Serena lazily lifted her gaze, her stunning, unadorned face holding a hint of mockery. "Oh? Is that so? Go ahead and try."
"Serena, just stop being so stubborn!" Hailey said, feigning concern for Serena. "It was wrong of you to sneak into such an important event without an invitation. This is the Blackwood family's heiress's coming-of-age party. You have no connection to Miss Blackwood. Forcing yourself on her like this is just embarrassing. You're only humiliating yourself."
Serena's long, bright eyes narrowed with a hint of wicked amusement. "The way you were just trying to force yourself on Miss Blackwood was pretty pathetic to watch."
Hailey's expression faltered. She remembered how she had almost been publicly humiliated by Brianna when she presented her gift. But...
"At least I came in with a proper invitation. And... Miss Blackwood accepted the necklace I designed, which means she appreciates my talent and likes my work." Hailey puffed out her chest, her face filled with confidence and pride. "After I officially join Aurevion Jewelers, the company owned by the heiress to the Lancaster family, I might even be able to design more jewelry for Miss Blackwood."
She deliberately emphasized her design and her upcoming position at the jewelry company owned by the daughter of Vaelion City's wealthiest family.
Just by showcasing her design in front of these top-tier elites, and even catching the eye of the internationally renowned jewelry master, Ms. Rainsford, she had earned the right to hold her head high in front of a slut like Serena, who only knew how to use men to get ahead.
Seeing Hailey's proud and smug expression, Serena let out a soft laugh. "Is that right? Based on that..... design draft you scrounged up from some forgotten corner?"
Hailey's heart lurched violently. She snapped her head up to stare at Serena's face, a wave of guilt washing over her.
She clenched her fists, her expression shifting. Could Serena know something?
Impossible! There was no way Serena could know that the jewelry design she had given to Brianna was found in the Wynn family's warehouse.
If Serena had known about those design drafts in the warehouse, wouldn't she have used them herself to curry favor with the Wynn family long ago?
No one could possibly know that the design wasn't her own!
Hailey forced herself to remain calm. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm confident in my own design!"
She stressed the words "my own design." Then, she bit her lip. "Serena, don't try to change the subject. The issue right now is whether or not you have an invitation."
"Why are you wasting your breath on her?" the second socialite sneered. "She's being so evasive because she obviously doesn't have one. If you don't have an invitation, then get out! Don't dirty the Blackwood family's home!"
Her words were laced with venom. "You should take a look at yourself. You wear a fake dress and pretend to be a socialite, and you really start to think you're someone special? Let me tell you, no matter how you dress up, you can't hide the poverty and cheapness in your bones! Don't think you can reach the sky just by seducing some man with that face!"
"Don't say that about Serena..." Hailey interjected, pretending to mediate. "Serena was probably just confused for a moment. But... a man like M Blackwood isn't someone just anyone can have designs on Serena, what you're doing is too risky."
The two socialites heard this and scoffed in anger. "What? She dares to have ideas about Mr. Blackwood?"
"Talk about aiming high. She should look in a mirror and see where she comes from!"
"A country girl who didn't even finish high school, and she's dreaming of the magnificent Mr. Blackwood? You think you can compete with Isabella? You're not even worthy to carry her shoes!"
"Why would Mr. Blackwood ever be interested in a hick like you, with no family or background? The future lady of the Blackwood family will be a true socialite like Isabella."
"Everyone knows that Mr.
Blackwood and Isabella grew up
together. They're a match made in Heaven. And you think you can i seduce Mr. Blackwood just because you have a pretty face? Do you think you're worthy?"
As soon as they heard that Serena, a country girl from the slums, was trying to use her looks to go after the her of the Blackwood family, the two socialites completely lost their composure.
They wouldn't even dare to dream about a man as perfect as Nicholas. What right did Serena have to even think about seducing him?
Serena watched their clownish, triggered expressions, her own eyes growing colder. Slowly, she stood up.
The fiery red hem of her dress cascaded down like a bewitching, blooming flower, exceptionally striking.
Her languid, elegant posture gave her the regal air of a queen looking down upon her subjects. It was an unexpectedly commanding presence.
Then, she raised her hand.
*Smack—*
*Smack-*
Two crisp slaps echoed through the banquet hall. Against the backdrop of the soothing, elegant piano music, the sound was particularly clear.