Ella, now dressed in the white lace evening gown, radiated a quiet elegance and grace. The understated sophistication of her attire stood in stark contrast to the bold, extravagant dresses some might wear, offering a unique charm of its own. For this charity event, a more subdued look was appropriate, given that the focus was on raising funds for disaster relief.
Eric’s eyes lingered on her, and his throat tightened slightly as he swallowed, suppressing the mischievous urge that rose within him. Despite himself, he smiled and teased, "Looks like someone changed into a gown, and the princess has turned into a queen."
Ella burst into laughter, her eyes forming crescent moons as she smiled. She proudly took Eric’s arm. "Standing next to someone like you is what really turns the ugly duckling into a queen!"
In high spirits, they left the VIP lounge and made their way to the grand hall on the fifth floor, where the charity event was to take place.
The fifth-floor ballroom was filled with distinguished guests from various sectors of society, all dressed impeccably. The atmosphere was calm and dignified, with the women in attendance carrying themselves with a quiet grace, chatting in low murmurs.
"Isn’t that Mr. Nelson? And the woman beside him, I heard she’s his girlfriend!" whispered one attendee.
"She’s gorgeous, so elegant!"
"Yes, I’ve heard the Davis family came into wealth after Robert married Ella’s mother. Though the company isn’t publicly listed, her mother was a brilliant businesswoman."
"Such a tragedy, though. She was poisoned by a mistress! So heartbreaking."
"But Miss Davis is lucky, I’d say—what a great man she’s found. If only I were that fortunate!"
"Wait, isn’t that Ella’s grandfather and cousin over there? Things might get interesting tonight."
As whispers spread throughout the crowd, Ella gracefully walked arm-in-arm with Eric, exchanging greetings with various influential figures.
Leah, holding Sean’s hand, approached with a poised and serene smile. Her own outfit was suitably modest for the occasion, as she was no fool—this was not the time to flaunt with an overly revealing dress.
"Cousin, what a surprise to see you here. What a coincidence!" came Leah’s crisp voice just as Ella and Eric had taken their seats.
Ella turned her head calmly, spotting Leah and Sean approaching.
Eric stood up, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he greeted Sean with a casual smile. "Old Mr. Carter, welcome."
Ella, too, nodded politely. "Miss Carter, Old Mr. Carter, a pleasure."
Leah had addressed her as "cousin," but Ella’s response of "Miss Carter" didn’t go unnoticed by the crowd, who quickly began speculating about the strained relations between Ella and the Carter family. Despite rumors that Leah often visited Ella at school, it was clear that the two didn’t seem to get along well.
Sean, maintaining a neutral expression, responded to Eric’s greeting. "Mr. Nelson, I couldn’t miss your charity event. Your companion tonight looks stunning."
His tone lacked the usual disdain and arrogance, a shift that didn’t escape Eric’s notice. It was clear that Sean’s attitude toward Ella had changed.
In recent months, Sean had quietly investigated Ella and discovered her close relationship with Eric. The new mansion in the prestigious Crystal Lake Manor development was under Ella’s name—a property worth billions that Eric had gifted her without hesitation. This alone spoke volumes about Ella’s importance to Eric.
These revelations convinced Sean that Ella was no ordinary girl, and certainly not one to be underestimated. She had managed to overcome formidable opponents like Hannah and Brianna, leaving no doubt that she had a sharp mind and strong will.
Ella was slightly taken aback by Sean’s unexpected compliment.
Maintaining her composed smile, her tone turned cool. "Thank you for the compliment, Old Mr. Carter. Your skill at changing faces is quite impressive."
Her words darkened Sean’s expression immediately.
But with so many reporters present, Sean couldn’t afford to respond with any dismissive remarks. He pretended not to hear her.
Leah shot Ella a sharp glance. This girl wasn’t giving her any face at all! It was becoming clear that Ella would be a difficult opponent to deal with.
Ella’s pointed remark, however, piqued the interest of those around them. "Changing faces" hinted that Sean had treated her poorly in the past, adding fuel to the gossip fire.
Immediately, the socialites and noblewomen began whispering among themselves. "Did you hear that? Looks like Ella and Old Mr. Carter really don’t get along."
"Think about it. When Old Mrs. Carter was still alive, she cut ties with Isabella, which means the Davis family and Carter Group’s relationship ended right there!"
"Yeah, there must have been some serious bad blood between them. I heard Carter Group opposed Isabella’s marriage to Robert."
"That’s just the rumor. I’m sure the real reasons go deeper than that..."
Ella remained poised and unbothered by Sean’s icy aura, even though they were seated just one chair apart.
"Thirsty? Want some juice?" Eric asked, his voice soft and filled with affection as he smiled at her.
Ella shook her head. "I drank plenty of soup in the lounge earlier, so I’m fine."
Eric took her hand, his mischievous smile laced with a cold glint in his eyes. "There’s bound to be a good show later."
Ella’s lips curled into a faint smile. She understood Sean’s sudden shift in attitude was likely a ploy to paint himself as the considerate grandfather in front of the media, making her seem petty by comparison. He wasn’t likely to stop there—he’d surely try to take advantage of the situation.
This shameless family! They’d soon see why she’d earned her reputation as a cunning queen. If she didn’t give them a taste of their own medicine, her title would be in vain.
The emcee took the stage, giving a brief speech to welcome and thank the guests before quickly moving to the main event.
The first person to was the second-largest shareholder of Elite Horizon Club, who contributed one million under the club’s name.
Next came a series of high-profile individuals, all donating over a million as a show of respect to Eric.
Eric, the dark horse of the business world, was known for his ruthless tactics but also his exceptional capabilities. Many powerful figures had profited handsomely from their collaborations with him.
Then it was Sean and Leah’s turn to take the stage.
Ella’s smile deepened. The real show was about to begin—what tricks would Sean try to pull this time?
With calm composure, Sean held up a sign, which bore the figure of two million.
The emcee beamed and announced, "Sean, President of Carter Group, is donating two million!"
Sean then picked up another sign, raising it high.
The emcee’s face lit up with surprise. "Old Mr. Carter, are you adding another million?"
A faint, seemingly kind smile crossed Sean’s wrinkled face. "No, this extra million is on behalf of my granddaughter, Ella. Since she doesn’t have the financial means right now, as her grandfather, I’m just doing my part."