of the ordinary.
But Pietra quickly recovered. Beauty is just a facade, she thought. “You men are vain creatures,” she commented dismissively.
“What good is being pretty? I hear this girl has a terrible history. Neither Dad nor Mom would allow you to get involved with someone so superficial.” Steve Laser stopped abruptly. His previously relaxed expression became stern and somber. “I don't want to hear you belittle her again. And, Pietra, listen carefully: don't provoke her.”
If you do anything stupid against her, I won't protect you from the consequences.
He walked away quickly, his face heavy, as if he were processing dangerous information. Pietra stood still, speechless. He's known her for five minutes and he's already turning his back on his own sister? she thought indignantly, before returning to the hall.
In the large banquet hall, luxury was absolute. Daniel Lutz circulated with Rosana and Nísia, being the center of attention. As the sole heir to a vast fortune, many CEOs sought his alliance.
“Mr. Lutz! This must be Miss Nísia,” said Mr. Becker, an influential businessman, with a friendly smile. “As elegant as the rumors say. I envy you for having such an exemplary daughter with excellent grades.”
Daniel Lutz flashed a satisfied, yet rehearsed smile. “Mr. Becker, you are very kind,” replied Rosana with a giggle. “If you continue to praise her like this, she will end up becoming conceited.”
“Come now, she has the talent to fly high!” insisted Becker. “I hear that Miss Nísia has already won important awards in the fragrance industry. She is a young woman of respect.”
Nísia maintained her impeccable posture, reveling in the torrent of compliments. The glory she had worked so hard for was there, tangible. However, a trace of regret passed through her eyes: Katherine was not there to witness her social superiority.
“You are very generous,” said Nísia, in a sweet voice. “But, in fact, the one who really impresses in our family is not me, but my sister, Katherine.”
Mr. Becker frowned, confused. “Mr. Lutz, do you have another daughter?”
Daniel's expression hardened for a millisecond. “She is...” He hesitated, searching for a word that sounded diplomatic but derogatory. “...let's say, quite ‘lively.’”
“Children are like that, it's in their nature,” laughed the businessman.
Nísia took advantage of the opening to drive in the dagger: “My sister is incredible. Although she only scored 450 points on her last test, she has flashes of brilliance. She's the kind of person who only stands out when she wants to.
The number ”450" echoed awkwardly. For that elite group, where any score below 650 was a sign of mediocrity, the number sounded like a testament to incompetence. Mr. Becker suddenly felt awkward. Daniel, realizing the negative impact, just nodded with a proud look and walked away with his family.
As soon as the group moved away, another guest approached Becker. “Mr. Becker, did you know that Nísia is only his stepdaughter? His biological daughter is the one who scored 450 points.”
Becker nodded, whispering mysteriously: “I know. But from the way Lutz talks about her, I always thought that his real daughter was some kind of shameful secret or... an illegitimate child.”
“No, she's the daughter of his late wife's sister, the stepdaughter!” corrected the lady, gesturing with her glass. “The biological daughter is someone else, a girl who, according to what they say, has low grades and no talent. That's why he hides her; she's a burden.”
Other guests approached, fueling the gossip.
“Is it Katherine? My son studies with her. They say she's no good at school, but she's a master at bending the rules. She managed to get into the elite class through some kind of obscure ‘exception.’” “I heard she's fierce,” added another woman. “She had barely arrived when she attacked the best student in the class. She's a savage.”Mr. Becker raised his eyebrows, absorbing the image of a useless and violent young woman. “That bad, huh... A daughter-in-law like that would be bad luck for any family.”While her reputation was being torn to shreds in the hall, Katherine slowly rose from the rocking chair on the patio. The twilight enveloped her like ethereal gauze, highlighting her delicate silhouette. João Pedro watched her, feeling a belated regret. The outfit he had designed—though elegant with its tailored pants—had a top that revealed Katherine's shoulders and the curve of her neck. Her skin, pale and flawless, drew too much attention for his liking. Resisting the urge to cover her with his own jacket, he approached her and, with nimble fingers, brushed her black hair forward over her shoulders. Katherine tensed. His fresh scent enveloped her, creating an atmosphere of enchantment that she tried to repel. “Enough,” she murmured, stepping away to break the spell.João Pedro smiled, a touch of indulgence shining in his eyes as he followed her. They walked down the path adorned with white flowers, accompanied by the melody of a professional orchestra that already echoed from the main mansion.Before they crossed the threshold of the hall, João stopped and offered his arm. Katherine hesitated, frowned for a second, but eventually accepted.The hall was at its peak of noise and movement until they entered.Silence fell like a guillotine. In the social pyramid of that city, João Pedro was at the top. He was not just an heir; he was the genius who had catapulted the Arbex business onto the global market, leaving his cousins and uncles behind. His reputation for being “fast, precise, and ruthless” in business extended to his personal life: cold, lonely, and inaccessible to any woman.