Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Birthday Party
The day of the birthday party arrived.
「Sunday Evening」
A gentle breeze swept by as the setting sun cast long shadows, staining the sky a bloody red.
An understated, elegant Maybach slowly pulled up to the Austin Hotel, stopping just before the red carpet.
The bodyguard stepped out of the driver’s seat, rounded the car, and opened the rear door.
The next moment, a young woman in a long, white evening gown captured everyone’s attention.
The young woman was dressed in a pure white gown. Her cascading black curls fell over her chest, offering a subtle glimpse of her delicate collarbones.
The dress made her skin look as white as porcelain, and under the soft lights, she resembled a delicate white lotus in bloom.
The young woman strode slowly into the hall, leaving the guests she passed momentarily stunned.
Only after her figure had disappeared from view did someone ask, "Whose daughter is that? I’ve never seen her before."
"We should ask around inside. If the chance arises, we could even propose a match."
A murmur of discussion rippled through the crowd.
Suddenly, a wealthy businessman’s wife stared thoughtfully at the young woman’s departing figure. "You know," she mused, "I can’t help but think she looks like Chloe Sinclair."
The crowd fell silent.
Her words were like a stone tossed into a still pond, sending ripples through the large crowd. A moment later, the chatter exploded.
"Chloe Sinclair? That’s impossible!"
"Aren’t the rumors that Chloe Sinclair is hideously ugly and ill-mannered?"
"Exactly! I heard Mrs. Rhodes say that not only is Chloe Sinclair a terrible student, but her personal life is a mess. A completely useless good-for-nothing."
"Maybe she’s the daughter of some other prominent family?"
Voices of doubt rose one after another, the crowd clearly unconvinced by the woman’s suggestion.
The wealthy businessman’s wife had only made a casual guess because the young woman looked familiar. She hadn’t expected to be contradicted by so many people, and her expression immediately soured.
"I was just saying," she muttered under her breath.
’In truth, she didn’t really believe it was Chloe Sinclair either.’
After all, all the society wives knew that Chloe Sinclair was uncultured and poorly educated.
’Even though her family was wealthy, a person like that surely wasn’t well-liked, even by her own family.’
That was why many of them warned their own children to have nothing to do with Chloe Sinclair. Associating with her would be beneath them, and what’s more, they might become a laughingstock.
In their eyes, appearances were everything.
But as they entered the main hall, they saw the very same young woman from the car standing right beside Mr. Sinclair. A terrible premonition bloomed in their hearts.
’It couldn’t... possibly be such a coincidence, could it?’
The next moment, however, the young woman spoke. "Dad, happy birthday."
Her words were met with a smile so wide it creased Quentin Sinclair’s entire face.
For a moment, the expressions on the onlookers’ faces were a sight to behold.
Many of them felt the sudden urge to punch someone.
The Sinclair family’s daughter was clearly gorgeous, so what kind of fucking idiot insisted she was ugly and vulgar?
Damn those rumors!!
Mr. Sinclair naturally felt the peculiar stares from his peers and couldn’t help but feel a surge of vindication.
"Director Sinclair, long time no see."
A sarcastic voice suddenly called out from behind him.
Mr. Sinclair frowned and turned his head.
A flicker of contempt crossed his eyes when he saw who it was, but he kept a smile on his face. "Chairman Rhodes, long time no see."
As he spoke, Mr. Sinclair’s gaze shifted to the young man and woman behind Chairman Rhodes. He said warmly, "And these must be your son and daughter?"
Before Chairman Rhodes could respond, the young woman behind him spoke up. "Hello, Mr. Sinclair. I’m Yuna Rhodes, a classmate of Nina and Chloe."
