Chapter 24 Family Banquet
For a moment, Daisy felt like all the cheerful laughter around her had suddenly turned into sharp, piercing noise.
Luna's words felt like mockery and a death sentence rolled into one.
She could have been overlooked, but because of that one sentence, she was once again pushed in front of everyone, exposing just how pathetic she was.
Even her own daughter would despise her—of course she would, just look at what she was wearing.
Daisy had never felt so humiliated in her entire life.
She held herself together, refusing to lose her composure on the spot.
But she couldn't force a smile anymore. Her face froze as she felt all kinds of glances stealing toward her from every direction.
Pity, contempt, mockery...
The party finally came to a successful end.
Guests began leaving one after another, while close friends and family moved to the adjacent dining room for a family dinner.
Vanessa naturally followed along.
Daisy didn't want to join in anymore and was about to leave when Old Mr. Black blocked her path at the door.
"Grandpa," she greeted him stiffly.
The old man was quite elderly, but in good spirits. He wore a formal suit and was accompanied by the butler.
"Grandpa? What are you doing here?"
Vincent was clearly surprised and quickly went to greet him.
Grandpa's health hadn't been great in recent years, and he rarely went out or attended events. So Vincent hadn't invited him today, worried about tiring him out. He didn't expect him to show up on his own.
Richard Black ignored his grandson and nodded at Daisy with a smile. "I heard you organized everything here?"
Daisy nodded awkwardly.
"Very good, looks quite professional. You've worked hard." As he spoke, he patted Daisy's shoulder and then took her hand, leading her toward the dining room.
Luna had always been a bit scared of her great-grandfather and didn't dare approach him. Instead, Richard beckoned to her.
Luna hesitantly walked over. Richard reached under her arms to lift her up but couldn't manage it. He laughed and said, "How wonderful, Luna's another year older."
"Great-grandpa has a gift for you. After dinner, you can open it and see."
Luna loved receiving gifts. At the mention of one, her eyes lit up immediately, and she moved closer to her great-grandfather.
Richard walked into the dining room holding his granddaughter-in-law with one hand and his great-granddaughter with the other.
Only after entering did he look at Vincent and say, "The party was well done, but some things really lacked proper judgment—no sense of priority, making us a laughingstock."
"Vince, you're the head of the Blacks in this generation, Luna's father, and a husband. Others might not say anything, but you need to understand these things yourself."
His tone wasn't harsh, but the warning was clear.
Vincent's expression shifted slightly. He pressed his lips together and didn't argue, only lowering his eyes and saying, "I understand."
"Alright, everyone stop standing around and sit down." At the old man's word, everyone took their seats.
The dining room had two long tables—one for elders and adults of the same generation, and one for children with their nannies and tutors.
Richard sat at the head of the long table and pointed to the seat on his right, saying to Daisy, "Dais, sit here."
That seat was usually reserved for the lady of the house.
This gesture clearly reaffirmed Daisy's position in front of everyone.
However, Daisy shook her head. She looked at Luna, who was being led by Vanessa toward the children's table, and said softly, "Grandpa, Luna might need someone to look after her. I'll sit over there."
Without waiting for the old man to respond, she walked straight to the children's table and sat in an empty seat some distance from Luna and Vanessa.
Vincent watched her walk toward the children's table, his brow furrowing unconsciously.
What was she trying to do—embarrass Grandpa in front of everyone, or was she sulking?
Richard looked at Daisy deeply but didn't insist, only sighing meaningfully.
The children's table was fairly lively since the birthday girl was there.
Luna was surrounded by a group of children, chattering excitedly about how many gifts she'd received today.
Vanessa sat naturally beside her, gently helping her put on a napkin and peeling shrimp for her.
Suddenly, she let out a soft hiss.
Luna, who had been happily talking to her friends, immediately stopped and asked what was wrong.
Vanessa smiled sheepishly. "It's nothing, I just pricked my hand."
Luna cried out, "Let me see! Oh no, you're bleeding! Auntie Vanessa, you're so careless." She immediately called for a server to bring ice water and a band-aid.
Daisy sat quietly to the side the whole time, eating without tasting anything.
She just wanted this dinner to end quickly.
"Mom!" Luna suddenly called to her, pointing at a plate of large boiled shrimp. "I want to eat shrimp. Peel them for me!"
Daisy froze. She'd actually felt a bit hurt, since this type of shrimp was easy to get pricked by—she'd been pricked several times herself. Two or three years ago, Luna would have been very concerned about her, but later stopped caring.
She'd always thought it was because her daughter had grown up and become more reserved, too shy to express concern.
But now, seeing how Luna cared for Vanessa, she really couldn't fool herself anymore.
Daisy took a deep breath.
Forget it. It was her birthday—don't make her unhappy today.
"Okay." She took the plate and picked up a shrimp, carefully beginning to peel it.
Just then, Sienna from the other table happened to look over. Her sharp eyes immediately noticed Daisy's bare left ring finger.
"Hey? Daisy, where's your wedding ring?" Sienna's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for everyone to hear clearly.
Sienna acted as if she'd caught Daisy in something. "You didn't lose it, did you? That ring was left by Grandma—it's precious!"
In an instant, everyone's eyes focused on Daisy's hand.
Daisy unconsciously touched her ring finger and said, "I've been working with a lot of reagents in the lab recently. Wearing a ring isn't convenient, so I put it away."
The explanation was reasonable.
But Luna innocently added from the side, "But Auntie Vanessa wears a ring too! That pink diamond she wears is so pretty! Mom says wearing a ring isn't convenient for lab work, so why isn't Auntie Vanessa worried?"
The child's thoughtless words were like salt poured on Daisy's bleeding wound.
Vanessa wore a ring? What ring? Why would she wear a ring?
The atmosphere in the dining room instantly became tense.
Even Richard set down his utensils.
Vincent's expression darkened as he shot Luna a warning look. "Don't talk nonsense. The ring your Auntie Vanessa wears is just her own decorative ring, nothing to do with work."
Luna pouted and shrank back, but still muttered under her breath defiantly, "But it's true..."
Daisy listened quietly, finished peeling the entire plate of shrimp, then stood up. "Grandpa, I'm a bit tired. I'd like to go rest."
Richard looked at her pale face and sighed. "Go ahead, get some good rest."