As soon as he finished speaking, Marianne's sharp voice cut through from behind him. "I know! It must be because of Serena, because of that little bitch, right?"
She clicked over on her heels to Patrick's side, pointing at Serena, her chest heaving with rage. "Mr. Anderson, Mr. Keaton, did this little tramp tell you something? Our three companies have been partners for years! Can't you trust us?”
“Don't let this little bitch fool you! She's a complete backstabber. We raised her for twenty years, and she turns around and bites us! She..."
"Mrs. Wynn!"
Mr. Keaton gritted his teeth, his voice a cold, sharp command that cut Marianne off.
Marianne was completely oblivious to the fact that as she pointed and cursed at Serena, the faces of Mr. Anderson and Mr. Keaton had grown darker and their eyes colder.
It wasn't until Mr. Keaton's furious shout that she paused.
Patrick immediately grabbed Marianne's arm, yanking her behind him. "Mr. Anderson, Mr. Keaton, my wife didn't mean that. She's just..."
"Mr. Wynn." Mr. Anderson's face was grim, his gaze on Patrick like a dagger. "Watch yourself! This is the Blackwood family's private banquet. We don't discuss business here. If you have any issues, schedule an appointment with my assistant.”
Mr. Keaton's jaw twitched, as if he was struggling to suppress a mountain of rage. His look at Patrick was bone-chilling. "You people are already being incredibly rude by causing a commotion at the Blackwood family's entrance and questioning a guest. If you continue to harass us, I'm afraid I'll have to ask the Blackwood family's security to handle this."
After speaking, the two men clearly wanted nothing more to do with the Wynns, not even sparing them another glance.
They turned around, and the speed at which their expressions changed was breathtaking. In an instant, their faces were wreathed in warm, respectful smiles. "Miss Lancaster, shall we go in? It's too noisy out here. We wouldn't want it to ruin your mood."
As they spoke, they flanked her like loyal guardians, making a gesture for her to proceed.
Serena's elegant features remained calm. She gave a slight nod and walked toward the estate entrance.
The two men immediately scurried after her, flanking her with eager and deferential attention.
Patrick gripped Marianne's arm so tightly he was practically crushing it, channeling his fury into the hold. His eyes were bloodshot.
He stared fixedly at Serena.
He was waiting for the moment when security would stop her, demand her invitation, and Serena
would be humiliated, unable to produce one!
But when Serena reached the entrance, the guards checking invitations didn't even try to stop the Instead, they bowed slightly, respectfully gesturing for Serena to enter.
Their posture...
It was as if the two corporate leaders beside Serena were basking in her reflected glory.
Patrick's expression went slack, and he stared blankly as Serena... walked unimpeded into the banquet hall.
His breathing grew ragged and heavy.
His eyes looked ready to bulge from their sockets, blazing red.
How... how was this possible!
Serena had walked right in without even showing an invitation!
They had been standing at the entrance for a long time.
They had watched top-tier dignitaries from around the world, people who only appeared in
financial magazines and on
news, all follow the proper
procedure to enter.
Why didn't Serena have to?
And the guards' attitude toward Serena was even more solicitous than it had been
for those powerful figures!