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Chapter_123
As soon as Sienna stepped outside, she found herself colliding with Nellie, Winona, and Zeke, who were returning from the restaurant. Nellie, who had invited Sienna several times to design custom dresses for her, immediately recognized her. After all, anyone who wore Sienna’s designs was sure to grab the fashion world’s attention, and Nellie wasn’t lacking money—she was desperate for fame.
But Sienna was lost in thoughts of Nathan, her mind tangled with the dark truth she had just learned. Neither her nor Nellie noticed the collision until they were already facing each other.
Sienna’s eyes flickered toward the trio in front of her, a mix of recognition and indifference crossing her features. She had known these three before she left for Mysonna, especially Winona, who was of the same age and well-known among the elite families. Zeke, however, was another matter—he had once tried to pursue her, but a slap from Sienna had put an end to that. Had she not left the country, he would likely still be bothering her.
Nellie, initially about to shout at the person who had bumped into her, immediately stopped. Upon realizing it was Sienna, her face changed in an instant, shifting from anger to delight.
“Oh wow, isn’t this Ms. Sterling? Are you here to deliver a dress to Yvette?” she asked, her voice sugary sweet but with a clear hope that Sienna would deny it. Both Nellie and Winona wanted desperately to believe that someone of Yvette’s stature wouldn’t have Sienna deliver a dress in person.
Zeke narrowed his eyes, studying Sienna with a growing sense of disbelief. This is the same Sienna from years ago? he thought, his gaze traveling over her appearance. The Sienna he remembered had been well-behaved and always dressed very ladylike, but now, her fashion sense was wild, a stark contrast to the demure girl she once was. He sighed quietly, as if pondering how the fashion world could so dramatically change someone.
He didn’t understand what people saw in designs like hers until the next day, when Yvette appeared at a party wearing a custom dress designed by Sienna. That was when he understood just how breathtaking her creations could be.
Sienna didn’t acknowledge Nellie, Winona, or Zeke. Her mind was elsewhere, too consumed with her own turmoil to care about these scheming socialites. She could see through them easily, knowing full well the kind of trouble they could bring to Yvette. Without so much as a glance at any of them, she walked past them with effortless indifference, her heels clicking against the pavement.
Without hesitation, she slid into her sports car, started the engine, and sped off, leaving a trail of exhaust fumes in her wake. Nellie, fuming, didn’t care that the housekeepers were watching. She let out a string of curses, her demeanor completely devoid of the usual poise expected of a socialite.
It took both Winona and Zeke a moment to calm her down before she finally stopped ranting. They exchanged looks, both of them a little unsure about what had just happened, and why Sienna had left without a word.
Meanwhile, in the study, Zachary sat at his desk, lost in thought. His sharp gaze was fixed on the paperwork before him, but his mind was elsewhere. Lucas, standing nearby, was clearly uneasy, his tension palpable.
“We still can’t reach Fabian?” Zachary asked, his voice edged with frustration.
Lucas shook his head. “No, sir. His phone’s been off since noon. I’ve been investigating—late last night, someone saw Fabian take a secret phone call. Then, he seemed restless, unable to sleep. His roommate mentioned that he got up early this morning. I also had my blood tested. I’ve been drugged with sleeping pills, and after checking his luggage, it looks like it’s gone. Fabian must have left Seacrity.”
In just a few hours, Lucas had gathered a wealth of information, and Zachary was impressed by his efficiency. His anger was starting to fade, but the nagging sense that someone was targeting Yvette still loomed over him.
Zachary lit a cigar, taking a long, deliberate puff. He couldn’t ignore the feeling that there was more to this than just Nellie’s schemes. While he had his suspicions, there was another person who seemed equally suspicious—someone who had once been like a son to him. But Zachary didn’t want to entertain that thought. He would rather believe that it was Nellie plotting against Yvette than entertain the possibility of betrayal from someone close to him.
“Forget it,” Zachary said, his voice soft but resolute. “End the investigation. No need to dig any further.”
Lucas, catching on, nodded silently. He knew Zachary well enough to understand that his boss had already made up his mind about who was responsible.
Zachary exhaled slowly, his eyes drifting toward the antique clock on the wall. It was already six in the evening. He leaned forward, his focus returning to the task at hand.
“How’s the setup for tomorrow’s party? Has Mrs. Chambers shown any special interest in anything?” he asked.
Lucas, momentarily confused, glanced up, not entirely sure what Zachary meant by “special interest.” He hadn’t been at the earlier party and had no clue what had happened.
He chose to tread carefully. “The arrangements are mostly handled by Mrs. Chambers herself. I haven’t heard of anything out of the ordinary.”
Zachary’s voice turned cold. “Tomorrow, at the party, keep a close eye on her. If you notice anything unusual, let me know immediately.”
Lucas didn’t question him. Years of working with Zachary had taught him to follow his instructions without hesitation.
“Understood, sir. Don’t worry. I’ll stay by Mrs. Chambers’ side tomorrow,” Lucas promised.
Zachary waved his hand dismissively, signaling that he was done with the conversation. His eyes closed as he leaned back in his chair, his mind clearly troubled.
In her bedroom, Nellie stood in front of the mirror, her eyes vacant as she pondered her next move. A sly grin spread across her face, and she picked up her phone from the makeup table. After reading the reply, she laughed to herself.
“Yvette,” she muttered darkly, “I’ll make sure you end up with nothing. I’ll ruin you completely.”
Her laugh was filled with malice, echoing off the walls. Zeke and Winona, who had escorted her back to her room, exchanged a glance before retreating to their own rooms without speaking. The housekeeper had prepared a lovely dinner, but none of them came down to eat.
After a few minutes of silence, Lucas made the decision to go upstairs to brief Nellie on the details for tomorrow’s banquet. He had no choice—he needed to speak with her.
As he reached her bedroom door to knock, he was startled by a chilling, eerie laugh that came from inside. He froze, his body stiffening, unsure whether to proceed. The laugh sent an uncomfortable shiver down his spine.
Before he could make a decision, the door opened.
Nellie stood there, her eyes narrowing at him with a look of annoyance. Her voice was sharp and unsettling. “What are you doing here? What did you hear?”
Lucas, taken aback by her eerie tone, hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed.
