Chapter 817


    Ashlyn sat on the sofa,pletely lost in thought. "It''s really Sylvia..." she muttered to herself. How


    could there be a woman like her in this world?


    The sun had risen and Ashlyn and her daughter had been sitting on the sofa all night without sleep.


    They were supposed to attend the Graley Piano Competition farewell banquet that afternoon, looking


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    morous and beautiful. But now... they were embarrassed enough to hide themselves.


    Meanwhile, Sylvia and Franklin had woken up. As Sylvia pulled back the curtains, she saw dark clouds


    looming outside - it was obvious that it was going to rain soon.


    "I didn''t expect today would be so gloomy," she said as she watched the grass droop down under the


    weight of raindrops.


    The once vibrant morning was now extremely low-pressure; oppressive silence enveloped everything


    around them.


    Sylvia nced at her phone absentmindedly only to find more than ten missed calls from Jenna, Mrs.


    Wright, Logan, Eden... and Ramiro?


    She felt confused for a moment before remembering thatst night before going to bed she recorded


    an audio message for Maskelyne Group, just being cooperative but not letting Ashlyn trample over her


    head with impunity.


    But then Twitter exploded with negativements about Ashlyn''s behavior towards Sylvia...


    Franklin looked at her helplessly as he handed over Ramiro''s musical instrument which he passed


    down onto Sylvia. "Ramiro has passed it on you."


    Sylvia was scrolling through messages when Franklin spoke up again, "He thinks you are his


    sessor."


    "Really?" She raised an eyebrow skeptically while Franklin pinched her cheek affectionately. "Yes! He


    tweeted about itst night."


    "I don''t want it." She groaned feeling overwhelmed by all of these responsibilities thrust upon her


    shoulders yet again.


    Just as she picked up Ramiro''s call intending on declining his offer politely, he spoke first, "Miss


    Andrews," Ramiro sounded tired but sincere. "I apologize for giving you my instrument without your


    permission but I truly believe that only you deserve such an honor..." He sighed deeply into his phone


    receiver. "My health is deteriorating day by day... Miss Andrews... you really are..."


    And then there was silence on both ends of the line...


    Sylvia was in a difficult position. She had intended to refuse, but Ramiro''s words made it hard for her to


    say no.


    "Don''t talk like that, Mr. Cantrell. Maybe you''ll recover," Sylvia whispered, trying tofort him.


    "It''s toote. I''ve had a few rounds of chemo recently and it helped a little bit, but not for long. This is


    my only wish in life - to have my instrument taken care of. Miss Andrews, pleasee back and collect


    my piano after you return home. I''ll hold a ceremony and I hope you can attend."


    "Okay, okay, the old Cantrell. Sylvia won''t let you down," she promised.


    After hanging up the phone, Sylvia finally calmed down. Her beautiful face was full of sadness as she


    thought about how Ramiro had terminal cancer.


    "Death is inevitable; nobody can resist it forever. RL 133 isn''t a cure-all," Franklinforted her with


    gentle pats on her shoulder.


    Sylvia nodded in agreement - RL 133 could prolong life but couldn''t cure all diseases - especially those


    that were already advanced like cancer.


    She couldn''t help feeling emotional about Ramiro though; he''d always been obsessed with music.


    The farewell banquet for Graley Piano Competition was held at the top floor hall of the hotel as usual.


    Ashlyn followed Mrs. Ritter closely while her face burned painfully red from embarrassment; it felt like


    someone had pped her several times without actually touching her.


    "Mom... I told you we didn''t need toe here! We could just go back home!" Ashlynined


    bitterly.


    Mrs. Ritter red at Ashlyn coldly and snapped back, "What do you know? This is an opportunity to


    How will wepare?"


    "But everyone knows what happened with Wynter... it''s so embarrassing! I don''t even dare look at


    anyone!" Ashlyn blushed deeply as she spoke; she simply couldn''t calm herself down.


    Especially when considering all those evidences on social media including insults and celebrity


    endorsements, they were all publicly humiliating them both!


    It hurt so much... her eyes darted around frantically because she felt everyone around them were


    secretlyughing or talking behind their backs.


    Mrs. Ritter looked out into the hall where morous celebrities mingled together before turning away


    quickly without making eye contact again.


    His gaze gradually became firm. "Mom did it all for you. I heard that the Spencer family''s young master,


    Alejandro Spencer, is alsoing today."


    "Really?" Ashlyn''s eyes brightened at the news. "That''s great."


    "Otherwise, why would Ie? As long as you catch Alejandro''s eye and marry into the Spencer


    family, then you''ll truly be on top of the world."


    There was amotion at the entrance to the banquet hall.


    The mother and daughter both smiled with joy. "Could it be Mr. Alejandro who has arrived?"


    They both looked towards the entrance where guests automatically made way for a couple holding


    hands.


    Sylvia wore a golden off-the-shoulder gown that revealed her beautiful corbone while reflecting light


    off its fabric in an elegant curve from high to low hemline.


    Her slender figure seemed fragile yet irresistible when held tightly.


    Her hair was tied up high in an intricate bun which contrasted perfectly with her fair skin tone creating


    perfect curves along her body line.


    The slight folds of her dress swayed gently as she walked through yellowish white light like a fairy


    goddess beside Franklin who wore his bespoke suit tailored to perfection around his long legs giving


    him an air of nobility and elegance while his handsome face exuded danger and dominance as he


    scanned everyone present in front of him with one hand casually tucked inside his pocket.


    When the Ritter mother and daughter saw them clearly, they were immediately disappointed because


    theers were exactly what they didn''t want to see right now!


    "Mr. Maskelyne!" Suddenly, a voice rang out from near the entrance catching many people''s attention


    again.


    A man wearing silver-grey suit hurried over but before he could get close enough, he extended his


    hand towards Franklin.


    "Mr. Alejandro," Franklin said nonchntly, shaking hands briefly before letting go.


    "It''s been so long," Alejandro smiled slightly at him, then turned towards Sylvia, extending his hand,


    ready to shake hers but once again, Franklin reached out, causing him to hesitate briefly before smiling


    again.


    He couldn''t help feeling surprised by how beautiful Sylvia really was; although he himself was quite


    handsomepared to most men but still notparable with Franklin whose looks were


    unforgettable.


    Sylvia nced at him and simply nodded in greeting, not wanting to say much.


    Mrs. Ritter had originally wanted to bring Ashlyn over, but upon seeing Alejandro''s familiar and


    somewhat ingratiating attitude towards Franklin, her eyes suddenly became flustered and anxious. Her


    hand hanging by her side involuntarily clenched into a fist.


    Damn it!


    Why was Alejandro so familiar with Franklin and even hinted at pleasing him?


    Ashlyn could almost feel all the eyes in the room turning towards Sylvia as soon as Sylvia walked in.


    She was the center of attention wherever she went.


    Why was she always the most attractive presence no matter where she went?


    Ashlyn felt extremely ufortable, both jealous and resentful. Even the man she wanted to seduce


    for power was holding onto Franklin.


    God is so unfair!


    After exchanging a few words with Alejandro, Franklin led Sylvia to the lounge area.


    "What would you like to drink?"


    "Just some juice," Sylviazily sat on the sofa while waiting for Fashion Mogul. It''s already thiste;


    why hasn''t Fashion Mogul arrived yet? She asionally looked towards the entrance of the hall.


    Not far away, Mrs. Ritter finally brought Ashlyn over to Alejandro''s side.


    "Mr. Alejandro... how is my aunt doing now?" Ashlyn wiped away crocodile tears from her eyes


    sorrowfully, looking very concerned about Allie.


    Alejandro didn''t show any enthusiasm like he did when facing Franklin or Sylvia; instead there was a


    hint of superiority in his tone. "Issues concerning Allie will be handled by me personally. So... Mrs.


    Ritter can you give me an exnation? Why did she end up in jail? Did she really instruct that man?"


    Alejandro''s tone carried a hint of intimidation.


    Mrs. Ritter''s face slightly stiffened; everything had been done wlessly on her part- there''s no way the


    Spencer family could have found out about it.


    So she calmly replied, "That needs to be asked from my sister since what happened should be clearest


    for her."


    "I never expected that my own sister would falsely use me even at this point."


    Suddenly a voice sounded behind Mrs. Ritter.


    "Allie?"


    Wasn''t Allie supposed to still be locked up? How could she appear here?


    "My dear sister, that man you clearly chose is ming me for his own actions. He only wants Ashlyn to


    smoothly enter the Spencer family and wants me to take the fall, as if I''m a thorn in his side. You''ve


    always beenpeting with me since we were young. I thought by now we could be good sisters, but it


    seems like I was naive."


    Allie wore a long red dress paired with matching high heels and bold red lipstick, exuding confidence.


    However, her gaze was icy cold, as if she were looking at a dead person.


    Or perhaps in her heart, her own sister had already died.