Chapter 496
The crystal chandelier cast countless halos of light, fracturing the entire banquet hall into shimmering, shifting pieces.
Sienna and Jarred stepped into the hall together.
The marble floor reflected the hem of her pale green dress and that almost impossibly stunning face.
Jarred wore a sharply tailored, black custom suit. His striking features carried an innate, careless aloofness and arrogance.
The arrival of such a striking pair naturally drew the gaze of countless onlookers.
This wasn’t Sienna’s first time at an event like this.
But perhaps because Jarred was standing next to her today, the looks thrown her way carried a heavy dose of scrutiny.
Sienna couldn’t help but frown.
Sensing her discomfort, Jarred took a glass of red wine from a passing waiter, turned to her, and lowered his voice.
“The summit broke with tradition this year and deliberately set this up as a banquet. Don’t feel so stiff. With me here, no one will dare say a word p>
Jarred raised his hand, intending to offer a reassuring grip.
Unexpectedly, a split second before his hand could cover hers p>
Sienna suddenly shifted aside, dodging his touch.
“Is there any possibility that your lack of professionalism is dragging down my reputation p>
She delivered the cold remark and, before Jarred could utter another syllable, gripped her clutch, breezed past the surrounding bigwigs, and strode deeper into the banquet hall.
From beginning to end, she didn’t cast a single glance back at the man behind her.
Jarred froze in place. Watching her unbothered retreat, he let out a helpless chuckle.
A much deeper, intensifying spark of interest flared in his eyes.
Inside the hall, glasses clinked in lively conversation.
The faces that frequently graced the covers of medical journals gathered in small groups, deep in discussion.
Sienna squeezed her way through the crowd and noticed that all eyes were glued to the academic presentation stage in the very center.
The massive screen was simultaneously broadcasting surgical footage, though the operation hadn’t officially begun.
Every summit featured this segment: outstanding peers sharing unique case studies, which the industry titans would analyze and critique live.
Earning the approval of these experts meant earning the validation of the entire industry.
However, the people granted this opportunity usually already held incredibly high status in the field.
Holding a glass of champagne on the periphery of the crowd, Sienna watched a familiar figure being pushed into the spotlight.
The surgical lights illuminated gloved hands, followed by her face p>
It was actually Celeste!
Sienna’s pupils shrank violently as she double-checked in disbelief.
The person presenting the live case today was actually Celeste?
The spotlight fell directly on Celeste.
Surgical data, anatomical charts, and diagnostic logic scrolled across the screen.
She was helped into the adjustable surgical chair, her voice steady and soft.
As she broke down the most difficult points of the procedure, she personally handled the scalpel.
Every movement she made exuded the calm, top-tier composure of a seasoned veteran.
“This girl is truly outstanding. So young, yet already so experienced p>
Someone nearby praised her in a low whisper.
“Indeed. I heard she was recently taken in by the Sterling family. Outstanding people always get noticed.
Thunderous applause echoed throughout the venue, wave after wave.
The esteemed medical pioneers in the audience nodded in approval, their words overflowing with validation.
They openly declared that the industry had discovered another exceptionally gifted rising star.
Everyone was completely fooled by this flawless, impeccable case presentation.
Sienna suddenly felt that the champagne in her hand was so sickeningly sweet it made her nauseous.
She knew Celeste’s true skill level far too well.
Celeste was merely an internal medicine physician who rarely stepped foot inside an operating room.
Let alone independently completing such a highly complex, precision surgery-even her basic surgical assistance work was constantly riddled with errors.