Chapter 160


    Sophia felt like she’d been struck by lightning. Her voice trembled with disbelief. “What did you say?”


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    Lillian’s face was etched with contempt. Aubree had dared to throw wine in her face, and now she was


    going to pay the price. Tonight was not only about bringing Brielle to her knees but also about exposing


    Aubree and Andrew’s secret rtionship to the public eye. However, wary of upsetting the influential


    Clements family, Lillian knew this task had to be Sophia’s doing. Sophia detested Brielle and Aubree,


    and being Tessa’sckey, she was more than willing to take on the charge.


    “My brother told me he saw Andrew and Aubree checking into a hotel together, and I’ve seen them


    myself,” Lillian sneered.


    Sophia’s scalp tingled with rage, her fists clenched. “Are you serious?”


    “Absolutely. Why else would these so–called siblings, who aren’t blood–rted, share a room when


    traveling? Are the Clements on a budget or something?”


    Sophia’s hands shook, her eyes red with fury. “Lillian, thanks for sharing this. I won’t let Aubree get


    away with this. Birds of a feather, she and Brielle are both trash.”


    Lillian watched as Sophia’s emotions peaked, then she began to set the stage. “Brielle and Aubree will


    be here tonight. Try not to seem too angry, okay? We can handle this privately.”


    But this hit a nerve with Sophia. “No, I want to use this opportunity. To reveal what Aubree has done,


    and Andrew, how could he!”


    Anger often clouds judgment, and Sophia felt a fire raging within her. She had to ry this information


    to Tessa immediately.


    That bitch Aubree hooked up with Andrew!


    Lillian, feigning concern, took Sophia’s arm. “Sophia, calm down. Let’s head downstairs.”


    Sophia, bereft of reason, shook off her hand and stormed down.


    Lillian watched her go, a slight smirk on her lips, then gracefully made her way to the staircase. The


    hall was resplendent, the guests mingling in earnest conversation. Basking in the glory of her


    expensive gown, Lillian descended the grand staircase, feeling like the belle of the ball, all eyes on her.


    Then she spotted Spencer, looking dapper yet impatient, ignoring her presence, which irked her.


    Then she thought, if she yed her cards right and caught Max’s eye, she wouldn’t need to cling to


    Spencer – she could aim higher.


    With each elegant step, Lillian felt like a fairy–tale princess, the music adding to her grandeur. But


    before she could soak up the adoration, the doors swung open, and in walked Brielle.


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    Chapter 160


    draped in a whitece dress, her grace slow and deliberate. And the man standing by her side was


    elegant as the moon, with the rosary on his wrist particrly conspicuous.


    It was Max!


    The hall fell into a hushed reverence. Max rarely attended such events, and his presence alone was


    enough to steal the spotlight.


    Though Max and Brielle didn’t exhibit overt intimacy, not even linking arms, their mere proximity


    seemed toplement each other perfectly.


    No one knew what Max’s presence signified, as it was his first time attending with a femalepanion.


    No one knew if Brielle was indeed his date. At least he didn’t push her away.


    The room seemed to hit mute. And there was Lillian, halfway down the stairs, now ignored by all, her


    grand entrance dissolving into awkwardness.


    She had hoped to overshadow Brielle tonight, but there stood Brielle, not at all diminished by Max’s


    imposing aura. Brielle herself exuded a transcendental charisma, and her whitece dress only


    entuated her allure.


    How was she fit to stand before Max?