Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Eden frowned the moment he heard Marcus’ words.
For a brief second, he wondered why Marcus had spoken with such confidence. The sentence echoed in his mind.
But only for a moment. Soon, he dismissed it with a cold scoff. “What a joke,” he thought to himself.” He’s just trying to sound intimidating because he has nothing else p>
Standing beside him, Victoria also laughed.
“Quit bluffing already,” she said mockingly. “You never get tired of making empty threats. Nothing is going to happen to him. Instead, just watch carefully and see how high we’ll rise from today onward p>
Marcus merely smiled without bothering to respond.
At that moment, the grand entrance doors slowly opened once again.
The lively conversations inside the banquet hall gradually came to a stop. Everyone instinctively turned
toward the entrance.
Walking in front was Mr. Zed, the Minister of Finance himself.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that reflected both dignity and authority. His calm smile and commanding aura immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.
Walking gracefully beside him was the celebrant of the evening. His daughter. Sweedy.
She wore a breathtaking silver evening gown decorated with tiny sparkling crystals that shimmered beautifully beneath the chandelier lights. A simple diamond necklace rested around her neck, complementing her elegant appearance without being overly extravagant.
The moment they entered, applause echoed throughout the magnificent hall.
“Happy birthday, Miss Sweedy p>
“Congratulations p>
“Many happy returns p>
One after another, distinguished guests walked forward to greet them. Some shook Mr. Zed’s hand respectfully while others personally congratulated Sweedy before presenting beautifully wrapped gifts.
One businessman presented a limited-edition Swiss watch worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Another gifted a rare antique painting purchased from an international auction.
A wealthy entrepreneur handed over the keys to a brand-new luxury sports car.
Another family presented an enormous diamond necklace that instantly attracted countless admiring
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Each gift was more expensive than the last. Sweedy accepted every one of them politely.
Although it was obvious she didn’t personally know many of the guests, she still smiled warmly, nodded her head, and thanked each person with admirable courtesy.
Not far away, Julia quietly watched everything unfold.
Since her invitation had come directly from the Senate President, she hadn’t even considered bringing a birthday present. Truthfully…She didn’t even know Sweedy personally. Seeing things going like this, she felt regretful.
Marcus stood quietly beside her without saying a word. Neither of them stepped forward.
Victoria immediately noticed.
A faint smile slowly spread across her face.
She patiently waited until the long line of guests finished presenting their gifts.
Once the excitement finally settled, Mr. Zed stepped onto the small stage with a smile.
“I sincerely appreciate every one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to celebrate my daughter’s birthday,” he said warmly. “Your presence alone is already a wonderful gift to our family p>
Sweedy smiled sweetly before adding, “Thank you, everyone. I’m truly grateful for all your kindness and generosity. I honestly didn’t expect so many people to come today p>
Applause filled the hall once more.
Just as Mr. Zed was about to continue speaking, Victoria suddenly raised her hand.
“Excuse me, Minister Zed,” she said with a respectful smile. “I’m sorry for interrupting p>
Everyone turned toward her.
Victoria smiled gracefully before continuing, “I simply wanted to point out something. Today is Miss Sweedy’s birthday, and I believe it’s proper etiquette that anyone attending such an important celebration should come with a birthday gift. After all, presenting a gift is one of the simplest ways of expressing respect and appreciation for the celebrant p>
Many guests immediately nodded in agreement.
“She’s right p>
“Of course p>
“That’s basic courtesy p>
“If you’re invited to a birthday banquet like this, you should naturally prepare a gift p>
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Voices of agreement echoed throughout the hall as Victoria’s smile grew even wider. Her eyes slowly drifted toward Julia and Marcus. The trap had just been set.
Julia gulped softly as Victoria spoke. She knew without a doubt that every word was directed at her. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her dress.
Mr. Zed looked around the hall before nodding with a faint smile. “Well, bringing a gift is certainly a thoughtful gesture, though I wouldn’t say it’s compulsory. I invited everyone here because I wanted to celebrate with friends and associates, not because I expected presents p>
Sweedy nodded in agreement beside her father. “That’s right. Honestly, I don’t mind whether someone brought me a gift or not. I’m already grateful that everyone took time out of their busy schedules to attend my birthday p>
Before the matter could end there, several guests immediately voiced different opinions.
One elderly businessman shook his head and said, “Minister, you’re too humble. Whether it’s compulsory or not is beside the point. Proper etiquette is proper etiquette. If someone attends a birthday banquet of this level, they should at least prepare a gift p>
Another wealthy guest nodded in agreement. “Exactly. It’s basic courtesy. Especially at a gathering like this p>
Soon, more voices joined in.
“I believe everyone here prepared something p>
“It’s only respectful p>
“That’s how high society works p>
Seeing the crowd gradually lean in her favor, Victoria smiled to herself before pretending to hesitate.
“Actually…” she said slowly, “there are still one or two people who haven’t presented anything. I really didn’t want to bring it up because I don’t like embarrassing others, but perhaps this is an opportunity for them to learn how these kinds of social gatherings work p>
The crowd immediately became curious.
“Who p>
“Who didn’t bring a gift p>
Victoria slowly lifted her hand, a smug smile spreading across her face as she pointed directly at Julia
and Marcus.
“It’s them p>
The moment her finger landed on the pair, every eye in the banquet hall turned toward them.
Jessica, standing among the guests, folded her arms and let out a cold scoff, while not far away, Travis
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lowered his head to hide the grin creeping onto his face. He had been waiting for something exactly like this to happen.
Many of the guests recognized Julia immediately.
‘So it’s Miss Julia’
“She really came empty-handed p>
“What a disappointment p>
Another guest sighed before saying. The Senate President personally honoured her and has done so much to elevate her status, yet she couldn’t even prepare a birthday gift for the minister’s daughter. That’s rather ungrateful p>
Several people nodded in agreement, and whispers quickly spread throughout the hall.
Julia bit her lower lip.
Deep down, she blamed herself. She hadn’t known gifts were expected at the banquet, but excuses
wouldn’t change how everyone saw the situation. Looking at the countless expensive presents displayed
before Sweedy, she couldn’t deny that, in the eyes of everyone present, they were right.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.