Chapter 4 Young and Beautiful!
When Rebecca stepped out of the car, the Windsor Mansion was already glowing with lights.
Soft, melodious music drifted from the banquet hall, filled with laughter and cheer.
Elizabeth had personally sent out the invitations, and nearly every eligible bachelorette from Empire City's high society was in attendance.
Everywhere Rebecca looked, she saw familiar faces.
As soon as Rebecca entered, the room fell silent.
Her champagne-colored ankle-length evening gown was elegant and graceful.
The shimmering satin accentuated her curves, with a waist so slender it seemed it could be grasped with one hand.
Under the dazzling lights, her cool, aloof face was particularly captivating.
Before her arrival, the room was filled with impeccably groomed socialites, each with their own unique charm.
But once Rebecca appeared, everyone else seemed to fade into the background.
"Isn't Rebecca engaged to Mr. Johnson? Why is she here?"
"Haven't you heard about the Getty family? The Johnson family’s stance is pretty clear—they must have called off the engagement!"
"Maybe, but I heard the Getty family has a hundred million dollars in debt. She might be here to find someone to help with that."
"She seduced her nephew and her uncle—only she could be so shameless! No wonder the Getty family went bankrupt!"
"Elizabeth is here!"
At someone's shout, the room instantly quieted.
Elizabeth, with her silver hair, stepped out from behind a screen, looking spirited and full of smiles.
As people age, they tend to enjoy lively gatherings, especially when surrounded by beautiful young women.
She asked about their ages, whether they preferred skiing or concerts, and what their plans were for Christmas.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall was warm and lively.
However, both Elizabeth and the socialites were distracted, frequently glancing towards the door.
The main guest of the matchmaking event had yet to arrive.
When Isabella arrived, slightly out of breath, she immediately spotted Rebecca standing by the window, watching the snow.
Holding a glass of champagne, Isabella approached and complained, "Are we here for nothing?"
Rebecca shook her head.
She didn’t know either.
Before coming, she felt embarrassed, like a bag of chips or a chocolate bar on a shelf, waiting to be chosen.
And the one who put her on the shelf was herself.
But now, with Frederick not showing up, Rebecca felt more at ease.
Still, the hundred million dollars in debt and Alexa’s illness weighed on her like mountains.
Just thinking about them made it hard for her to breathe.
"Becca..."
At the distant call, Rebecca instinctively turned around and saw Elizabeth waving at her.
A path naturally opened up.
Rebecca lifted her dress and walked forward, smiling sweetly, "Mrs. Windsor..."
Elizabeth smiled and motioned for Rebecca to sit beside her.
Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office of the Windsor Group, Mike placed a thick stack of documents in front of Frederick and reminded him, "Mr. Windsor, Mrs. Windsor insisted you be at the Windsor Mansion by four o'clock."
"I'm not going."
Frederick, fully aware of Elizabeth's plans, refused without hesitation.
Looking up at Mike, his gaze coldly indicated: you can leave now!
Mike spoke again, "Ms. Getty is also there."
The pen in Frederick's hand drew a long scratch across the document.
His expression darkened as he looked up, "What's going on?"
Rebecca was engaged. The Windsor Mansion’s event was supposedly a lively gathering for Elizabeth, but everyone knew it was a matchmaking event. Why would Rebecca be there?
Outside, the snow was falling heavily, covering everything in white. But Mike felt like he saw a glimmer of light in the bleakness, "I found out that Ms. Getty called off the engagement, and Mr. Johnson... did not object."
Did not object. Either he didn’t care, or he tacitly agreed.
Before Mike could think of how to persuade Frederick, or how to handle Elizabeth’s call later, he saw Frederick swiftly signing the documents. The office was silent except for the sound of the pen on paper. In no time, the stack of documents was signed.
Frederick closed the last one, grabbed his coat, and headed out. Considering how he had just coldly refused to go, Mike hurried after him.
Fickle man!
...
"Mrs. Windsor, Mr. Windsor is back!"
In the lazy afternoon, as the group was eating, drinking, and chatting, almost dozing off, the butler’s announcement caused a brief stir. Everyone turned to look at the door.
The man approaching wore a black suit, his posture tall and his expression stern. Clearly displeased with the current situation, his brows were furrowed with anger, but he held it in out of respect for his beloved grandmother.
As he walked forward, a cool sandalwood scent spread through the air. This was a man who stood at the pinnacle of Empire City’s elite. The room fell silent, as if his presence alone had subdued everyone. Watching him walk through the door, no one dared to make a sound. Fearing the next moment he might say, "Leave."
Frederick’s long strides quickly took him behind the screen, out of sight. Even as he sat next to Elizabeth, his brows remained furrowed. The mingling scents of dozens of perfumes gave him a headache. Thinking about the purpose of this event, his expression darkened further.
The next moment, his gaze froze. Without a word, he looked at Elizabeth with exasperation, "Grandma, why are you doing this again?"
"I'm practically buried already..."
Elizabeth pouted, "You’re not worried, so I have to be!"
"Since you’re here, why not take a good look? I’m not asking you to decide today. If you find someone you like, you can exchange contact information, maybe have coffee or dinner later. I’ve brought them all here for you. Whether it works out or not, you need to show some effort! Otherwise, I’ll just die..."
"Grandma!"
Frederick interrupted, "You’ll live a long life!"
"Alright..."
Her beloved grandson could say no wrong. Elizabeth nodded, patting his hand, "Tell me, what kind of girl do you like?"
Leaning back lazily in his chair, Frederick lifted his eyelids. From the moment he entered, he hadn’t noticed a single face. Now, behind the screen, he could only see vague silhouettes.
Meeting Elizabeth’s expectant gaze, Frederick said in a low voice, "Young and beautiful."
They say to marry someone older, who knows how to care for you. But her grandson liked them young? No matter what, he had finally expressed a preference, which was a good thing.
Thinking over the girls at the event, Elizabeth’s face lit up, "I knew we had some understanding!"