Chapter 209 The Party Begins
Chapter 209 The Party Begins
The circular driveway of Howard Estate was lined with luxury vehicles—sleek black Bentleys and silver Rolls-Royces arranged in perfect formation. As car doors opened, guests emerged in exquisite evening wear, carrying beautifully wrapped gifts and wearing practiced social smiles.
Two servers in crisp red uniforms stood at the manor's entrance, bowing gracefully to welcome each guest and quietly directing them toward the ballroom.
The ballroom itself was brilliantly lit, with long tables draped in pristine white linens and set with silver cutlery and elaborate canapés. A champagne tower sparkled under the chandeliers, while waitstaff glided between guests with silver trays, ready to refill glasses at a moment's notice.
Guests clustered in small groups—men in tailored tuxedos discussing business ventures, women in designer gowns chatting about the latest fashion trends. Occasional laughter punctuated the air, creating an atmosphere that appeared festive and harmonious, yet concealed barely perceptible undercurrents of tension.
"Look at this estate—absolutely magnificent. The Howards certainly know how to maintain their reputation as old money," whispered a woman in a purple evening gown to her companion, champagne flute in hand.
"Magnificent, yes, but the family drama is quite messy," her companion replied, accepting champagne from a passing server and lowering her voice. "I heard Patrick and Mason have been feuding over the inheritance for years, and now their sons Jacob and Matthew are at each other's throats in business, too."
The woman in purple widened her eyes in surprise. "Really? Brothers actually fighting like that?"
"Oh, it's absolutely true. Patrick feels Mason got the lion's share of the family fortune, and he's been bitter about it for years—constantly creating problems behind the scenes," her companion continued, sipping her champagne. "And there's Celeste, who had a terrible falling-out with Matthew's wife, Olivia. I heard that Celeste had her brother Stanley kidnap Olivia's brother Jasper to teach them a lesson."
A nearby gentleman in a gray suit overheard and joined their conversation. "I heard about that incident, too. The police investigated Stanley initially, but somehow the whole thing just got swept under the rug. With this much internal conflict in the Howard family, who knows what might happen next?"
"Exactly. In families this powerful, with so many players involved, drama is inevitable," the woman in purple sighed. "I just hope tonight's birthday gala doesn't turn into a disaster."
Not far away, a man in a black suit and gold-rimmed glasses stood in a corner, holding a glass of red wine and apparently admiring a wall portrait, though his ears were carefully tuned to the guests' conversations.
This was Ryan in disguise, wearing a false beard and having changed his hairstyle so completely that even acquaintances wouldn't recognize him. Hearing the guests discuss the Howard family's internal conflicts, Ryan's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.
Ryan thought to himself, 'Perfect—the messier, the better.'
Chaos would allow him to strike while they were vulnerable and finally defeat Matthew in business.
"The Howard family drama doesn't end there," continued a woman in blue near Ryan. "I heard Celeste's daughter, Molly, despises Olivia too, constantly telling Celeste that Olivia isn't good enough for Matthew. Poor Matthew is caught between his family and his wife—must be exhausting."
"Absolutely. Choosing a wife who creates such sharp divisions in the family, Matthew certainly has his hands full," the gray-suited gentleman shook his head.
Ryan's satisfaction grew as he listened. This was exactly the effect he wanted—the more internal conflict within the Howard family, the easier he would plan to execute. Once the birthday gala officially began and his arranged surprise made its entrance, the Howard family would only descend into greater chaos.
Just then, a commotion arose at the ballroom entrance, causing all guests to turn their heads. Matthew entered wearing an impeccably tailored black tuxedo, his posture commanding, with Olivia beside him in an elegant white evening gown, her hair swept up and adorned with a pearl necklace. The couple walked hand in hand into the ballroom.
Celeste stood at the center of the ballroom, and upon seeing them enter, her smile froze momentarily, her eyes turning cold before quickly resuming a proper social expression. She remembered her husband, Mason's warning before leaving, "Tonight's birthday gala is crucial—we have many important guests attending. Whatever issues you have with Olivia, you cannot show them in front of outsiders. You must appear to get along peacefully with her. We cannot let others witness the Howard family discord."
Celeste took a deep breath and approached them, offering Olivia a smile.
"Olivia, you're here. Please, sit—I've specially prepared some desserts I know you enjoy."
Olivia was somewhat surprised by Celeste's courtesy, having expected hostility. She nodded and replied softly, "Thank you, Mom."
Matthew observed the seemingly harmonious interaction between his mother and wife with relief. At least the evening was starting smoothly.
Molly stood beside Celeste, and upon seeing Olivia, a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes. However, following her mother's subtle cue, she said nothing, merely nodding at Olivia in acknowledgment.
In the ballroom's corner, a woman in a gray maid's uniform carried a tray, moving slowly through the crowd. She appeared unremarkable with her plain features and shoulder-length bob, seemingly identical to the other staff. But when she spotted Olivia and Matthew, her eyes flashed with pure hatred, her hands gripping the tray's edges until her knuckles turned white.
This was Scarlett, who had returned from abroad specifically for revenge, infiltrating the Howard Manor as a maid. She planned to wait until all the Howard family members were present, then detonate the bombs she'd planted throughout the ballroom, destroying them all.
Scarlett slowly made her way to the ballroom's back entrance. After confirming no one was watching, she retrieved a small remote control from her pocket and pressed a button, and the device was functioning properly on the screen.
A cruel smile played at her lips as she thought, 'Howard family—you'll pay for everything you owe me. Tonight, I'll collect in full.'
Ryan spotted Matthew and Olivia entering, and his eyes glinted with calculation. He slowly approached Joan, who was wearing a red evening gown and chatting with another woman. Seeing Ryan approach, Joan smoothly excused herself and followed him to a corner.
"Is everything ready?" Ryan asked in a low voice.
"All set. The hacker has already sent the emails to the police. They should be arriving soon," Joan nodded, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Once the police arrive, both Olivia and Celeste will face serious consequences."
Matthew took Olivia's hand and walked to the refreshment table, picking up a champagne flute. He surveyed the room, noting the guests' smiling faces, yet feeling an inexplicable unease, as if something significant was about to happen.
"What's wrong?" Olivia sensed Matthew's tension and asked quietly.
"Nothing," Matthew shook his head, squeezing Olivia's hand. "I'm probably overthinking things."
Olivia nodded, but she too felt unsettled. She noticed the maid in the corner and couldn't shake the feeling that the woman's gaze toward her seemed strange.
Stanley arrived at the ballroom shortly after, wearing a navy suit. Upon seeing Matthew and Olivia, he approached them.
"You made it. Celeste seems to be in good spirits today," Stanley said with a smile, though his eyes remained cold.
"Yes, Mother has been quite gracious tonight," Matthew nodded, knowing full well his mother was merely performing for the guests.
Stanley said nothing more, taking a glass of wine and moving to chat with other guests. He still harbored resentment over being humiliated at the hospital previously, attending tonight only to ensure Celeste's birthday gala wasn't poorly attended.
Music began to fill the ballroom as guests started dancing, the atmosphere appearing increasingly festive. Yet the hidden dangers lurking in the shadows crept ever closer.