Chapter 35

The secretary nodded and gestured for Kylie Everett to leave.

Kylie bit her lip, a flash of malice in her eyes, but her face remained the picture of innocence. “Chase, Brynn betrayed you a long time ago. Why are you still so hung up on her?”

Hearing Brynn’s name finally elicited a reaction from Chase Johnson. His expression shifted.

“What… what are you talking about?”

Kylie blinked, thinking, ‘He took the bait!’

“Well… I heard it from some colleagues at the company,” Kylie said, stepping closer to Chase again. “They saw with their own eyes that your sister used her body as a bargaining chip to secure the partnership with the Suncrest Group…”

Chase’s face darkened instantly.

Seeing his reaction, Kylie pressed her advantage. “Not only that, but the Suncrest Group sent invitations to their annual celebration to all the big names in Portmare, except for the Everett Group!” She shook her head sadly as she spoke.

“No… she wouldn’t…” Chase’s face paled slightly, but the hesitation in his expression showed he didn’t entirely trust Brynn’s character.

Kylie noticed this, of course, and a slight smirk played on her lips as she continued her performance.

“Chase, I didn’t want to believe it at first either. But then, my colleague showed me those pictures of your sister. I just couldn’t ignore it.” Kylie changed her tack, pulling out her phone and showing Chase a photo she’d deliberately doctored. “If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.”

Meanwhile, after learning that the newly inaugurated President would be attending the Suncrest Group’s celebratory banquet, Portmare’s elite were pulling strings left and right, desperate to get their hands on an invitation. But the guest list was limited, and only the biggest names in the city were invited. Unable to get an invitation directly, the socialites started inquiring about who had received one, hoping to buy one at an exorbitant price.

When they learned that Brynn had received an invitation, the friends who had previously distanced themselves because she was a “fake heiress” started calling her to apologize and subtly probe for information about the banquet. Brynn had already received several calls, all asking about the same thing. To prevent further annoyance, she simply turned off her phone.

In the evening, after everyone else had left, she finally walked out of the company building. The next second, a car horn blared, and a vehicle pulled up in front of her.

‘Are you kidding me? Phone harassment wasn’t enough, now they’re stalking me after work?’ Brynn’s temper flared. She looked up, ready to unleash a tirade, but saw it was Dominic Johnson.

The fire in her chest instantly dissipated, and she walked over, surprised. “Why are you picking me up? You didn’t even call.”

She opened the car door and got in.

Chapter 35

Dominic sighed. “I did call, but your phone was off.”

Brynn realized what had happened and started complaining to Dominic. “…Seriously, it’s no different from a spam caller,” Brynn said, exasperated. “I don’t know what the Sworrest Group is thinking; it feels like they’re deliberately trying to make me a target?”

“That…” Dominic coughed slightly, a hint of guilt in his voice. “Proudly not. [The following text is unintelligible and has been omitted].”

Brynn looked skeptical. “Is that it?”

“Definitely! If you weren’t outstanding, why would they send you an invitation specifically? [The following text is unintelligible and has been omitted].”

Hearing Dominic’s explanation, Brynn thought it made sense. Her mood lifted considerably. But soon, Brynn started to fret again.

Dominic noticed immediately and asked, “Why the long face?”

“Oh, it’s just… I have to spend money again,” Brynn said with a sigh. “I left all my old formal dresses at the Everett house. Now I have to buy a new one to attend the banquet…”

Dominic chuckled and handed her a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Looking at the box, Brynn was puzzled. “What’s this…”

“Open it and see,” Dominic said with a wink.

Although curious, Brynn opened the box under Dominic’s gentle gaze. Inside lay a stunningly beautiful gown. The fiery red color, paired with teardrop-shaped crystals, was breathtaking.

Brynn was instantly captivated. “Is this… for me?”

“Yes,” Dominic replied. “Of course, it’s for you.”

Brynn’s heart swelled with emotion, and she couldn’t take her eyes off the dress. Dominic is surprisingly thoughtful….

“Madam, do you like my gift?” Dominic leaned closer, his eyes deep and intense.

“I love it…” Brynn looked at the dress, gently touching it. After a moment of hesitation, she looked up with determination. “But we should return it.”

“Why?” Dominic was baffled. “Don’t you like the style?”

Brynn smiled and shook her head. “No, I love it. But even though there’s no price tag, I know a thing or two about fabric prices.”

She placed the dress back in the box.

“This gown isn’t cheap, is it? Conservatively… it must be at least a hundred thousand. Where did you get that kind of money?”

Chapter 36