Sebastian smoothly hitched a ride on Arthur's momentum. "Mr. Harrison truly speaks with the wisdom of a century-old medical family. His perspective is incredibly fair."
He turned to Serena, the sickeningly fake smile plastered back on his face. "The Montgomery family doesn't deny your talent, Miss Lancaster. It's a wonderful thing for the youth to be gifted. But the young are so easily derailed by excessive praise. The more the outside world worships you, the more your own family needs to keep your feet firmly on the ground. Otherwise, when you're perched high on a pedestal built of empty titles, the inevitable fall is going to shatter you."
Dominic sneered, crossing his arms. "True legacy families value a solid foundation. Relying on fifteen minutes of sensationalized fame is a pathetic way to survive. The people who genuinely care about you won't blindly worship you they'll remind you to watch your step."
On the surface, it sounded like wise counsel.
As if they weren't publicly trying to humiliate Serena, but were actually acting as her devoted mentors.
In reality, the Montgomerys and the Harrisons were executing a flawless, synchronized attack. Under the repulsive banner of 'for your own good,' they were trying to crush her.
They were attacking her youth. Her lack of a formal pedigree. Accusing her of stealing the glory of the Severia mission. Accusing the Lancaster family of brainwashing the public to make her look like a god.
Old Mr. Lancaster's face was livid. His grip on his cane tightened until his knuckles turned stark white, a storm of absolute fury raging in his eyes.
Tonight was his precious granddaughter's Debutante Gala. Tonight was meant to give her the magnificent welcome she had been robbed of for twenty years. And these absolute parasites had the audacity to stand in his home and hurl mud at her. Did they honestly think the Lancaster family was completely powerless?
Old Mr. Lancaster slammed his cane into the marble floor, opening his mouth to unleash hell.
But Serena gently placed her hand over his. Her features were perfectly serene, a faint, almost playful smirk playing on her lips. "Grandpa. There is absolutely no rush."
He saw the glint of predatory amusement in her eyes and frowned, momentarily unsure of what his brilliant granddaughter was plotting.
Serena swept her cool, lazy gaze over the Montgomery and Harrison families. She looked at them the way one might observe a troupe of particularly pathetic circus clowns.
Because that was exactly what they were.
The Montgomerys were arrogant. The Harrisons were ambitious. But neither family was stupid enough to crash a Lancaster gala just for the thrill of it.
This was Lancaster territory. They were the wealthiest family in Vaelion City. The Blackwoods were standing right there. Anyone with half a brain could see that the Lancasters revered Serena like a living goddess. Attacking her tonight was a declaration of war against both the Lancasters and the Blackwoods.
Even Sebastian wasn't that suicidal.
And the Harrisons, who had only recently crawled up the ladder after the Doyle family's collapse, desperately needed stability. They wouldn't pick a fight without a massive safety net.
Unless, of course, someone had offered them an irresistible bounty. Or handed them a weapon so powerful it made them feel invincible.
The Montgomerys' third branch was embroiled in a vicious internal war. What did they need? Foreign capital. Government approvals. A massive external ally to help them crush their own blood relatives.
And the Harrisons? They had swallowed up the Doyle family's resources but were still treated like new money by the international medical elite. What did they crave? Prestige A golden ticket into the global inner circle.
If they could publicly destroy Serena-the golden girl of the Lancaster family—
tonight, they could trade her ruined reputation for the ultimate prize.
The true enemy wasn't the Montgomery family, nor was it the Harrison family. They were just the attack dogs.