Chapter 7
The assistant led a procession of people into the hall, each carrying impossibly extravagant gifts-
A rare pink diamond necklace, antique masterpiece paintings, even the deed to a private island.
The room erupted in astonished whispers!
“Is this all from Dominic Reed?”
“I heard rumors about him bidding on everything for Miss Mia at that auction, and now he’s personally sending birthday gifts? It seems Miss Mia is truly destined for greater heights!”
The murmurs spread like wildfire. Several guests glanced furtively at Ariana with pity in their eyes.
Despite her superior beauty and more legitimate status, everyone now believed she had lost.
Ariana set down her champagne glass and walked toward the terrace.
The night breeze was cool against her skin. She had barely taken a deep breath when Mia’s voice came from behind: “Why are you out here all alone, Ari?”
Without the audience of guests or their father, Mia finally dropped her pretense.
“You know what Daddy told me? You’re going to marry that vegetable,” she said with a sweet yet venomous smile. “How tragic. Your mother couldn’t compete with mine, and now history repeats itself with you unable to compete
with me.”
Ariana whirled around. “Say that again?”
“I said-” Mia leaned closer, her red lips spitting viper–like words, “your mother deserved to die in childbirth. She-”
SLAP!
The sharp sound of a slap rang out.
But it wasn’t Ariana who had done the slapping–Mia had slapped herself!
In the next instant, tears sprang to her eyes as she stumbled backward, conveniently falling into the arms of Dominic who had rushed over.
“It’s not Ari’s fault…” Mia sobbed, covering her cheek. “I provoked her…”
A moment later, their father and the other guests arrived, looks of condemnation directed at Ariana.
“Ariana Reeves!” her father thundered. “Have you no decency left?”
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Chapter 7
The guests‘ whispers cut like knives.
“How vicious, on Miss Mia’s birthday of all days…”
“Well, she grew up without a mother’s guidance–no wonder she’s so bitter and small–minded…”
Ariana observed this carefully orchestrated performance and suddenly laughed.
She strode forward and, in full view of everyone, delivered a stinging slap to Mia’s face.
“There,” she said, smashing her champagne glass on the floor, glass shards reflecting dozens of shocked faces. “That’s what it looks like when I actually hit someone.“.
As she turned to leave, she caught sight of Dominic holding Mia’s shoulders, his eyes cold enough to freeze hell itself.
In the garden pathway, Ariana had barely rounded the corner when her wrist was seized in a crushing grip.
Dominic’s hold was punishing, and she felt her bones might snap under the pressure.
“Miss Reeves,” he said, his voice low with barely contained fury.
“What?” She looked up mockingly. “Are you going to give me ninety–nine slaps in return for the one I gave her?”
Dominic’s pupils contracted.
What did she mean by that? Could she somehow know about the other night?
Impossible–he’d been extremely discreet.
“Miss Reeves,” he loosened his grip slightly, his brow furrowed, “you have everything you could want. Why do you
insist on tormenting Miss Mia?”
“I have everything?” Ariana suddenly laughed, the sound raw and broken. “What exactly do I have? Ever since she came to my family, she caused my mother to die in childbirth–both my mother and my unborn sibling! She stole my room, my toys, my allowance, my father! Even my study abroad opportunity–everything!”
This was the first time Dominic had heard her speak so much. In the moonlight, those eyes that usually held only scorn were now brimming with tears she stubbornly refused to shed.
“I’ve heard,” Dominic said, his voice hardening again, “that Miss Mia is actually the one who suffered.”
Ariana yanked her hand free, turning to leave. “Believe what you want.”
As she was about to get into her car, Dominic spoke again: “Miss Reeves, I’d like to request a few days off.”
“Whatever,” she responded without looking back, closing the car door.
After the black sedan had driven some distance, she suddenly told the driver: “Turn around.”
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Chapter 7
Back near the Reeves estate, she saw Dominic climbing into a Rolls–Royce.
Ariana instructed her driver to follow discreetly, eventually stopping outside an exclusive tattoo parlor.
Through the glass window, she watched as Dominic unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his sculpted chest.
The tattoo artist asked something, and he pointed to the area over his heart, mouthing two words–from his lip movement, clearly “Mia.”
