This was Old Mr. Blackwood's way of giving Isabella a graceful exit.
However, Isabella clenched her fists.
Take care of that useless Karen, who was more trouble than she was worth?
Why should she?
Isabella grew even more furious, but she didn't dare let it show. She could only lower her head in humiliation and say in a choked voice, "Yes... I was just about to go to the hospital to see Karen..."
She turned away, her eyes filled with tears.
She kept looking back with every step, hoping Nicholas would ask her to stay.
But... no one over there paid any attention to her departure. They didn't even spare her a single glance.
Every single one of them was gathered around Serena, seemingly chatting with her, their faces wreathed in smiles.
Vaguely, she heard Old Mr. Blackwood chuckle as he said to Serena, "...Brianna's coming-of-age party is next week. Serena, you absolutely must come! Grandpa will be waiting for you!"
Immediately after, Nicholas's clear, magnetic voice followed, laced with an intimate smile. "Then Serena... will be my date."
Date?!
Those two words exploded in Isabella's mind like a clap of thunder.
Her vision went dark!
For Serena to attend Brianna's coming-of-age party as Nicholas's date?
Then what about her... the one who had been hinting to their entire social circle about an engagement between their families, the one who had been posing as Nicholas's future wife...
Wouldn't she become the laughingstock of the entire elite circle?!
Moreover, everyone in their circle would start speculating about Serena's identity. When it was eventually revealed... her status as the fake heiress would be impossible to hide!
Isabella was frantic with anger and anxiety, her mind a chaotic mess of misery.
But she was powerless to stop it. The two maids, under the guise of escorting her, practically dragged her out of the main house.
It was utterly humiliating.
Once Isabella was gone, the atmosphere in the main house became much more peaceful.
Faced with two pairs of expectant eyes staring straight at her, Serena hadn't yet answered when she suddenly heard a bright, cheerful shout.
"Serena!"
A young girl in a white nightgown came flying over like a breeze.
Her lovely cute face was brimming with an excited smile. "Serena, why didn't you tell me you were coming? If I had known you, were coming today, I wouldn't have slept in
Serena reached out and caught her, patting her on the head. "It's not too late to see me now."
With Brianna's arrival, the atmosphere became even more harmonious.
Old Mr. Blackwood watched his
granddaughter, who was usually et
sickly and only ever offered him a forced, listless smile, finally reveal such a lively and vibrant grin.
His own eyes softened with a smile.
He watched the natural, affectionate way his granddaughter interacted with Serena, and the more he looked at Serena, the more pleased and fond of her he became
Then he turned to look at his grandson...
He was just standing there, staring at Serena with a goofy grin, like some village idiot.
In an instant, his previous admiration for his grandson soured into undisguised disdain.
What did this brat do to deserve a chance with such a wonderful girl like Serena? Somehow... he felt like this kid wasn't good enough for her.