Chapter 264 It Really Is His!

Chapter 264 It Really Is His!

Emily gritted her teeth and reluctantly loosened her fingers, though her eyes still burned with resentment.

A barely noticeable cold smile touched Lillian's lips. She lowered her voice even more so that only the two of them could hear. "What's your hurry?"

"The real show hasn't even started yet. She won't be smug for long."

Emily froze, surprise flashing through her eyes, mixed with barely contained confusion as she looked up at Lillian.

But Lillian said nothing more, lifting her eyes to gaze ahead indifferently.

At this moment, Olivia finally came back to her senses. Her heart warmed as she bowed slightly. "Grandma."

Her gratitude needed no words. Olivia's eyes were full of genuine appreciation. Hannah looked at her with a chuckle and affectionately squeezed her palm.

Emily was so angry she nearly ground her teeth to dust.

Suddenly, something stirred in her heart. She gathered up her skirt a little and stepped forward, her face breaking into a sweet, well-behaved smile. "Mrs. Robinson, happy birthday!"

"This is the gift I prepared for you."

With that, Emily held up a black velvet gift box with both hands and presented it to Hannah, gently lifting one corner of the lid.

"I specially bid on this diamond set at the Aetheria auction house. It's a classic design from the last century, with top-grade clarity diamonds. It really suits your elegance!"

As the light fell on it, the delicate diamonds refracted a cool, luxurious sparkle—a set of earrings and a necklace. The design was minimalist, yet it clearly looked worth a fortune at first glance.

The surrounding guests immediately praised it when they saw it. "It's really beautiful, elegant, and dignified, perfect for Mrs. Robinson!"

"Ms. Dickson, you're so thoughtful. Truly raised in a distinguished family."

"This classic set was supposedly collected by nobility. The last time it appeared was over twenty years ago, and it sold for tens of millions of dollars at auction. Ms. Dickson actually managed to get it—impressive!"

Hearing these compliments, Emily's smile grew even brighter.

Hannah accepted it with a smile and said warmly, "Emily, thank you. I love it very much."

Emily's smile deepened, the smugness in her eyes almost overflowing.

She slowly turned her face, her gaze lightly falling on Olivia, full of pride and provocation.

However, Olivia couldn't be bothered to look at her, her expression calm as usual.

Emily's smile stiffened slightly at the corners of her mouth, then grew even sweeter. "Ms. Smith, what gift did you prepare for Mrs. Robinson? Why don't you take it out and let everyone see?"

Olivia ignored her.

This time, Emily was truly embarrassed. She slowly dropped her smile and sneered, "Ms. Smith, you didn't come empty-handed, did you?"

"Mrs. Robinson values you so much, and you didn't even prepare a gift? That's so rude! People who don't know might think someone forced you to attend this birthday banquet!"

As soon as she said this, the room immediately fell silent.

Countless gazes, obvious and subtle, fell on Olivia. Hannah's face immediately darkened.

Seeing this scene, Lillian sensed things were getting out of hand and was about to step forward to smooth things over when Olivia said slowly, "Who says I didn't prepare a gift?"

Emily immediately pressed, "Then take it out and show everyone!"

"What's wrong, not presentable enough?"

Olivia smiled coldly. She raised her eyes to look at Emily, seemingly puzzled. "I'm just curious—in what capacity is Ms. Dickson ordering me around?"

"May I ask, Ms. Dickson, have you perhaps changed your surname to Robinson? That would truly be shocking news."

"You!"

Emily's face flushed red with anger at that single remark, especially in front of so many people, and Hannah. She was so flustered she could barely speak.

Lillian couldn't bear to watch anymore.

But Emily was her daughter, so she could only force a smile. "Ms. Smith, why bother arguing with Emily?"

"She grew up with Brandon since childhood. They have a good relationship. She often came to the Robinson mansion to play and has long considered Hannah her own grandmother."

"She was just anxious for a moment."

Olivia smiled lightly. "I see."

"I thought the Robinson family had gained a new daughter. Ms. Dickson, that innocent act of yours really can cause misunderstandings."

Lillian forced out a smile, her palms clenched tightly.

Olivia knew when to stop. She casually took out a simple gift box from her bag, presented it to Hannah, and said softly, "Grandma, happy birthday."

"This is the gift I prepared for you."

Hannah gently patted her hand and accepted the gift box, opening it with trembling hands.

Emily couldn't help but crane her neck to look.

Inside the gift box wasn't any jewelry or jade, but a simple framed painting.

Hannah frowned in confusion and picked up the painting. The butler beside her quickly stepped forward to help unfold it.

The painting wasn't large. The color scheme was mainly gray and black, with obscure lines and dull color blocks. From a distance, it looked like a gray blur, with nothing much to see.

Emily was first stunned, then laughed mockingly. "Olivia, where did you pick up this junk from some street stall?"

"What kind of painting is this? So dark and gloomy, what is it even supposed to be? Not festive at all!"

"Today is Mrs. Robinson's birthday, and you gave such a gray, lifeless painting. Are you deliberately trying to upset Mrs. Robinson?"

Once Emily opened her mouth, several of her usual followers immediately gathered around.

Taking one look at the painting, they immediately laughed. "So shabby, trying to fool people with this kind of thing."

"So embarrassing..."

"Looks like an unwanted old painting. How dare she give this as a gift?"

These comments were kept very low, whispered really, but the scene was so quiet that everyone could hear them clearly.

Lillian instinctively looked up at Olivia, only to see her eyebrows calm and her face unreadable.

An ominous feeling immediately surged in her heart. She was about to stop Emily, but it was already a step too late.

Seeing that Olivia didn't refute, Emily assumed she was guilty and felt even more smug, mocking, "Poor people really do give poor gifts..."

But just then, Hannah, who hadn't spoken, suddenly moved.

The gentle smile on her face slowly faded, replaced by undisguised surprise and shock, her eyes shining unusually bright.

Hannah carefully stroked the painting, her fingertips trembling slightly. The next second, she suddenly looked up at Olivia, her voice carrying a faint hint of urgency.

"Olivia, tell me, is this painting... an original by Master Rufus Chapman?"

Olivia smiled slightly and nodded gently.

"I knew it! I should have recognized it earlier!" Hannah's face bloomed with a captivating radiance. She was so excited her cheeks were trembling slightly. "It really is his!"

Her gaze fell back on the painting, her voice suddenly softening, as if afraid of disturbing it.