Chapter 26
Chloe suddenly seemed to remember something.
"This afternoon, I'm hosting a small tea party at home. The guests are all socialites and heiresses from our circle. If you're free, you should come by."
Her tone carried a hint of condescending charity.
"I know that after you left the Johnson family, you haven't had many chances to connect with these people. As your sister, I want to help you out, help you build good relationships with them. After all, they've been excluding you all along, which I think is pretty harsh."
Chloe sighed. "Even though sometimes you're a bit... unsuitable for such occasions, I still think they've been way too mean to you."
Jason's expression darkened completely. "Don't push your luck..."
"Sure." Charlotte interrupted him, a hint of mocking amusement in her eyes. "What time this afternoon?"
Chloe hadn't expected her to agree so readily. She paused for a moment, then broke into a smile.
"Three o'clock this afternoon, in the back garden of the Johnson Mansion. You must come, make sure you're there."
"How could I possibly refuse your invitation?"
Charlotte also showed a slight smile, looking quite eager to attend the party.
Seeing her acting so cheap, Chloe left satisfied.
After she was gone, Jason finally couldn't hold back.
"Boss, how could you agree to this? She obviously has bad intentions. She's inviting you to that tea party just to gang up on you and humiliate you."
Charlotte calmly sat back down in her chair.
"She spent three million to show off, and now she wants to invite me to her tea party to satisfy her petty desire to trample me underfoot. Why not indulge her? Do you think I'll be the one embarrassed?"
Understanding what she meant, Jason finally broke into a bright smile.
"I get it now."
Charlotte curved her lips and waved Jason out.
...Around three in the afternoon, Charlotte arrived at the Johnson Mansion right on time.
She hadn't dressed up specially for the tea party, wearing only a simple white shirt and long skirt, but this plain outfit somehow made her look even more aloof and unapproachable.
The security guard at the entrance looked at her with a somewhat subtle expression.
Everyone at the Johnson family knew that Charlotte had already been kicked out. She could only come today because Chloe had kindly allowed Charlotte to come and connect with the socialites.
He opened the door coldly: "This way, please."
Not even a polite form of address.
Charlotte followed him inside without expression.
Just then, several middle-aged women in servant uniforms came out carrying trays.
The trays were filled with various expensive fruits.
They nearly bumped into Charlotte and quickly stepped back, but unlike before, they didn't call her "Miss" or say sorry.
Charlotte ignored them and turned to leave.
Watching her back, the servant Una curled her lip with clear disdain.
After Charlotte had walked a few steps away, Una couldn't help but snort and start gossiping.
"She's not even part of the Johnson family anymore, why is she still coming here? Does she even deserve to attend such an occasion?"
"Come on, she's still Johnson family blood after all. Even though she was kicked out, it's normal for her to want to join such a nice tea party."
"Isn't she just here to suck up to those socialites? How shameless. She left so proudly back then, how does she have the nerve to come back now?"
Charlotte slowly paused and stopped. She turned around and walked right up to them.
Una hadn't expected her to return and froze.
Before she could speak, Charlotte asked coolly: "What did you just say about me?"
Una immediately became even bolder.
She looked down on Charlotte from the bottom of her heart. This was the Johnson Mansion, and Chloe would back her up!
She wasn't afraid!
Thinking this, Una couldn't help but straighten her back.
"I said you've already been kicked out, and today you're just here to mooch—Ah!"
Before she could finish, Charlotte slapped her so hard her head snapped to the side.
Her left cheek instantly swelled red, her hair scattered, and her neat bun came undone in a second.
She stood there stunned.
The servants behind her were also shocked, staring at Charlotte in disbelief, not expecting her to suddenly hit someone.
Charlotte shook out her hand and calmly adjusted her sleeves.
"The servants at the Johnson Mansion are truly disgusting. Acting like the master's dogs, and you dare to boss people around?"
She looked down at Una. "Is this how the Johnson family runs things?"
Una's face flushed red, at a loss for what to do.
"What's going on? What happened?"
Chloe's voice came from behind.
She hurried over, and seeing Una's face, her expression changed. "Charlotte, you..."
"Your people don't know their place."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow leisurely. "I'm teaching them for you. Is that not okay? Or can't I even hit a servant now?"
Chloe's expression shifted. She glanced at Una's furious look and smiled subtly.
"No, of course not. You disciplining the servants—I'm happy about it. It shows you still care about me."
Thinking about what was about to happen, she forcibly swallowed her displeasure.
Chloe then affectionately linked her arm through Charlotte's.
"Come on, everyone's here, just waiting for you. I'll properly educate them later, so please don't be angry."
Charlotte pulled her hand away, not letting her touch her, and walked toward the tea party.
Chloe bit her lip and followed behind.
Arriving at the pavilion in the back garden, dozens of socialites and heiresses were already gathered, chatting.
Seeing Charlotte enter, their expressions changed.
Everyone knew Charlotte was now an unwanted woman—no engagement, kicked out by the Johnson family.
And now she had the nerve to show up here and crash the tea party.
How shameless.
Someone cleared their throat and smiled. "Charlotte's here. But you didn't used to look like this. Why are you dressed so plainly today?"
Several people laughed, their eyes full of contempt.
Chloe also curved her lips, then put on an understanding expression and sighed, smoothing things over.
"She's used to living in the countryside. Even though she's become a popular designer, she still can't shake off her frugal habits. Don't make fun of her."
Her tone was full of disdain for Charlotte.
No one said anything, just covered their mouths and laughed, as if Charlotte was a topic for their amusement.