Upon seeing Isabella, Marianne immediately pulled Hailey along, her voice
deliberately loud and fawning. "Oh, you must be Miss Lancaster! You're absolutely stunning. The moment you arrived, you became the center of everyone's attention!"
"Isabella!" Hailey chimed in, moving closer as if to link arms with her.
However, the moment she approached, Isabella's perfectly shaped eyebrows furrowed slightly. She immediately stepped aside on her high heels, avoiding Hailey's touch.
Hailey froze for a second.
Marianne quickly tried to smooth things over with a laugh. "Silly girl, look how beautifully Isabella is dressed. It would be a crime if you smudged anything!"
Then, she turned back to Isabella, her tone sycophantic. "Miss Lancaster, thank you so much for inviting—"
Before she could finish, Isabella cut in, her voice polite yet distant. "Excuse me, you're blocking our way."
Seeing the Wynn family, she had nearly dug her fingernails into her palms.
Such a low-class, unpresentable family...
How utterly embarrassing!
Why were they still lingering at the manor's entrance?
And greeting her right in front of the Lancaster family?
Not only did she not want any of the other top-tier elites coming and going to know that she, Isabella, actually knew such a group of crass social climbers, but there was also another reason.
She was worried...
That her family would become suspicious.
After quickly cutting them off, Isabella immediately turned to the rest of the Lancasters and explained, "Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Julian, this is a jewelry designer I've been in talks with recently."
To say she didn't know them would have been too obvious. Her family was sharp; they would never have believed it.
This explanation was the best possible cover.
She could frame it as only having sought out the designer for her talent, hoping to recruit her for her own jewelry company, and only then discovering it was Hailey.
She just couldn't bear to miss out on such a talented designer.
What was wrong with that?
Even if her grandfather had someone investigate, that was the answer they would find.
With a calm expression, Isabella
took Catherine's arm and said in a
soft, sweet tone, "Mom, let's go inside Back at the Blackwoodt estate, Brianna couldn't stop talking
about her new gown. She must be dying to change and show it to us.
II
The Lancasters nodded, no longer bothering with the Wynn family, and walked straight into the manor.
The Wynns tried to follow and say something more, but the Lancaster's bodyguards simply raised their arms and blocked their path.
All they could do was watch as the Lancasters, surrounded by an entourage, entered the manor.
The surrounding guests looked at them as if they were watching a bunch of clowns.
Patrick's fawning smile froze on his face, and his expression darkened.
Facing the mocking gazes of those around him, he couldn't help but clench his fists. He shot a look at Hailey. What's going on? Miss Lancaster's attitude
at diet
seem like she considers you a good friend! Tell me the truth, have you
been lying to me?"
Patrick's eyes were filled with suspicion.
Just moments ago, Hailey had been floating on air, praised to the heavens by her
family.
And now, Patrick was questioning her so angrily.
Hailey's eyes immediately reddened, and she looked incredibly wronged. "Dad, how could I possibly lie to you about something like this? If Isabella and I weren't on good terms, why would she have given us an invitation to the Blackwood's party?"