Chapter 235 She is the Focus of the Whole Scene!
Light and shadow shifted at the entrance, and Stefan's figure appeared first.
He wore a well-tailored navy blue suit with two buttons casually undone at the collar—less sharp than his business persona, more relaxed and aristocratic.
Anna's breathing stopped instantly.
No matter how many times she'd seen Stefan, he still made her heart race.
And it was precisely this racing heart that, after being rejected, fermented into deeper unwillingness and resentment.
Her gaze locked onto Stefan, filled with possessiveness.
Stefan turned to the side, extending his hand to gentlemanly escort a middle-aged woman into the hall.
She wore a dark purple haute couture gown, her hair styled in an elegant bun, her makeup understated.
She carried herself with dignity. Though slightly nervous, unconsciously clutching her purse, the gentle, calm quality she exuded as she walked couldn't be ignored.
"Who's that?" Elise muttered under her breath. "Mr. Hensley's elder? Never seen her before."
Anna frowned.
This middle-aged woman looked about Bronte's age, but... she was completely different from the apron-wearing, grease-smelling cook I imagined.
Before they could figure it out, another middle-aged man walked in.
He wore a burgundy suit, his posture upright, his expression composed.
Entering this magnificent hall, though somewhat reserved, his eyes were calm and open, showing no panic whatsoever.
"Is... is that her noodle shop father?" Elise's voice carried uncertainty.
Weren't they supposed to be country bumpkins?
These two people before them—their bearing and attire—no one would ever associate them with noodle shop owners.
Anna's heart sank heavily.
An ominous feeling spread rapidly through her.
When the final figure appeared, that feeling instantly transformed into towering jealous rage, burning away her reason.
Cecilia walked in.
Her hand was held firmly by Stefan.
She wore an extremely simple black velvet gown, her smooth long hair draped over her shoulders, her face bare of makeup except for a touch of lipstick that brightened her complexion.
Simple, yet breathtakingly beautiful.
The haute couture black velvet absorbed all the surrounding light, yet as she moved, it emanated a subtle, magnificent luster.
Her skin appeared flawless against the black dress.
Around her neck, an enormous pear-shaped pink diamond refracted dazzling light under the chandeliers, capturing everyone's gaze.
But even the diamond's brilliance couldn't steal away her own radiance.
She stood there with a calm expression, her eyes cool and clear, completely untouched by the surrounding luxury and noise.
It was a nobility that came from within—otherworldly and independent.
Just then, Stefan turned his head and said something to her quietly.
Cecilia looked up at him, the corners of her lips curving into a faint smile. That momentary smile seemed to brighten the entire hall.
A match made in heaven.
These words involuntarily surfaced in every onlooker's mind.
A loud crash!
The champagne glass slipped from Elise's hand, shattering into pieces on the polished floor.
Anna clenched her fists tightly, her long nails digging into her palms, sending sharp pain through them.
She felt utterly humiliated, as if slapped repeatedly by invisible hands.
Where was the show I was waiting to watch?
This was clearly Amelia's family coming to watch me make a fool of myself!
The entire lounge area fell deathly silent.
The aristocratic ladies Anna had brought stood with mouths agape, unable to make a sound.
Shock, bewilderment, disbelief—all ultimately transformed into mortifying embarrassment.
Just minutes ago, they'd been mocking them as "country bumpkins."
Now, their entrance instantly refuted all that mockery.
Especially the pink diamond around Cecilia's neck.
Which of these socialites didn't know jewelry? That pink diamond's quality, size, and cut were all top-tier.
Someone immediately recognized it—the legendary pink diamond auctioned off at a nine-figure price to a mysterious buyer at the Geneva Auction recently—the "Heart of Venus"!
Who could have imagined that this diamond, which countless women dreamed of owning, would be worn around Cecilia's neck!
Looking at themselves again, their so-called haute couture gowns and jewelry seemed try-hard and tacky compared to Cecilia's seemingly casual yet supremely refined ensemble.
The pink lace princess dress Elise had specifically worn today now looked ridiculous and cheap.
She wished she could find somewhere to hide immediately.
"That, that's the 'Heart of Venus'..." one socialite said in a breathy voice full of jealousy. "Mr. Hensley actually..."
"He's just been seduced by that bitch Amelia!" Elise hissed through clenched teeth. "She's just a lowborn commoner!"
Despite her words, her jealousy was impossible to hide.
Anna's expression darkened to the extreme.
Stefan giving the "Heart of Venus" to Cecilia wasn't just a display of his generosity—it was a declaration.
He was announcing to the entire world how much Cecilia meant to him.
Anna's heart was gripped tightly, the pain making it hard to breathe.
Why?
What did Amelia have that she didn't?
Just then, the party's host Vincent spotted them and immediately approached with a beaming smile.
"Stefan, Amelia! Finally here!" Vincent's voice boomed, drawing everyone's attention.
After greeting Stefan, Robert, and Mabel, he excitedly grabbed Cecilia's hand, his eyes practically glowing.
"Echo! I've been waiting for you! Come, let me introduce you to some old friends—they're all your devoted fans!"
"Echo?"
Hearing this name, the surrounding guests erupted in barely suppressed gasps.
"She's that genius designer 'Echo'?"
"The national design competition champion! It's her!"
"No wonder Mr. Hensley would fall for her—this isn't just beauty, this is real talent!"
All eyes focused on Cecilia, filled with admiration and appreciation.
Anna and her group of friends were completely forgotten in the corner, embarrassed to the extreme.
Their vicious mockery from moments ago now made them utterly humiliated.
They'd just called Amelia a country bumpkin? But she was the national design competition champion, someone even Vincent treated with respect.
Amelia was now the center of attention, sought after by countless elites.
Elise's face flushed red as she quietly urged, "Anna... maybe we should leave?"
Staying any longer, they'd truly become the laughingstock of the entire party.
"Leave?"
Anna forced these words through clenched teeth, her voice icy.
She raised her eyes, beautiful eyes burning with crazed jealousy and malice.
"Why should I leave?"
"The person who should get lost today is her!"
I absolutely won't admit defeat like this!
So what if Amelia's a champion designer? So what if she got a few compliments from Vincent?
What's so great about Amelia!
As long as I'm still a socialite of the Clark family, as long as she has the entire Clark family behind her, she'll always be more noble than this lowborn bitch Amelia!
Anna took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her humiliation and rage, squeezing an elegant smile back onto her face.
She straightened her spine, picked up a glass of champagne, and walked toward Cecilia.