Chapter 222

The counterfeit necklace Glynnis had obtained from Edith worked like magic.

When she discreetly presented it to Ada, she'd braced herself for humiliation, terrified Ada would spot the forgery and she'd become a laughingstock. But even if Ada discovered the truth, Glynnis had a backup plan—she'd claim she'd been duped by a so-called friend, that her jewelry knowledge was limited and she'd been easily fooled.

To her shock, whether due to the apprentice's craftsmanship or Ada's lack of discernment, Ada didn't notice the necklace was fake. In fact, she was so thrilled she put it on immediately and refused to take it off.

Finally, Ada and Glynnis officially signed the contract.

With Elspeth tirelessly singing her praises to Frederic, Glynnis even secured a promotion to board member, earning a coveted seat in the group's high-level meetings!

That evening, Elspeth and her daughter lounged on the balcony, sipping celebratory champagne ahead of time.

"Once Ada's wedding is over, your father will officially hand the hotel to you," Elspeth murmured, arms wrapped around her daughter, eyes gleaming with ambition. "You've taken the first step toward success. In time, you'll join the board of directors, and together, we'll drive that scoundrel Thaddeus out!"

"Don't worry, Mother," Glynnis replied, clinking her glass against Elspeth's. "Once I solidify my position, I'll dismantle Thaddeus's power piece by piece. The Abernathy Group will be ours."

Just then, the butler's voice echoed from the doorway.

"Madam, Miss Glynnis, an invitation has arrived for both of you."

Elspeth and Glynnis exchanged glances before stepping inside.

"Who sent it?" Glynnis demanded.

"The secretary of the general manager of K World Hotel—Mr. Dempsey."

From Evadne?

"Understood. You may leave." Elspeth took the envelope and shut the door.

Inside were two invitations to a charity jewelry auction. Elspeth's grip tightened, her expression darkening.

"Mother, Evadne's been quiet for weeks. Why send us an invitation now? Is this a trap?" Glynnis asked nervously.

"Pfft, what's there to fear?" Elspeth scoffed. "Ada's already signed the contract. Even if Evadne tries to interfere, it's too late."

Coincidentally, the evening news flashed on the TV, featuring the charity auction.

"Mother!" Glynnis gasped, pointing at the screen. "The event is sponsored by Ethereal Vogue!"

Her nails dug into her palms as envy flared. Ethereal Vogue—the world-renowned fashion bible, the holy grail for celebrities. And Evadne was hosting an event for them? The news even mentioned Ada and other A-listers attending.

"No matter how grand she makes this, she's already lost," Elspeth muttered. "But since she invited us, we'll go. Keep an eye on her—make sure she doesn't sabotage our plans with Ada."

Meanwhile, Evadne had just finished a cheerful call with Ethereal Vogue's editor-in-chief, speaking flawless English without hesitation.

As she changed into workout gear for a late-night kayak session, Cassius arrived.

"Cassius!"

She dashed downstairs and threw herself into his arms.

Seeing her snug attire accentuating her curves, Cassius frowned. "You're exercising now? It's freezing."

"Yes! I'm in a great mood—perfect for kayaking." She tilted her head back, grinning.

"It's pitch black. What if you capsize? You're not exactly a strong swimmer." He pinched her waist lightly. "And you're not dressed warmly enough. You'll catch a cold."

Turning to Jason, he added sternly, "Miss Evadne has no one else watching over her. Why aren't you looking out for her?"

"My apologies, President Ashbourne," Jason said, bowing.

"Cassius, don't blame him," Evadne interjected. "He did warn me, but he can't change my mind."

The siblings settled onto the couch, Evadne resting her head against Cassius's shoulder. "Cassius, Ethereal Vogue's editor-in-chief just finalized the event details. Thank you for securing such a high-profile connection! I've adored Ethereal Vogue since I was a child."

Iris, the editor-in-chief, was a titan in fashion—her disapproval could ruin brands. That she'd personally called Evadne spoke volumes.

"I'm glad you're happy," Cassius said warmly, brushing her nose. "I know you've been down since Ada went to Abernathy. You always need a distraction, so I thought this might help."

"Psh, I'm fine," Evadne pouted. "I've been eating well, sleeping soundly—I haven't given it a second thought."

Jason bit his lip, heart racing as he watched her cheeks flush pink. Only around Cassius did Miss Evadne show this girlish side.

"You say that, but your dark circles disagree," Cassius sighed, rubbing beneath her eyes.

"Oh, that's not why. Wait—Cassius, how do you even know Iris? You two seem close. She's trusting me with this massive event! Ethereal Vogue has never hosted anything in Elmsworth before!"

Cassius shrugged. "We're not close."

"Then why—?"

"She's had a crush on me for about a decade."

Evadne and Jason gasped. "What?"

"I've rejected her multiple times, but she's persistent. I just ignore it."

"Fashion queen Iris is nearly fifty, right?" Evadne blurted.

Even in his thirties, Cassius was undeniably the younger one in this scenario.

"How pathetic," Evadne sighed.

"Indeed. A fifty-year-old admirer is... pressure," Jason added.

"No, no—I meant Iris is pathetic!" Evadne huffed, defensive of her idol. "Age isn't the issue. The issue is she picked the wrong man! The fashion queen falling for a confirmed bachelor? It's a miracle you haven't scared her off yet, let alone dated her!"

Cassius and Jason exchanged glances, speechless.