Isabella nearly gave herself a heart attack with that thought.
Then she let out a disdainful scoff.
Hazel Carring was just another trashy bumpkin from the same dirt-poor town as Serena.
A pack of absolute nobodies.
Had they even seen a real gun in their lives?
Why on earth would they be carrying one around?
She must have been seeing things!
Isabella swiftly stepped away from the area where Serena's friends had left their belongings. She sat down at the vanity, completely playing it cool.
Right on cue, several socialites pushed the door open.
The moment they saw Isabella, their chatter died instantly.
Isabella could see the overt disdain radiating from their faces.
Just an hour ago, before Serena arrived.
She was the most stunning woman in the room.
The one all these socialites tripped over themselves to talk to.
But now...
The more Isabella thought about it, the more suffocated she felt.
She pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and forced a bright smile, offering them a polite greeting.
But not a single socialite responded. Instead, they looked at her with a mix of utter weirdness and blatant mockery.
Then, pretending she didn't exist, they strolled past her to the vanity on the far side of the room, giggling and touching up their makeup.
Completely icing Isabella out.
Isabella's smile fractured slightly.
Her face burned hot red.
A murderous hatred clawed at her insides.
She clenched her fists and turned sharply, marching right out of the dressing room.
Just endure a little longer...
Just a little longer!
Pretty soon, the laughingstock of the entire gala would be Serena! Not her!
Isabella tightened her grip and walked back into the banquet hall.
She picked up a glass of champagne, her fingers trembling slightly but her eyes zeroed in on Serena, who was currently being orbited by the Vintor family like she was the sun.
Princess Isadora stood right beside her, chatting with Serena with a blindingly bright smile.
She tipped her head back, downing the champagne in one go, a triumphant sneer curling on her lips.
Keep smiling.
Smile all you want right now, Serena.
Because in a few minutes, you won't be smiling at all!
It didn't take long.
Suddenly, a hushed but frantic commotion broke out near Princess Isadora.
One of the princess's attendants, pale as a ghost, rushed over and whispered frantically into her ear.
Princess Isadora's elegant smile vanished in a second, replaced by a deep, furious frown.
She immediately locked eyes with Silas Vinton and murmured something sharp.
The faces of the Vinton family instantly darkened. They immediately signaled for the orchestra to cut the music.
Standing not too far away, Isabella watched the scene unfold, unable to suppress the vicious smirk rising on her lips.
It looked like Princess Isadora had finally noticed The Heart of the Sea was missing. The show was about to begin.
Silas Vinton strode onto the elevated stage, gripping the microphone. His voice was freezing cold. "Ladies gentlemen, I apologize for
interrupting the festivities. How ned
we have just discovered that the Heart of the Sea, the gift presented to my niece Serena by Her Highness Princess Isadora, has gone missing."
"It is a national treasure of the royal family. Its value is immeasurable."
His predatory gaze swept over every single person in the hall. "Therefore, I must ask for everyone's complete. cooperation as the Vinton family and the royal guard conduct a thorough search."
The moment those words dropped.
The entire hall exploded into chaos.
"What? The princess's gift was stolen?"
"The Heart of the Sea? That's a literal national treasure!"
"Who has the balls to steal something at an event like this? And to steal a national treasure gifted by the princess herself?!"
The announcement hit the room like a bomb.
The elites, who had been mingling and drinking seconds ago, were in total shock.
A missing national treasure wasn't just a lost trinket.
It didn't just trample all over the Vinton family's honor.
It threatened the entire political alliance between the Vintons and The Royal House
of Vaelion!
Holden Vinton's face darkened with absolute fury. "Lock down the estate immediately! No one leaves!"