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Chapter 360
“What the hell? She scared the shit out of me.”
“Jeez. Isn’t she from the Harper family? Why was she so rude? Doesn’t she know any
manners?”
Zoe had always been accustomed to getting her way, both at home and abroad, whether
it involved throwing a tantrum or making outright demands.
She had vented some of her current frustration and anger just like that, especially when
thinking about
what Jasper had said to her.
Now that she was back in the country, in front of all these guests who were part of Solana
City’s upper echelon, she realized that she should reconsider how she portrayed herself in
public. 1
Zoe cleared her throat, feigning composure. She then began playing Beethoven’s 5th
Symphony.
Having graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in Yoarkley had its benefits.
The music flowed effortlessly with each stroke of her fingers on the keys, allowing her
earlier outburst to
fade into the background of everyone’s minds.
Betty stormed over from the back of the hotel to her mother in the event hall, screeching,
“Mom! Lauren
is here!”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“What?” Sophia cried, “Where?”
“I saw her with Landon earlier. He touched her head and even gave her his coat!” Betty’s
eyes were nearly
red with seething resentment.
She continued, “Do you really think she’s dumb, Mom? She’s a whore, that’s what she is!
Hiding behind
that fake innocent mask of hers. She’s already had her eyes set on Landon, Mom! That
bitch wants to
snatch him away from me!” (2
Sophia squeezed her arm. “Keep those filthy words out of your mouth, Betty Beckett!
Where are all the
manners and etiquette I taught you?! Lauren is your sister and my daughter. Do not insult
her like this ever
again!”
Betty gnawed angrily on her lip, suspecting that her mother was likely making excuses to
avoid facing the
fact that she had given birth to a fool!
“What do I do now, Mom?” she cried, clinging to her mother’s arm. “First Alyssa and now
Lauren! Landon
never liked me in the first place. I don’t have a chance anymore now!”
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“Don’t worry. Lauren won’t get in your way. She wouldn’t even think of it that way. Tell
Xavier to find
Lauren later and send her home.”
Sophia honestly didn’t think this was a big deal. She had tightly controlled both her
daughters throughout the years. In her view, nothing could disrupt her plans.
Lauren’s mental state and condition would make it difficult to marry her off, but Sophia
would still find a prominent match for her. All the better if that family could benefit herself
in return for all the trouble she had gone through in raising Lauren.
“This Harper girl has quite the temper, hasn’t she?” Sophia remarked casually as she
watched Zoe
perform on stage.
“To be honest, Mom, her temper is pretty awful about 95% of the time!”
Betty’s relationship with Zoe was purely transactional, lacking any genuine depth or
sincerity, so she saw no reason to conceal her thoughts from her mother.
She added, “Compared to Liana, she’s like a whole atomic bomb.”
“Good.” Sophia’s eyes were sharp.
“What? Why …”
“A fiery temper means she won’t hide her motives too deeply, making it easier to
manipulate her. She’s a
straightforward girl, really.
“She’s been pampered and spoiled since she was young, never facing any hardship in life.
All she wants is to be with Jasper, although she does exhibit a possessive streak …”
Sophia then scoffed. “Unlike Liana, who wouldn’t hesitate to stab you in the back right
after professing her
sincerity.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmJust then, the hall doors swung open.
Zoe continued to play with the symphony, oblivious that everyone’s attention had shifted
to the newly
arrived guests.
Lauren walked in with Landon by her side, her steps small and afraid.
“Who is that with Mr. Harper? I’ve never seen her before,” some of the more curious
guests chirped up.
“Probably a new fling. He goes through women like we go through shoes. I heard the
longest he’s dated
someone was one month”
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“She’s quite pretty, almost innocent-looking. I thought he preferred the sexy, model-esque
ones. Has he grown tired of them?”
“I must say, that girl is prettier than both the Harper girl and Betty Beckett. You guys just
don’t understand. This new girl is a hidden gem, not one of those snobby, wealthy types
you find everywhere.”
“Well, well. It looks like Mr. Harper has better taste in women than Mr. Jasper then. She
looks far more trustworthy. She won’t be betraying Mr. Harper anytime soon…”
Betty’s face had turned an ugly shade of red as she watched Landon and Lauren enter
together while overhearing the salacious gossip around her.
Meanwhile, Sophia was looking quite sickly.
*
*
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