Chapter 203 Family Banquet
The moment she stepped into The Hensley Mansion, the extravagant atmosphere unique to high society hit her in the face.
Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the dome ceiling, their light refracted through countless sparkling wine glasses, forming a flowing river of brilliance in the air.
In the atmosphere, elegant classical music, restrained conversations, and the scents of various expensive perfumes mixed together, weaving an invisible net of luxury and detachment that enveloped everyone present.
Stefan's arrival instantly stirred up the light particles that had been flowing smoothly across this web.
"Mr. Hensley, long time no see, looking good as always."
"Stefan, you're finally here. Your uncle was just asking about you."
"And who is this beautiful lady?"
Well-dressed men and women immediately gathered around. Their smiles were polite and standard, but their eyes carried undisguised curiosity, scanning back and forth over Cecilia.
Stefan didn't let go of Cecilia's hand. Instead, he pulled her even closer to his side.
He handled the surrounding pleasantries with ease, every smile, every nod perfectly flawless, as if he was born to be the master of such occasions.
"Go ahead and look around. The macarons in the dessert area are good—the chef was brought in from Valeria."
During a gap in the crowd, Stefan leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear.
"These people are quite difficult to deal with. I'll come find you once I'm done. Don't wander off."
Cecilia calmly withdrew her hand and took a glass of champagne from a passing server's tray.
She raised it toward him, the clear liquid creating a beautiful arc under the lights—her way of responding.
Even without Stefan's suggestion, Cecilia had no interest in this social game, so she turned and headed toward the relatively quiet dessert table outside the crowd.
The Hensley Mansion was indeed impressive. The banquet hall alone was surprisingly large—walking from the main guest area to the dessert section meant crossing nearly half of this gathering place of the elite.
Along the way, countless gazes—curious, jealous, or contemptuous—fell upon her densely.
Cecilia ignored them all.
The dessert area was indeed exquisite. A dazzling array of desserts was neatly arranged, giving off an enticing sweet fragrance and sheen under the warm spotlights.
"In a place like this, does it feel hard to even breathe?"
A female voice sounded behind her, elegant in tone but carrying a condescending mockery.
Cecilia didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
Besides Anna, no one would speak in that sugar-coated, cutting tone.
Cecilia slowly turned around.
Anna was undoubtedly one of the focal points of the entire evening.
She wore a deep blue haute couture mermaid gown that perfectly outlined her tight, delicate figure, the hem swaying gracefully as she moved.
The custom-designed diamond necklace around her neck sparkled brilliantly under the lights, its radiance almost painful to the eyes.
Her entire being seemed to glow, beautiful in an aggressive way.
Anna held her wine glass, looking at Cecilia with leisurely composure.
"After all, for someone like you, having the chance to stand here is probably the greatest honor of your life."
"You're just a plaything Stefan brought along on a whim. You don't actually think you're somebody, do you?"
A few socialites and ladies nearby, hearing the commotion, all tactfully slowed their dessert selection, pretending to choose carefully while actually listening in.
After all, curiosity is human nature.
Cecilia looked back at her calmly, smiling without warmth.
"Ms. Clark, you're right."
Cecilia swirled the champagne glass in her hand, her posture even more relaxed than Anna's.
"After all, not everyone gets the chance to come see in person what the woman who has their 'fiancé-to-be' completely mesmerized actually looks like."
"Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Clark. You're already furious, yet you still have to put on this generous act in front of me."
A crack appeared in Anna's perfect smile.
"Sharp-tongued."
Anna snorted coldly, stepped closer, and lowered her voice to a volume only the two of them could hear.
"You think Stefan brought you here to give you glory? Naive."
"He's just using you to provoke me, to resist the Hensley family's arrangements. When Stefan loses interest in you, guess what your fate will be?"
Cecilia's gaze pierced straight at her, her voice equally lowered but carrying a metallic coldness.
"I'm not sure about my fate."
"But I'd really like to know—when is the next person you're sending to kill me arriving?"
The proud, elegant smile on Anna's face finally froze.
Her pupils contracted in that instant. Though she immediately tried to cover it with a blink, Cecilia caught it precisely.
"What... what are you talking about?" There was a tremor in Anna's voice that she was desperately trying to suppress.
"Am I talking nonsense?"
Cecilia also took a step forward, bringing them so close they could almost smell each other's perfume.
Her eyes were frighteningly cold.
"The kidnappers at the beach—you sent them. The fake nurse who tried to silence me—also your doing."
Anna quickly forced herself to calm down, putting that perfect fake smile back on, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Ms. Martinez, are you having a paranoid episode? It seems what you need isn't a designer's job, but a psychiatrist."
Cecilia raised an eyebrow, her tone full of mockery. "Your plan is full of holes, executed quite amateurishly, and now you're accusing me of being paranoid?"
Anna's expression changed.
"Spending a fortune on a fake painting to complete a money transfer—such an old-fashioned method. Are you paying tribute to gangster movies from decades ago?"
"Hiring killers through a former employee's company—afraid people won't be able to trace the connection?"
"And that supposedly 'destroyed' vehicle—Ms. Clark, do you think everyone is as stupid as you, that they won't check the engine number and chassis information?"
With each sentence Cecilia spoke, Anna's face grew paler. Anna's hand gripping the wine glass tightened more and more. If not for the glass's good quality, it would have shattered.
"So what if you've found out?" Anna's voice sharpened for a moment before she immediately lowered it again. "These so-called clues don't constitute any legal evidence at all!"
"Amelia, I advise you to recognize your position. The gap between you and me can't be bridged by Stefan's momentary interest or your looks."
Anna stepped back half a step, pulling the distance open again.
"A person's fate is determined from the moment they're born."
"Some people are born to stand in the clouds, looking down on everyone."
She drew out her words, the smile on her lips growing increasingly cruel.
"While others..."
"Even if they manage to climb up by luck, they'll be easily knocked back into the mud."
"Today, I'll let you see with your own eyes." A sinister gleam flashed in Anna's eyes, the kind only a victor would have. "What it means to be worlds apart."