The Last Chance

The murmurs around them grew louder. Nadia turned pale and embarrassed at the accusation of "even stealing men," clutching Royce's sleeve. When he looked back at her, she gazed at him with tearful eyes.

Royce patted her hand reassuringly before turning to Lily and saying, "You're drunk."

He was very angry but wouldn't make a scene with Lily in such a setting. His voice was low, his handsome face hard, showing Lily his fury was already high.

He signaled for Lily to follow him outside to talk.

Lily seemed oblivious, retracting her gaze as Zoya went to get the earrings. She snatched the box first.

Then, in front of everyone, she took off her earrings and put on the ones from the box.

Zoya tried to gently remind her, "Lily, these earrings were given to me by Mom. It's not appropriate for you to wear them."

Lily put on the second earring, "These were left to me by my grandmother. Your foster mother has no right to give them to you."

"My things can only be taken if I no longer want them. Without my consent, you're stealing."

Layla defended Zoya, "It's got nothing to do with your sister. I said I wanted to give them to her."

Lily: "These earrings are a family heirloom. Zoya is just a foster daughter. Does she have our Jian family blood? Is she worthy?"

A lady who was friends with Layla stepped forward, "Lily, how can you talk to your mother like that!"

Lily glanced at her, "Mind your own business and get lost!"

Lady: "..."

A socialite friend of Zoya's stepped up, "Lily, it's just a pair of earrings. Zoya is still your sister, no need to be so aggressive."

Lily: "A sister picked up halfway, what kind of sister is that? You speak so easily. You get lost too!"

Socialite: "..."

Lily's indiscriminate attacks left Layla's face trembling with anger. Zoya held Layla's arm, understanding and gentle, "Mom, let it go. If Lily likes them, she can have them. I don't want them."

Lily sneered, "You don't want them? Were they yours to begin with? What right do you have to say you don't want them?

"Wasn't tonight's act your plan? Conspiring with Nadia to provoke me, to force me to admit that Royce doesn't love me, to make me realize my status in the Jian family."

"Fine, I'll play along. I've gone mad, so what now? Do you want to drive me out of the Jian family? Here's a suggestion: Leopold just got divorced and needs a wife. Anyway, you—"

Slap! A heavy slap landed on Lily's face, Layla furious and yelling.

"How dare you spout such nonsense! Disgracing your brother and sister like this, are you insane?"

Lily was beyond just being mad; she was going wild.

"Try hitting me again, and see if I won't expose a secret that will ensure Zoya never gets married!"

Expose? What secret? The onlookers instantly perked up their ears.

Only Royce frowned deeply. Knowing Lily since childhood, he understood her better than others.

The more hurt she felt inside, the louder and more unruly she became, but she wouldn't go crazy like this.

Something was wrong. She was very wrong tonight.

The commotion was too big. The Brooks father and son, who had been in the study discussing business, finally realized something was off and came down.

Royce, seeing the two men coming downstairs, went over to grab Lily's wrist.

"Come with me."

Lily looked steadily at him, her eyes already red, "Royce, I'm giving you one last chance, truly the last."

Before Royce could understand what she meant, Lily had already shaken off his hand forcefully.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, she grabbed both Nadia and Zoya by their wrists and dragged them outside.

Nadia instinctively struggled, but a look from Zoya made her stop.

There was a swimming pool in the yard.

Everyone who knew Lily knew she was afraid of water and couldn't swim. No one expected her to kick both Zoya and Nadia into the pool before jumping in herself.

As the water engulfed her, Lily heard four voices.

One was her brother Leopold, calling out for Zoya.

One was her father Brooks, calling out for Zoya.

One was her mother Layla, calling out for Zoya.

One was her fiancé Royce, calling out for Nadia.

Before her vision completely blurred, she saw two people jump in, Leopold holding Zoya, Royce holding Nadia.

Once they were out of the water, Layla hurriedly wrapped Zoya in a cloak, and Royce, oblivious to his own wet state, fearfully held Nadia.

Yet both Zoya and Nadia could swim.

They feared for them but forgot that Lily couldn't swim.

Naturally, Lily was also saved. With so many people around, someone noticed her struggling in the water.

A young man pulled her out and even gallantly lent her his jacket.

Once Royce confirmed Nadia was okay, he calmed down and sensed a gaze on him. Turning around, he stiffened.

Lily, drenched and sitting on the ground, had a man's jacket draped over her shoulders. Her long lashes trembled, and her watery eyes stared at him intently.

No crying, no fuss, just a dead silence.

Very unusual.

Under normal circumstances, Lily would have been yelling by now.