This left Bella standing there rigidly, her face morphing into an unflattering expression.
As Bella had eagerly attempted to initiate a conversation only to be blatantly ignored, Marina discovered an
outlet for her irritation, releasing a scornful laugh. “Who is so desperate to curry favor? It's a pity no one even
acknowledges you! Such a pitiful sycophant!”
With indignation flaring in her chest, Bella retorted with a smirk, “Is that so? At least | wasn’t expelled. Marina,
Marco just personally asked you to leave. Are you not going, or are you waiting for someone to physically
remove you?”
At this, Marina's countenance darkened.
Bella, feeling triumphant, turned to the fawning crowd around her, proclaiming, “Did you all see that? | told you!
Cozying up to Marina won't help in collaborating with the Bryant Group! What is she? Not only is she irrelevant to
the Bryant Group, but she’s also an embarrassing burden even within her own family!”
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A wave of fury surged within Marina. Earlier, she had already harbored resentment towards Marco after his public
humiliation of her. Despite her innate fear of him, the knowledge that he was merely a bastard child further
inflamed her indignation.
How dare an illegitimate child treat her this way!
Furthermore, Bella's taunting only stoked her anger, and Marina found herself unable to restrain her explosive
retort. “I didn’t even want to attend this damn banquet! The only reason | showed up was to save face for the
Bryant family! Who does Marco think he is? Without my mother, he’s nothing! He has no authority over the
Bryant Group! What's his standing? What right does he have to chastise me, the legitimate daughter of the
Bryant family?”
Hearing this, Bella's eyes widened in surprise. She questioned, “What are you implying?”
Was Marina suggesting that Marco's identity was dubious?
A momentary satisfaction filled Marina after her tirade, but the realization of what she had inadvertently
revealed made her face turn pale. Frantically scanning the vicinity and not spotting Marco, she hastily excused
herself, “I was just babbling! It doesn’t mean anything!”
In a fluster, Marina made a quick exit from the scene.
The other socialites chuckled derisively, “Marina’s brain isn’t functioning correctly. Look how upset she is. She is
just spouting nonsense!”
Marina had cried wolf too many times, and they no longer took her seriously.
ANGELA'sLIBRARY
Except for Bella.
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She mulled over Marina's words with a thoughtful look but maintained her composure for the rest of the
banquet.
Upon the conclusion of the evening banquet, Bella entered a Luxurious car and addressed the person in the
driver's seat, “Dad.”
Jefferson responded with a smile, “So, were you able to engage in a conversation with Loraine and Marco?”
Thinking about Marco's dismissal, Bella tensed up and sidestepped the question. Instead, she revealed, “Dad, |
have scrucial news to share with you.”
In the luxury car, Bella hushed her tone and hastily relayed the events she had just been privy to.
Jefferson’s eyes narrowed, his face awash with doubt.
After a moment, he said gravely, “Bella, you shouldn't speak such things without evidence. | am no fool.”
Seeing that Jefferson was skeptical, Bella's anxiety mounted.