"No, that’s not it!" Yasmine clenched her fists, unable to remain clear-headed or rational at this moment. "Mr. Crawford, have you forgotten? You said you were going to give me a birthday surprise..."
Hayden Crawford’s handsome face remained impassive, utterly detached and aloof. "Do you mean this doesn’t count as a birthday surprise?"
Yasmine suddenly forgot how to breathe. She finally understood what Hayden meant by a birthday "surprise." It was all a plot, a scheme. From mistakenly identifying the butler as Serena’s husband to the fake breakup between Serena and him, everything was meticulously planned just to slap her in the face at this birthday banquet.
Many people were in on it—Justin Xavier, Seth Hawthorne, Leah Thorne... In the 1949 Bar, she had even spoken ill of Orchid Court in front of them; they must have been laughing at her then.
Yasmine had always loved to compete with Serena, especially vanity and saving face. Now, she felt like she was nothing but a complete joke.
They had slapped her face so hard it hurt.
Yasmine still refused to believe it. She kept shaking her head. "I still don’t believe it. Hayden Crawford, you didn’t marry Serena Sterling, right? Serena, why do you always take what’s mine? You know how much I like Hayden Crawford. My goal is to marry him. How could you become Mrs. Crawford?"
Yasmine looked at Serena, her words a strident accusation.
At this moment, Serena could truly feel Yasmine’s infatuation and obsession with Hayden Crawford. Because someone who usually loved to put on a front was now gradually breaking down, showing a hideous side.
Serena’s bright eyes gazed at Yasmine. "Yasmine, aren’t you aware of how I became Mrs. Crawford? I didn’t take anything; it was given to me by you. I became a stand-in bride at Orchid Court. Initially, the position of Mrs. Crawford was presented to you, and you could have been Mrs. Crawford, but you didn’t want it."
Yasmine felt as if she’d been struck by lightning, frozen on the spot. Yes, Serena was a stand-in bride at Orchid Court. Serena was a stand-in bride at Orchid Court...
This sentence echoed like a curse in Yasmine’s ears. Originally, she could have entered Orchid Court, she could have become Mrs. Crawford. My God, what had she lost!
Yasmine’s knees went weak, almost collapsing onto the carpet. Fortunately, Lillian Sterling quickly stepped forward, supporting Yasmine.
Lillian Sterling looked at Hayden Crawford, both awkward and obsequious. "Mr. Crawford, don’t be deceived by Serena’s innocent appearance; she’s actually quite the seductress..." Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs noᴠelfire.net
"Mrs. Sterling, I know my wife better than anyone else. I hope you’ll be careful with your words. I’m protective by nature, so think before you speak!" Hayden Crawford’s hawk-like gaze landed on Lillian Sterling, directly interrupting her.
Under Hayden Crawford’s glare, Lillian Sterling felt a chill run down her spine. She was so angry she dug her nails into her palms, and could only temporarily comfort Yasmine, "Yasmine, don’t be sad..."
Yasmine’s eyes were red as she looked at Lillian Sterling. "Mom..."
"Yasmine, I really must thank your mom. Without her, there would have been no stand-in bride. If it weren’t for her, you would be Mrs. Crawford now, not me. She delivered everything you ever dreamed of into my hands. I almost suspect she truly loves me," Serena said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Lillian Sterling’s face changed dramatically. "Serena, you! Yasmine, don’t listen to her attempts to sow discord. Mom didn’t know about these things at first..."
Despite her words, Yasmine’s nerves were still pricked. She immediately pushed Lillian Sterling away, unwilling to look at her for another moment.
Yasmine was her most cherished and proudest daughter. Being pushed away by her daughter left Lillian Sterling feeling very hurt and innocent. She looked at Gregory Sterling, "Gregory, I..."
Gregory Sterling saw clearly what was happening. His most proud daughter, Yasmine, could never marry Hayden Crawford. His dreams of becoming the royal father-in-law were shattered, and the current Mrs. Crawford was his least favorite, Serena Sterling.
It was all Lillian Sterling’s fault, for it was her plan to arrange a stand-in marriage that swapped Yasmine’s brilliant life with Serena’s!
Gregory Sterling cast a cold glance at Lillian Sterling. "Shut up, don’t call me!"
Lillian Sterling felt a chill to the core. Just when she thought she’d made a comeback, had she reverted to square one?
Was she now not only loathed by her husband but abandoned by her daughter too?
This turn of events happened as quickly as a shooting star.
At that moment, Gregory Sterling looked at Serena Sterling, laughing ingratiatingly. "Serena, past mistakes were your father’s. I’ve been misled by malicious individuals, but you must believe your father loves you..."
Serena’s eyes, bright and clear, shone with a cold light. She curled her red lips and addressed him, "President Sterling!"
President Sterling...
Gregory Sterling suddenly froze.
"President Sterling, your love is all for Yasmine and Vanessa. What spare love is there for me? From the moment ten years ago when you threw me out of the Sterling family, I knew our father-daughter bond was thin. You, I can never aspire to know."
Gregory Sterling looked at Serena, his lips trembling. "Serena, there...there must be some kind of misunderstanding..."
Hayden Crawford had no interest in watching these people any longer. He lowered his handsome eyes to the girl in his arms, "Mrs. Crawford, will you come with me?"
Hayden Crawford took Serena Sterling’s small hand and left.
As the two left, everyone exchanged glances, and the previous enthusiastic flattery quickly turned to cold and sarcastic ridicule,
So Yasmine was just a supporting character, not the main one. Earlier, her princess-like airs made me think she was the protagonist.
Earlier, Mr. Crawford even said she overthought things, mistaking illusions for reality. The midnight sky lanterns were lit by Mr. Crawford for Mrs. Crawford.
Seems like Serena does not acknowledge Gregory Sterling as her father. Let’s quickly withdraw our investments; it’s now a race to see who can run faster!
And Lillian Sterling is truly a teammate who shoots herself in the foot. Was she a spy sneaking in? A stand-in marriage swapped the lives of two daughters. I think she’s been playing too much SM, her brain’s not working right.
Hurry, get away from this family. Anyone got Serena’s contact? Mr. Crawford dotes on her so much, we must befriend her!
In an instant, all the guests in the hall left. These were the high society nobles of Bayside. Yasmine, Lillian Sterling, and Gregory Sterling became laughingstocks.
Yasmine clenched her fists and ran out.
The Sovereign Hotel was covered everywhere with soft wool carpets, with romantic white gauze and flowers in sight. Staff stood respectfully on either side, as Hayden Crawford held Serena’s small hand, walking forward. Everyone quickly bowed, "Mrs. Crawford, happy birthday."