The Only Chance

Grandpa Zhou was elderly and loved antiques. Leopold chose a 400-year-old inkstone.

Lily took it and also carried off the Hetian jade tea set he had spent a fortune to acquire.

Leopold was heartbroken. As she left, Lily kicked him twice.

"Who told you not to save me that day? I'm your biological sister. Taking two things from you to vent my anger. If you're unhappy, hold it in.

"Leopold, I know about you and Zoya. You better not dig your own grave.

"Either you both leave the country and never come back, or you break it off with her.

"Having an affair with an adopted sister, ugh, you're disgusting.

"If you two rodents ruin our grandmother's reputation after her death, I'll kill Zoya and bury you alive. Make your choice."

The first day of December was Alistair's birthday.

With one week left, Nadia became anxious.

She clearly knew the importance of face versus marrying Royce. Losing face was temporary, but marrying Royce was a lifetime.

This was her only chance.

However, the gap between ideal and reality was too vast. As the date approached, she became anxious and fearful.

Admitting she was a mistress in public, confessing to interfering in someone else's relationship, was like being stripped and executed.

She started having nightmares at night, dreaming she was on stage, surrounded by a crowd, all looking at her with disgust, disdain, ridicule, and loathing.

The scene shifted. She was nailed to the pillar of moral shame, pelted with rotten eggs and acid, her reputation ruined, and she was ugly and disgraced.

Royce, standing in the crowd, was also ridiculed, and eventually, he too showed disdain and left her. The dreams were so vivid that they drove Nadia to the brink of a breakdown. She called Zoya in desperation.

"Do you have any solution? I can't bear the thought of publicly humiliating myself. I'm going crazy."

Zoya, who was also anxious due to Lily discovering her and Leopold's secret, suggested a solution despite her own frustrations.

"There is one way, but it's going to be tough on you."

…Alistair's birthday celebration was held at the prestigious Pingxi Club. The entire second floor was opened up, adorned with flowers flown in specially, a long red carpet, and multiple champagne towers. The wine served was of the highest quality, and the atmosphere was filled with opulence. Everyone in attendance was glamorous.

In addition to Alistair's close friends, the guest list was carefully curated by Aria. It included wealthy patrons, famous local influencers with millions of followers, and socialites with extensive networks. Most shared a common trait: they loved gossip and had quick tongues.

Upon arriving at the club, Aria proudly pulled Lily aside, eager to show off the guest list.

"What do you think? Surprised? I handpicked everyone here."

"Tonight, everything Nadia says will spread like wildfire. By tomorrow noon, everyone will know about Nadia's betrayal and Royce's affair with his secretary."

Lily replied, "Surprised."

Edmond had informed her that Nadia would publicly apologize, and Lily planned to have her assistant record the entire thing. However, Aria volunteered to handle it.

"Leave it to me!"

Lily trusted Aria and didn't expect her to invite so many people, setting up cameras like a movie set.

"Aria…"

"Lily?"

As Lily was about to speak to Aria, someone called her from behind. She turned to see Alistair and Edmond approaching with champagne.

Alistair's eyes swept over Lily, "Changed your style?"

Lily, known for her seductive style, usually wore outfits that accentuated her femininity and strong presence. Tonight, she opted for a more demure look: a simple light-colored dress with a lace hem and a bow on her left shoulder. Her long, wavy hair fell naturally, and her light makeup highlighted a fragile, delicate aura, starkly contrasting her usual confident demeanor.

Alistair didn't hold back his praise, "You look beautiful."

Aria, dressed similarly to Lily in a sisterly style, noticed Alistair's brief glance before he looked away without a compliment. Her face fell slightly.

Linking arms with Lily, Aria nudged her closer to Edmond.

"Mr. Zhou, doesn't she look beautiful?"

Lily rolled her eyes at Aria, speechless.

Edmond, typically dressed in formal suits, wore a more relaxed black shirt tonight with a couple of buttons undone, revealing his sexy collarbone. Lily didn't expect him to respond to such a trivial question, but he did.

"Hmm, fitting for tonight."

His gaze was intense, his voice husky, like the rich tones of a cello. Lily's eyelids fluttered; she understood the teasing in his words. Tonight, with Nadia's public apology, she would be the most pitiful person in the room, and her fragile appearance would garner more sympathy. Lily never liked playing the weak role, but Aria insisted this time.

After greeting them, the birthday boy, Alistair, was pulled away by other guests. Edmond, who had just returned from a business trip, went to a private room on the third floor to rest.