"Emily, listen to me—it was that witch Chloe who seduced me. I've always loved you!" Ethan Sun suddenly jumped forward, pointing accusingly at Chloe Zhao.
One side of Chloe's face was red and swollen. She glared at him with fire in her eyes. "You shameless leech! I didn't even mind your freeloading, and now you dare to curse me?"
The two instantly began to argue, their voices rising in the grand hall.
"Chloe!" Zhao Lei snapped sternly. "Apologize to the young lady right now!"
Chloe hadn't expected that the very girl she once trampled on—ugly and quiet—would transform into a radiant beauty and be revealed as the Fu family's treasured daughter. Now, she was being forced to apologize to her?
Her eyes reddened, tears brimming with humiliation. Covering her swollen cheek, Chloe lowered her voice and muttered, "Miss, I'm sorry."
Emily glanced at her, then turned to Zhao Lei. "Forget it, Uncle Zhao. Just take her home."
Zhao Lei bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Miss. I'll make sure she learns her lesson."
With that, he dragged Chloe away, leaving only Ethan Sun behind.
As soon as Chloe disappeared, Ethan quickly approached Emily, his tone soft and pitiful. "Emily, I made a mistake before. Please give me another chance. I promise, I'll love you sincerely this time."
Emily looked at the man she had once foolishly adored—and now finally saw him for what he was.
Without a word, she picked up a glass of ice water and splashed it directly in his face.
Ethan froze, drenched and humiliated.
"You know what, Ethan?" Emily sneered. "I must've been blind to ever fall for someone like you. Every cent I spent on you—I'll just consider it charity. Now get out of my sight before I really lose my patience. I never want to see you again."
Tears of regret welled in Ethan's eyes. He hated himself. He had been this close to becoming the Fu family's future son-in-law.
"Emily, please..."
"Someone, escort him out."
"Yes, Miss."
A few bodyguards appeared and, without a word, struck him on the back with padded batons—enough to drive him out, not injure him.
Ethan flailed his arms, trying to shield himself, but the pain was unbearable. Disgraced and soaked, he stumbled out under a chorus of laughter and whispers.
With Chloe and Ethan both thoroughly humiliated, Rosalie stood frozen in place.
What now?
She had completely ruined her chances with the Fu family. The young lady she thought she could impress had turned out to be Emily—and she had mocked her for months. Not only that, but the custom perfume she made to win her favor was now completely useless. The birthmark was already gone.
She had miscalculated again.
Just like she had with Madam Fu.
Suddenly, Emily looked straight at her.
"Rosalie, your little friends are gone. Why are you still lingering? Shouldn't you all leave together?"
Then her gaze landed on the small perfume bottle Rosalie had brought.
"You brought me a gift?" Emily's tone turned sarcastic. "Sorry, but I can't accept it."
She raised her hand and tossed the bottle straight into a nearby trash bin.
Rosalie's face turned pale as a sheet. Her fists clenched tightly.
Her eyes drifted to Celia, who stood quietly beside Emily.
She understood now.
All of this… had been orchestrated by Celia.
She had invited all three of them here—just to watch them fall.
And now, Celia was just quietly sipping tea, her expression calm, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Rosalie burned with resentment.
She truly didn't understand—how could this backwater nobody win over both Madam Fu and the young heiress?
There was no end to their rivalry. And today… Rosalie had lost again.
With a twisted smile, she turned and left without another word.