The chatter at the scene grew louder, swiftly tilting against Tina’s favor. The dignitaries gathered there were unused to such public disgrace. Jared Farrell, surveying the crowd, darkened his gaze as he was about to erupt in anger. It was then that a calm voice descended from the stairs, “What have I done to be so disregarded by you?”


    All eyes turned to see Tina, dressed casually, making her way effortlessly to the forefront. She nced around nonchntly, “What did I miss? Any interesting drama?”


    Her arrival was like a p of thunder, leaving the audience dumbstruck. She had briefly appeared in a live broadcast, yet here she was, unbothered and physically present, spinning everyone in circles.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Before the guests could voice their confusion, the live broadcast shifted again. The camera now focused on a dressing room where Mack, donned in a custom-made dress, sat disoriented and flushed on a chair. Suddenly, someone burst into the room, putting a knife to Mack’s neck and abducting him.


    The crowd was baffled. Was that a kidnapping? But why Mack? The spoiled young man wasn’t particrly wealthy or favored by Hawk. Even if someone kidnapped him to demand a ransom from Hawk, it was unlikely Hawk would pay.


    “Wait! That’s wrong! Mack is wearing Miss Reed’s gown!” someone finally realized. The crowd remembered the distinctive dress, previously highlighted by the Reed family’s stylist in a popr blog post for its unique design.


    Confusion turned into realization. “So, the kidnappers were actually after Miss Reed? Mr. Emerson was just coteral damage?”


    “What issue does Miss Reed have that attending a banquet could lead to a kidnapping?” murmured the Reed family, their faces pale with worry.


    Suddenly, an indignant voice rose above the murmurs. “Mr. Emerson gets kidnapped, and it’s Miss Reed’s fault? Are you all out of your minds?”


    Turning toward the source, the crowd saw three young women and two young men, all around eighteen or neen, storming in. They approached Tina, saying in unison, “Miss Reed!”


    Tina paused, “I thought you weren’ting?”


    Her banquet, hosted by the Reed family, was meant for inviting her friends. Considering the implications of inviting her more notorious acquaintances, she had opted to invite Velma Lehman and had extended invitations to ss 22D after promising them a meal with Ember Saffron, now that they were all heading to Ashbury for university.


    Though most couldn’t make it, Hugo had promised toe but hadn’t shown up. Tina had tried calling him earlier without sess and had sent Cole Lyon to look for him.


    “We wouldn’t miss your banquet, Miss Reed,” Shonna Woodham said with a smile, exining their surprise visit. Tina was touched by the presence of her friends: Velma Lehman, Shonna Woodham, Elena Heisler, Albert Sitwell, and Hendrik Stiller.


    “Tina, congrattions on finding your family,” Velma said warmly, “My grandparents and parents send their regards. My dad always says he owes you a meal. Once we’re in Ashbury, we’ll make it up to you.”


    Tina smiled, “I’ll hold you to that.”


    Soon, Beatrice Fanning and Welson Woodham approached. Welson, not yet the family head due to his grandfather’s presence, wore a well-tailored suit and exuded a schrly charm rather than the hardened sharpness of a seasoned businessman. Beatrice, in a luxurious gown, linked arms with him, standing elegantly by Tina’s side.


    “Miss Reed, sorry we’rete. Congrattions on finding your father,” Beatrice greeted warmly. The Woodham family, though not as prominent as the top families, held considerable influence in Ashbury.


    “Thank you,” Tina responded with a gracious smile that silenced any doubts about her sophistication.


    “Miss Reed saved my daughter once, and I’ve been wanting to thank you in person,” Welson added, adjusting his sses. “Please, let us host you for a meal sometime.”


    “Certainly.”


    After a brief exchange, Tina asked them to take their seats as she had other matters to attend to. However, Velma Lehman, looking around, suddenly spoke coldly, “Who just said Mr. Emerson’s kidnapping was rted to Miss Reed? Stand up. Let me see if your brain is filled with maggots or crap.”


    Her blunt words, typical of her straightforward nature, made many ufortable. Velma continued, disregarding their reactions, “He was in Miss Reed’s dressing room, wearing her gown. Was he not plotting something indecent? Did he not invite trouble upon himself?”


    “Earlier, Miss Reed was ndered in the livestream, and then Mr. Emerson shows up there. Who’s foolish enough to say his kidnapping is her fault? Who’s the toxic one here? You fools who can’t tell right from wrong!”


    Her fierce defense included many in the crowd, turning many expressions even sourer. Nathaniel, among them, looked particrly distressed. He had nned to use the chaos to kidnap Tina but never expected his men to mistakenly abduct Mack instead. What a blunder!