Chapter 165 Anna Stirring the Pot
Quentin let out a low, humorless laugh, his tone dripping with disdain. "Aside from being passably attractive, knowing a bit of medicine, and charming my grandfather into a ridiculous level of affection… what else does she have? A girl like that could crawl to me on her knees, begging for my attention, and I still wouldn't bother to look her way."
His eyes narrowed, a spark of challenge flickering there. "And you don't even know… Amelia has gone out of her way to provoke me more than once. She's been getting under my skin, and I've been thinking about how to make her pay for it."
He made no mention of Amelia's open contempt for him, nor her refusal to even acknowledge him as anything more than an annoyance. Instead, he positioned himself high above her, as if the world revolved around his opinion.
Anna, however, found his answer satisfying. At least his stance matched hers.
The moment Quentin mentioned wanting Amelia to suffer, a slow smile curled across Anna's lips. Something sharp flickered in her eyes. "You really want to humiliate her?" she asked, her voice low and deliberate. "I might have a way… one that will make her lose face in front of everyone within the hour."
Quentin leaned in, curiosity lighting his expression. "What are you planning?"
In Anna's mind, the image of the guest gift list flashed vividly. Amelia had come to celebrate the old man's birthday… and had brought nothing more than a cup. A plain, ordinary cup. She had even written it down on the list without shame.
If Amelia dared to give something so mundane, then Anna had no qualms about using it as a weapon.
Before Quentin could ask further, a man in a perfectly tailored suit approached, champagne flute in hand. His smile widened the moment he saw Anna. "Anna, you look absolutely stunning tonight."
The icy reserve in Anna's features melted instantly into a polished, gracious smile. "It's been far too long," she replied smoothly.
His gaze dropped to the red brocade box carried by the maid behind her. Curiosity sparked. "I heard you've prepared something special for Mr. Vaughn Williams. We're all eager to see what it is."
"You flatter me," Anna said, her smile deepening. "You've seen far more treasures than I could offer. I doubt anything from me could truly surprise you."
"On the contrary," the man chuckled, lifting a hand in polite dismissal of her modesty. "If it's a surprise, we'll simply have to wait and see."
When he moved on, Quentin's eyes followed the box. "Anna, what exactly did you prepare? You've been acting so mysterious."
"You'll find out soon enough." Her voice was certain, her eyes glinting with sly confidence.
Ten minutes later, the two staff members who had been registering gifts outside entered the banquet hall, pushing a massive cart.
It was impossible to miss. The chatter and clinking of glasses faded into silence as guests turned, curiosity pulling them toward the display.
Amelia and her friends drifted closer as well.
"Are these tonight's gifts?" Dorian's eyes lit up. He tugged lightly on Amelia's hand. "Come on, let's have a look."
The cart was stacked with boxes of varying sizes, each wrapped in elaborate paper or tied with silk ribbons. Only one space in the center was left empty.
Amelia recognized her gift instantly.
Against the backdrop of lavish packaging, her old wooden box stood out painfully—its worn surface a stark contrast to the gleaming displays around it.
Dorian spotted his own gift, gesturing toward a box on the left. "That's mine. My dad sent over a painting through one of his friends."
Asher spoke casually. "That one's from me… though my mother picked it out. I have no idea what's inside."
Dorian turned to Amelia. "What about you? What did you bring for Mr. Vaughn Williams?"
Amelia opened her mouth to answer, but a voice cut through the crowd. "Anna's here!"
Heads turned at once, and the guests instinctively parted to make way.
Amelia watched Anna glide forward in a pale gold silk gown, a soft shawl falling perfectly over her shoulders. Her heels clicked against the floor in a crisp, measured rhythm, each step carrying the effortless poise of someone raised in privilege.
The maid behind her stepped forward carefully, placing the red brocade box into the empty space on the cart.
Dorian remembered the last time Amelia had been cornered by Anna at the Prestige High School festival. His brows drew together the moment he saw her. Under his breath, he muttered, "So that's why they left the center spot open. They must think her gift is the most important."
Asher leaned closer. "I heard she brought something rare… something she plans to unveil tonight."
Dorian's eyes widened. "No wonder the crowd's gathering. They're all waiting to see what she's got."
Sure enough, before the thought could settle, a round-faced man with thinning hair stepped forward, grinning. "Anna, you're finally here. So… what's the treasure? Let's have a look."
"Yes, yes," another guest chimed in. "We've all been dying to know what's inside that brocade box."
"Judging by the size, I'd bet it's an antique," someone else said knowingly. "And if Anna's found it, it's bound to be extraordinary."
All eyes fixed on Anna. She returned their attention with a gracious smile. "It's an honor to have you all here for my grandfather's birthday. Of course, the gifts tonight are chosen with great care."
"As for mine… I won't talk about the price, but it did take me quite some time to find."
Her tone shifted, the warmth in her smile unchanged but her gaze sharpening as it landed on Amelia.
"But before we get to that," she continued, "I'm more curious about another guest's gift."
Her voice carried clearly over the crowd. "Amelia, my grandfather is so fond of you that he personally invited you tonight. I'm curious… what special gift did you prepare for him? Would you mind showing everyone?"