Wayne’s house was quite big.
The birthday party was split into two events.
One was in the living room, which Viley hosted herself, entertaining her young friends, all of whom were recent female college graduates from Evanston Women’s College.
A cluster of heads huddled together, chattering excitedly about Viley’s luxe lifestyle, unworthy of Billion.
"Remember the poor when you’re rich; I heard your husband has a sh*t-ton of social status—can you hook us sisters up with some good jobs?"
With a wave of her little hand, Viley indicated that it was no big deal.
Her boyfriend had been quite successful in his rebellion this year, and with her cajoling and, if necessary, pinning down her seniors’ hands, getting a job placement was as easy as pie.
"No problem, I’ll take care of the senior tonight!"
Viley stood with her hands on her hips, her smile cocky, her twin ponytails flipping, inciting envy, jealousy, and hatred in her classmates, who instinctively looked around for Wayne.
Why go through the hassle of asking Viley for help when you can just do it yourself, avoid the middleman, and keep all the benefits?
Viley’s smug little look was both annoying and amusing to Chris, who muttered about how Veronica hadn’t arrived yet and should come quick to put Viley in her place, otherwise those twin ponytails would think they could reach the sky today.
Speak of Veronica, and she shall appear.
She put down her gift, didn’t squeeze into the crowd, and quickly made her way to Chris.
"Senior, you smell so good!"
Chris had also dressed up for the occasion, still sporting the sophisticated ’married woman’ hair-up style, and had opted for a light and natural makeup look so as not to overshadow Viley.
No matter how nicely Viley dressed, she could only elicit a disdainful roll of the eyes plus a fist warning from Veronica, whereas Chris could wear anything and Veronica would find her beautiful.
"Senior, emergency situation!"
Veronica, with a serious face, tugged Chris to a corner of the living room and gestured with her hands, describing in a whisper what she had just witnessed: "Veiled in black, all secretive, with twins in tow, up to no good. Breasts this big, waist this slim, legs this long, clearly no good woman."
Chris rolled her eyes beautifully: "Isn’t it possible, this bad woman is my teacher, the one I told you about before?"
"Oh, if she’s your teacher then it’s all fine."
Veronica relaxed upon hearing this, but soon something felt off: "Senior, your teacher is the Moonlight Church High Priestess, what is she doing at Viley’s birthday party, they know each other?"
Chris paused, then said, "I invited her."
"Why, in case... you know."
"There’s no ’in case’. She’s been here for a while now."
Chris looked at Veronica somberly: Little fool, you know nothing, do you!
Veronica got the chills from that strange gaze and was utterly baffled: "Senior, why are you looking at me like that, and what do you mean by she’s been here for a while?"
"The teacher is Wayne’s lover, they’ve been together for quite some time."
Veronica, furious, was about to draw blood on Viley with her fists.
"And Wayne even introduced her to his parents, Mr. Austin and Lady Hefei approve of her greatly, acknowledging her status," Chris said expressionlessly.
"What, how dare they!"
Veronica was furious, wrathful, about to physically reprimand Austin and Hefei.
While fuming, she suddenly remembered these were her own parents, incredulously asking, "Senior, I didn’t understand what you just said, could you repeat it?"
"I could repeat it any number of times..."
Chris patted Veronica’s shoulder, explaining the situation at the Clear King Side’s banquet that night: Philomena was Wayne’s date, showed her Visit NovelHub for more amazing novels and chapters. And with habitual talk of ’mother’ this and ’father’ that, ignoring the fact that she was actually several years older than Austin and Hefei, she had won the couple’s favor.
As Chris narrated, Veronica’s mouth got wider and her eyes as big as bells, her forehead flooded with question marks.
Information overload.
"Look on the bright side, in this version, you are the biological daughter of the Lando couple, not some child picked up from the street," Chris reasoned, seeing that was the only comforting point for Veronica.
"That’s preposterous, I am their biological child."
Veronica, filled with indignance, turned to storm home to settle the score with Old Login and the witch, but Chris grabbed her arm and hugged her, her attempts to break free unsuccessful.
"Senior, let go. I must deal with them properly today!"
"Forget it, give Wayne a break and don’t trouble his parents," Chris said, spewing sarcasm, the relationships too complicated to untangle, she had given up.
Whatever, as long as she and Wayne weren’t siblings.
Veronica’s arm was held fast by a formidable friction, unable to pull away, about to say something when White Moonlight whispered in her ear.
"You really do smell wonderful!"
"Calm down, Mr. Lando recognized the teacher because of her status as the Moonlight Church High Priestess, you should know what happened that night," Chris whispered.
"So what, just a rebellion, with so many Knights in the family, does the High Priestess of the Moonlight Church really matter?" Veronica was defiant, blaming Austin and Hefei for making arrangements clearly targeting her.
Especially Hefei, who’d promised to fully Visit NovelHub for more amazing novels and chapters. In essence, it’s about who gets to carve up the greater piece of faith’s pie."