Chapter 253


    I shot her a nce, nonchntly saying, "Obviously her. What''s so interesting about the older ones?


    Besides, we''ll have our chance to deal with herter, there''s no rush. Don''t forget, this is our night!"


    Hannahughed, revealing two small, sharp teeth. They were quite charming, a detail I had previously


    overlooked.


    Renata was already strutting up to us, her face adorned with a flight attendant''s smile. She scanned us


    all before finally resting her gaze on me...


    I saw the way Renata''s gaze finally settled on me and knew that the show was about to begin.


    Sure enough, Renata shed me a charming smile, elegantly saying, "Mrs. Dawson, what a pleasure it


    is to meet you! I didn''t realize your wit was so sharp, you put even a professional host like me to


    shame!"


    "You''re too kind, Ms. Renata! You''re just being modest! There''s noparison between us!" I replied


    with a warm smile and a pointedment, "Ms. Renata, your professional skills are unmatched! I


    could never hope topete!"


    "You''re too modest, Mrs. Dawson!" she returned thepliment.


    "Enough with the mutual ttery!" Catherine chimed in, "We each have our specialties. Allie is all about


    her business, unlike Ms. Renata who excels in every field and is always in the limelight. Leave some


    room for the rest of us, don''t hog all the headlines!"


    Catherine, noticing Renata''s growing rapport with me, naturally couldn''t stand idly by. Her words were


    loaded with innuendo.


    Renata shifted her gaze to Catherine, still smiling her calm smile, and shot back, "Ms. Damon, as


    expected of a media personality, always chasing rumors!"


    It seemed they knew each other well, and their barbs were pinpoint urate.


    "Call me a gossip, why don''t you! I admit, I love a good piece of gossip. Allie always scolds me for it,


    says I live off gossip! But what can I do? It''s my profession, and I''m dedicated...sigh...I just can''t seem


    to make it to the top!" Catherine''s words had a hint of sour grapes, "I just can''tpare to you


    celebrities!"


    "That''s not necessarily true. Thanks to gossip experts like you, everyone gets a chance. Look, even


    Mrs. Dawson can make headlines!" Renata skillfully changed the topic, her smile concealing a razor-


    sharp wit, tantly pointing out my weakness.


    Indeed, the online bashing hadn''t ceased, and the methods had been refreshed, constantly increasing!


    If I couldn''t find Evan, I wouldn''t be able to catch a break.


    I looked at Renata, not taking the bait. I thought to myself, I won''tpete with you for a moment of


    satisfaction, you can continue to ride the wave! Just remember, provoking me alwayses with a


    cost.


    Renata probably thought that my silence was an admission of defeat, so she gestured to someone.


    I saw ra, carrying a tray, immediately start to walk towards us. I squinted at ra''s familiar and


    innocent face.


    She seemed thinner than a few days ago, probably due to her illness. Even though the current


    medication for her condition was highly effective, it was probably not something she could afford.


    ra seemed to notice my attention. She hesitated for a moment, avoiding my gaze, standing a little


    distance away from me.


    Renata, with a perfectly charming smile, announced to us, "I am honored to meet everyone at Medsafe


    Liyah Inc.''s victory party. The opportunity is rare, so why don''t we share a drink?"


    I saw Hannah standing next to ra, who held the tray straight, her eyes still not daring to meet mine,


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    looking down.


    After Renata finished speaking, she turned around, beckoning with her finger. ra immediately


    stepped forward. Renata handed out a drink to each of us, introducing herself as she did so, "I''m


    Renata, nice to meet you!"


    I took the ss she handed me, casually swaying it, feigning nonchnce.


    Renata finally picked up thest ss on the tray, raising it to us, "Ladies, it''s my pleasure to meet you


    here. Let''s toast to evesting beauty!"


    I saw ra quietly retreat with the tray.


    Hannah raised her eyebrows at me, and I responded with a smirk.


    Gevenaughed, "Renata, you''re really good at ingratiating yourself! Making friends with a single drink,


    and it''s even a drink from the Dawson family. You''re really crafty!"


    "Hey, I''ve already said, it''s just a friendly gesture!" she replied with a blush, "Are you refusing the


    toast?"


    "How could we?" Gevena replied with a lightugh, looking at me, "But Aaliyah isn''t feeling well, so


    maybe we should skip the drinks. A cup of tea will do just fine!"


    I remained silent, looking at Renata as if asking for her opinion.