Chapter 115

"How would I not feel wronged?" Xavier sighed. "Finnian's a bastard, Octavia's confused, and those relatives—every single one of them can't tell right from wrong. They've given you a hard time, and I failed to keep them in line."

He paused, looking at Ophelia and William with determination in his eyes. "In a few days, I'm hosting a family dinner at the Brown Mansion. I'll call everyone from the Brown family together so they can recognize that you are the rightful future lady of the Brown family. From now on, anyone who dares to bully you is going against me."

Warmth filled Ophelia's heart, and her eyes crinkled, almost tearing up. She nodded. "Thank you, Grandpa."

William put his arm around her shoulders as she said to Xavier, "Thank you."

"No need to be so formal with me." Xavier replied, flashing a smile. "As long as you and William are doing well, that's all that matters."

The family dinner at the Brown Mansion was set for the weekend. It was quite an elaborate affair—all the Brown family members were invited, and even several relatives from out of town made special trips back.

Ophelia went to the Brown Mansion with William, deliberately wearing a formal dress that highlighted her fair skin and gentle yet capable demeanor.

William wore a black suit, his posture upright. Walking side by side, Ophelia and William made a striking pair.

As soon as they entered the Brown Mansion's living room, everyone's eyes turned toward them—some curious, some envious, and others with a hint of resentment. Whispered conversations drifted to their ears, but Ophelia acted as if she heard nothing. She held William's arm and greeted everyone calmly and confidently.

Xavier sat in the seat of honor. Seeing them enter, he beckoned. "William, Ophelia, come sit here."

Ophelia and William walked over and sat beside Xavier. Luca directed the servants to bring out the dishes, and the banquet began. The atmosphere seemed lively, but there was an underlying tension.

A relative stood up with a wine glass, wearing a half-smile. "Xavier, this family dinner isn't just a casual gathering, is it? I heard you're here to legitimize Ophelia's position?"

Xavier nodded and set down his utensils. "That's right. I invited everyone here today so you can all recognize that Ophelia is William's lawful wife, and from now on, she has a say in Brown family matters."

The room fell silent instantly. A few seconds later, a young relative stood up—Harry Brown, the son of one of Xavier's nephews. Usually arrogant and convinced of his own abilities, Harry had always been somewhat resentful of William's position as president of the Brown Group.

Holding his wine glass, he walked to the center and looked at Ophelia with a slightly dismissive tone. "Xavier, I don't mean to speak out of turn, but the Brown family is a prestigious clan. The position of the Brown family's future lady isn't something just anyone can hold. It requires someone of equal standing to match William and the Brown family."

He paused, glancing at Ophelia, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Ophelia is the biological daughter of the Smith family; we all know that. But compared to the Brown family, the Smith family still falls a bit short. What's more, Ophelia was just an employee at Jeffrey Technologies before, with no notable achievements. Now she's suddenly William's wife and wants to manage Brown family affairs—isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

His words sparked agreement from several relatives who hadn't been put in their place yet. "Yeah, Harry's right. Equal standing is important, or how can she help William manage the Brown family?"

"Exactly. The Brown family has such a huge estate. If William's wife doesn't have real ability, won't people laugh at us?"

"I heard Ophelia was even fooled by Jeffrey before and actually married him. Can someone like that really manage the Brown family?"

The chatter came from all directions, every comment laced with doubt and contempt. Ophelia's fingers curled slightly on her thighs, but her heart remained calm. She'd heard these kinds of remarks many times before, and had long grown used to them.

William's expression darkened immediately. Just as he was about to speak, Ophelia gently tugged at his sleeve and shook her head, signaling him not to say anything.

She slowly stood up. Her qipao dress accentuated her graceful figure. Her face showed no particular expression, but her eyes were exceptionally clear as they swept over everyone present. Her tone was calm yet forceful. "You all think I'm not worthy simply because you believe I have no real ability, and can't match William or the position of the Brown family's future lady."

She paused, took out a tablet from her bag, opened it, and placed it on the table in front of her. The screen displayed a review plan for the Brown Group's overseas new energy project. "The Brown Group's overseas new energy project—due to Finnian's scheming, there were problems with the core photovoltaic components. The project stalled, with losses reaching millions daily. Everyone should know about this."

All eyes fell on the tablet. Harry curled his lip. "So what if we know? Didn't William solve it? What does it have to do with you?"

"It has everything to do with me." Ophelia looked up at Harry, a hint of mockery in her eyes. "The supplier Raymond that Finnian found—I was the one who went through the contract terms and found his breach of contract, which made him confess and implicate Finnian."

"The qualified components that were urgently shipped—I contacted the European supplier and negotiated a price ten percent lower than the original plan, saving over ten million dollars in costs."

"During the week the project was stalled, I created the review plan, analyzed the project's problems, and developed a follow-up implementation plan that not only got the project back on schedule but also completed acceptance inspection half a month early."

Then she opened another file—the Brown Group's five-year development plan. It clearly analyzed the Brown Group's current strengths and weaknesses, as well as future development directions in new energy, cultural tourism, technology, and other fields. It even included detailed planning for investment amounts and expected returns in each sector.

"This is the five-year development plan I created for the Brown Group, combining current market trends with the Brown Group's actual situation. Everyone can take a look."

Ophelia's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "Whether I have real ability or I'm worthy is not determined by talk, but by actual results."

"As for the gap between the Smith family and the Brown family, I believe marriage isn't a transaction based on equal social standing. It's a process where husband and wife support each other and grow together. I'm the Smith family's daughter and also William's wife. I can create value for the Smith family and contribute to the Brown family, too."

"And about Jeffrey deceiving me into marriage—that wasn't my fault. It was Jeffrey and Freya's scheme. In the end, I exposed their true faces and took back what belonged to me. That's not my shame—that's my strength."