Chapter 424
While it wasn’t difficult for people of their status to find renowned mentors, the ones the Blackwood family had invited this time were all truly top-tier international masters.
They were the titans of their respective fields.
Brianna couldn’t possibly become an apprentice to all of them.
That meant the remaining spots were up for grabs.
If they could showcase their talents in such an elite circle and receive a word of praise, or even be taken on as a disciple by one of these titans, their reputation would soar.
Of course, there was another, more important point—
Today was Brianna’s coming-of-age.
Becoming an adult meant she could now begin considering suitors.
If they could catch Brianna’s eye during this opportunity, they would undoubtedly
gain the support of the Blackwood family.
A powerful alliance was a win-win situation.
Although rumors had long circulated about the close relationship between the young
lady of the Blackwood family and the young master of the Keller family, and the
Kellers owed their current status entirely to the Blackwoods’ support p>
What kind of occasion was this?
It was the coming-of-age ceremony for the Blackwood heiress!
At such a momentous event, the Keller family was nowhere to be seen.
What did that mean?
It meant opportunity had arrived!
Meanwhile, the gazes of the various socialites were almost all drifting toward the man sitting lazily beside Old Mr. Blackwood. He hadn’t spoken, yet his presence was impossible to ignore.
Looking at that ethereally handsome face, one socialite after another couldn’t help but blush.
Watching them all sneak glances at Nicholas, each one looking confident and ready to perform on stage to seduce him, Isabella was so angry she nearly broke her nails.
Those shameless women!
Didn’t they know that the Lancaster and Blackwood families had a marriage agreement?
Didn’t they know that, to the public, Nicholas had always been her fiancé?
And here they were, one after another, trying to seduce Nicholas.
Were they all just a bunch of homewreckers?
And they called themselves high-society ladies.
So shameless!
“Why so angry, Miss Lancaster?” A stunning woman in a champagne-colored fishtail gown, holding a glass of champagne, approached with a fiery red smile.
She curled her lips, her smile bold and unrestrained. “Are you getting jealous seeing everyone in the room staring at Mr. Blackwood p>
Isabella’s expression tensed. She knew this woman.
Elara Hale, the daughter of the wealthiest man in Marivelle Port.
Recently, the Hale and Blackwood families had been collaborating on a major
project, making their interactions more frequent than before.
She had been making quite a splash in Vaelion City lately.
Seeing Isabella staring at her, Elara Hale swirled the champagne in her glass and clicked her tongue. “You know, they say the Lancaster and Blackwood families intend to unite through marriage but ‘ye ve been in Vaelion City for a while now,
attended quite a few banquets, and I
haven’t seen any interaction
between you and the Blackwood
heir p>
“Furthermore, at an event like this today, Mr. Blackwood… doesn’t seem to have
spoken to you at all, has he p>
Elara Hale watched Isabella’s face
grow darker with each word and
smiled even more brazenly. “I’ve heard you talk about this marriage alliance for years, but the Blackwood family has never officially
acknowledged it, have they? Is this engagement rear or fake? Or sat even still on? Or perhaps… this is all just wishful thinking on your part, Miss Lancaster p>
The words were laced with venom, and Isabella’s face turned ashen.
Her fingertips trembled with humiliation and anger, and she could barely maintain her composure.
“Miss Hale, please show some
respect! The affairs of the Lancaster and Blackwood families are not for an outsider like you to comment on!” Karen who had never liked the arrogant young lady from Marivelle Port, stepped in. “You’re so eager to make a scene and so hostile toward Isabella. Isn’t it just because you’re after Nicholas yourself p>
Her intentions exposed, Elara Hale showed no sign of panic or shyness. Instead, she laughed openly.
She lifted her chin and admitted it frankly. “So what if I’m after Mr. Blackwood p>
“In terms of family background, my Hale family from Marivelle Port is no less than your Lancaster family from Vaelion City p>
“In terms of looks, I believe I have the upper hand p>
“In terms of ability and talent, I joined my family’s company at eighteen and was single-handedly managing three overseas branches by twenty p>
“In what way am I inferior to Miss Lancaster? And why shouldn’t I be after Mr. Blackwood? It’s a fair competition. May the best woman win. Is there a problem with that p>
“Or is it that someone thinks they can make everyone else step aside just by clinging to a dubious title p>
Her words, one after another, were confident, bold, and full of aggression, making
no attempt to hide her self-assurance.
That level of bluntness made Isabella tremble.
She watched as even Karen was left speechless by Elara Hale’s words, completely unable to match her presence.
She could only suppress the surging anger and hurt, reaching out to grab Karen’s
arm.
She put on her usual expression, a smile that was both helpless and gracious. “Karen, Miss Hale isn’t wrong. Nicholas is so outstanding, it’s natural that everyone likes him p>
She smiled, her gaze drifting toward Nicholas. “With his personality… he’s cold to everyone. The fact that so many people still like him… I couldn’t be happier for him p>
The way she spoke made it sound as if she and Nicholas were incredibly close. She was putting on the magnanimous air of the “official” partner.