Chapter 500

Alivia signaled the maid to pour more coffee for one of the guests, her lips curling into a subtl smile.

“Brielle, about last night, I’ll explain everything to Max personally. I sincerely invited your over, and if you’re feeling uneasy, you can always check in with Max first.”

“Alivia, what are you scheming now?” Brielle’s tone was indifferent, while Max, overhearing Alivia’s name, frowned almost imperceptibly.

Alivia didn’t genuinely want to invite Brielle; it was merely a pretext to broach her next topic. “If you don’t join us for afternoon tea, perhaps you’ll attend the welcome–back dinner tomorrow night. Jaired is a mutual friend of Max and me. My brother is organizing this dinner, and I was worried he might have overlooked to call you personally, so I thought I’d extend the invite.”

Brielle narrowed her eyes, about to respond, when Max snatched her phone away the call.

and endo A flicker of annoyance crossed Alivia’s eyes as she pretended the call was still ongoing. “Well then, that’s settled. Jaired is really looking forward to seeing you.”

After hanging up, she lifted her cup and took a sip of her coffee.

Finally, someone at the table couldn’t contain their curiosity. “Alivia, what exactly happened last night?”

Gracefully picking up a fork, Alivia speared a piece of cheesecake and took a bite. After her conversation with her grandfather that morning, she had summoned several estheticians to address the swelling on her face. Now, with her makeup meticulously applied, she looked no different than usual She had already planned her next moves.

First, she needed to prevent the spread of last night’s debacle, ensuring she made a poised appearance before the others, and personally calling Brielle in their presence. Regardless of Brielle’s reaction, it would make the socialites question whether they had the full story of the previous evening, thereby leaving Alivia with some dignity.

The call to Brielle was not only to sow doubt among the ladies but also a declaration of war. Did Brielle think she had won so easily last night? How naive!

The more composed Alivia acted, the more rattled Brielle would become.

Alivia’s lips curved into a cold smile as she considered her second objective: to redeem herself in Max’s eyes.

Her image had surely taken a hit, but not beyond recovery, and she had already devised a plan.

Jaired’s return was the perfect opportunity.

Jaired was highly respected in their circle and a friend to Max. He was the key. If she could leverage Jaired effectively, she could regain the favor she had lost.

döcomo So, when asked about the previous night’s events, she smiled and set down her silverware. “It was just a misunderstanding. Everyone knows I had feelings for Max, but he made it clear he might be interested in someone else. I stepped back and wished them well. But it seems Brielle is unaware that Max has already discussed his relationship with her to me, which led to last night’s tension.”

She told half–truths, leaving much unsaid.

The socialites grasped the implication immediately. Brielle was nothing but a jealous woman who had deliberately caused trouble.

“Alivia, what status does Brielle have to deserve a call from you? If she doesn’t show, good riddance. If she does, I fear her pauper’s stench will keep us up at night.”

“Really, she was raised in an orphanage, has no parents, and was jilted by Spencer. I wonder what kind of siren’s tricks she used to make Max dote on her so.”

“They say it’s the work of a temptress, surely nothing decent. Have you heard of Tequila Sunset? Some girls there are trained to be very obedient. Someone’s son tried it out recently and said it opened up a new world for him. Brielle probably came from a place like that.”

“That means she’s a call girl, then? Just lucky to have climbed up to Max. We won’t accept such people. Let her be awkward and alone tomorrow night. Nobody should pay her any mind. She thinks she can enter our circle just by clinging to a man.”

H The group’s chatter grew louder as Alivia’s smile widened subtly.

That was also part of her aim today. If Brielle were attending tomorrow’s dinner, Alivia would ensure she understood how difficult it was to enter their elite circle. Brielle might have been lifted by a man, but she would always need to hide under his protection.

The very thing that had raised her to the skies could just as easily cast her into darkness.