Chapter 85
Joe’s irritation was palpable as he flung his suit at me, not even bothering to hear an apology before walking off. He handed the food in his hand to Rebecca, and soon, the birthday banquet officially kicked off. Cameron took to the stage to deliver her speech, and I tried to push aside the unease swirling inside me. But the discomfort only deepened when I noticed Rebecca’s triumphant smile as she locked eyes with me from across the room. Her expression oozed both provocation and disdain, and it took all my strength to stay calm in the face of her silent challenge.
Ashton approached with a small gift box in hand, and I couldn’t help but notice the coldness in his expression. He handed it to me with little more than a curt “This is Ms. Anderson’s birthday gift.” I took the box from him, but when he noticed the suit I was holding, his frown deepened. “Whose suit is that?” he asked.
“Joe’s,” I replied flatly. “I accidentally spilled food on it.” I wasn’t interested in discussing the details, especially when I had no intention of appeasing his bad mood. As I held the gift, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d actually prepared it himself.
“Just throw it away,” he suggested with an air of impatience, turning his attention back to the stage.
Onstage, Rebecca and Cameron were putting on a show, hugging each other in front of the crowd, their so-called mother-daughter bond radiating for everyone to see. Cameron’s announcement about giving fifty percent of her wealth to Rebecca and bringing her into her company was met with cheers and admiration. It was as if Rebecca was the heiress of some grand empire. The whole scene felt like a scripted performance, complete with Zachary by their side as a supporting figure. In that moment, it became clear that Rebecca was positioned to wield the kind of power most people could only dream of.
I couldn’t help but glance over at Ashton, who seemed to be in an even worse mood than before. Thankfully, we were at a public event; otherwise, I imagined he might’ve already exploded with anger. Instead, he turned to me and said, “You’ll be my dance partner later.”
I couldn’t resist the urge to taunt him. “Isn’t Mr. Fuller supposed to be escorting the lovely Rebecca? Wait, no—she’s Ms. Moore now, isn’t she? Shouldn’t you be dancing with her instead? Don’t worry, I’ll sit this one out so I won’t disturb you two.”
His face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. “Stop being so stubborn,” he snapped as he grabbed my wrist, pulling me sharply. The sudden force caused me a sharp pang of pain, but it was his angry words that stung more.
I wasn’t about to let him control the situation. “Ashton Fuller, you really are something else,” I said, locking eyes with him.
When I noticed John approaching, I quickly pulled away from Ashton’s grip. I had no intention of being tied to his mood any longer. John’s presence was like a small but welcome relief.
John’s eyes narrowed when I walked toward him. “Letty, this is the first time you’ve come to me voluntarily,” he remarked with a smirk. His tone held that familiar mix of humor and intrigue, but I wasn’t in the mood to entertain it.
Ignoring the edge in his voice, I got straight to the point. “When can I leave?”
John raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. “For you? Anytime.” He shrugged, as if it were no big deal. “Where do you want to go?”
His casual response didn’t surprise me. After all, he had mentioned before that I could leave whenever I wanted. As long as I’d shown up at the party, he was fine with me being there in whatever capacity I chose.
I glanced at the gift box in my hand and then at Cameron, who had just finished her speech. With a deep breath, I walked over to her. She greeted me with an apologetic smile, her politeness almost too much to bear given the distance it put between us. “Ms. Stovall, I do apologize if you feel neglected. It seems I underestimated the number of guests.”
I smiled faintly, trying not to let her formality rub me the wrong way. “Ms. Anderson is too kind,” I replied, handing her the gift. “I wish you a happy birthday, and may you stay youthful at all times.”
She accepted my gift with a cheerful laugh, clearly in high spirits. “You’re too kind, Ms. Stovall. I’ll gladly accept your blessings,” she said warmly, though there was a certain underlying smugness in her tone.
As I was speaking with Cameron, I noticed Zachary approaching us. He leaned down toward me, his presence commanding even in a crowded room. His dark eyes studied me with a certain intensity, but then his expression softened slightly as he spoke. “Are you Scarlett?”
I nodded, offering a polite greeting. “Hello, Mr. Moore.”
Zachary chuckled, nudging Cameron with his elbow. “This girl looks just like you when you were younger—same looks, same attitude, same resolve.”
Cameron smiled fondly, her eyes softening as she agreed. “When I first saw her, I thought the same thing. If I hadn’t seen the DNA test results, I would have sworn she was my daughter.”
The mention of the DNA test made my stomach twist, but I kept my expression neutral. Zachary turned back to me, his tone suddenly more personal. “Letty,” he said, his gaze softening. “May I call you that?”
I nodded, unsure why, but something about hearing him say my name felt oddly familiar. As if something buried deep in my mind was stirring—though it was fleeting, just a blur of a memory.
His voice… it sounded so familiar, and for a brief moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more to this connection than I realized.