Chapter 440
Sienna’s reason for stopping the birthday banquet wasn’t just to make Eleanor uncomfortable.
Her primary goal was to prevent the Sterlings from using the event to network, build their reputation, and consolidate their power.
With real authority in her hands, her words carried weight, and the Sterlings should have backed down in fear.
Yet, they were now openly defying her, clearly acting with deliberate defiance.
“Who’s in charge of organizing it?” Sienna asked coldly.
“Helena is in full control. It’s happening tomorrow night at The Summit Springs Resort,” her subordinate paused before adding, his tone laced with something strange.
“And there’s a rumor going around the inner circles that Eleanor’s banquet is a double celebration p>
Double celebration?
Those two words hid an endless stream of mysteries.
The three people in the room exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them.
Sienna’s fingertips curled slightly by her sides, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes.
For Eleanor and Helena to make such a grand spectacle, there truly had to be a massive cause for celebration.
“Prepare a generous gift p>
Sienna reeled in all her emotions, her tone calm but carrying a commanding aura as she let out a cold scoff.
“Tomorrow night at the resort? Let’s go join the fun p>
Eleanor’s eightieth birthday banquet dominated the attention of the Capital’s elite.
The night was grand, with the resort’s lights stretching for miles.
Luxury cars flowed like water, and the guests were a gathering of the Capital’s most powerful and influential families.
The Sterlings had organized this banquet with sheer extravagance.
First, to celebrate Eleanor’s longevity, and second, to use the presence of the esteemed guests to completely wipe away the recent rumors of their family’s internal strife, thereby stabilizing their prestigious reputation.
Halfway through the banquet, the bustling greetings and toasts had already concluded.
The guests returned to their seats, waiting quietly for the grand finale.
Just then, the carved double doors at the main entrance of the banquet hall were slowly pushed open by the waiters.
Sienna arrived fashionably late.
She had done it on purpose.
It wasn’t to put on airs, but a calculated strategy.
Arriving early at a Sterling banquet would only frustrate her, but arriving late would frustrate everyone else.
Since both options were a headache, she might as well choose the one that amused her.
The car stopped at the entrance, and Alister stepped out of the passenger side, holding a long brocade box.
Sienna smoothed her skirt and walked through the doors in her heels.
She hadn’t dressed up to steal the spotlight. She wore a cool-toned beige suit skirt, her long hair neatly pinned up.
Her independent, elegant aura was neither flashy nor submissive. Standing alone, she effortlessly overshadowed a hall full of bejeweled socialites
As Sienna stepped into the banquet hall with a steady pace, the noisy room instantly fell into a dead silence.
Hundreds of gazes pinned onto her at once.
Expressions varied, but the undercurrents were turbulent.
“Thank you all for coming. I am thrilled today, as I have two pieces of good news to announce p>
Eleanor, who was giving her speech on the raised stage, suddenly stopped talking.
She stood there, her gaze cutting through the crowd to land on Sienna.
The benevolent warmth in her clouded eyes vanished completely, leaving only unconcealed hostility.
Helena’s expression was even more dramatic.
She was seated at the main table, holding a glass of red wine.
The moment she saw Sienna, her knuckles turned white from her grip. The dark liquid sloshed against the glass, nearly spilling over.
Every single person in the core circle of the Sterling family reacted the same way.
Without exception, they all looked at her sudden appearance with deep repulsion and disgust.
Sienna smiled in satisfaction.
She loved seeing them like this.
They were the ones who had done: wrong, yet they acted as if she were the one crashing their party, despising her with such righteousTM indignation.
Meanwhile, standing tall on the side. of the crowd, Jarred’s deep, dark eyes instantly turned somber the moment his gaze touched her aloof. figure.
All the relaxed ease in his eyes evaporated, replaced by a thick, heavy layer of gloom.
Seeing her attend the banquet alone, intruding on an event that was supposed to avoid her p>