"I understand, Mr. Quinn. Thank you very much."
Grace Lynch said politely. The wind blowing through the open window helped her calm down a bit.
Neither of them spoke further until the car stopped at the old residence’s entrance.
Grandpa Quinn’s birthday celebration was organized on a grand scale. After all, his status was extraordinary, and many people wanted to cozy up to him. This reception was a perfect opportunity.
The moment Hugo Quinn and Grace Lynch got out of the car, they drew everyone’s attention.
However, many people began to whisper, noticing that the woman next to Hugo wasn’t Grace Lynch but another woman.
"Who is that? Shouldn’t Grace Lynch have accompanied Mr. Quinn?"
"No idea, but it looks like there will be a good show tonight."
Their voices made no attempt to hide their gossip, and Grace naturally heard them.
She hesitated for a moment but then naturally held Marcus’s hand, following behind Hugo into the hall.
Hugo’s distinguished status attracted many business investors who wanted to discuss deals with him.
Grace Lynch found such occasions dull, so she randomly chose a corner to sit in.
Marcus initially stayed by her side but was taken away by the Quinton family members to see Grandpa Quinn first.
In no time, Grace was left alone in the corner.
That’s when Joelle Quinn appeared; she had been observing Grace from the moment she entered.
"Eleanor Hollis, I never imagined, right after divorcing my brother, you’d eagerly jump into someone else’s bed. There’s no woman as vile as you!"
She truly hated Eleanor, the woman who had slapped her, something she still remembered vividly.
Eleanor calmly held a glass of wine, smiled when she saw Joelle coming with hostility, and said, "Compared to me, your brother hadn’t even divorced me before he jumped onto someone else’s bed. Who’s more vile?"
Her counterattack was beautiful, making Joelle’s face instantly pale.
Back when Eleanor was in the Quinton family, Joelle could manipulate her at will. But it hadn’t been long since Eleanor left, and she had grown so sharp-tongued.
"That’s because you can’t have kids! You couldn’t give the Quinton family a child in five years, so my brother looked for someone else!"
Joelle started making excuses for Nathaniel Quinn, with a sneering smile.
"I heard your sister is also coming tonight. I wonder what a sentimental picture it will be when you two meet at the party."
She deliberately said things to provoke Eleanor, knowing everyone was aware that, despite being a member of the Hollis family, Eleanor had never been favored and was sent to the countryside to grow up with her grandparents.
No one from the Hollis family had visited her in years; her nominal parents were practically non-existent to her.
But it’s worth mentioning that the current most cherished little princess of the Hollis family, Eleanor’s younger sister, was named Anna Hollis.
The name Anna alone showed how much the Hollis family adored this little girl.
Eleanor tightened her grip on the wine glass, her heart aching so much she could barely breathe.
Seeing her go pale, Joelle’s glee intensified, "Tonight the Hollis family will come over, looks like you don’t know yet; once you meet them, you’ll feel great!"
She huffed coldly, finishing her sentence, and the confrontational atmosphere between the two was noticed by others.
Not many people here knew Eleanor’s identity, especially given that her attire today was unlike her usual style.
"Is that dress a knockoff? Why wear a knockoff to such an event?"
Someone suddenly voiced in the crowd, and everyone’s attention shifted to Eleanor’s dress.
Most people in this circle have good taste and have attended numerous fashion shows, so many recognized Eleanor’s dress at a glance.
They hadn’t commented earlier because Hugo was beside her, but now that someone had mentioned it, they quickly chimed in.
"It indeed seems like a knockoff. I heard it just appeared on the runway a few days ago and isn’t available yet in the country."
"I liked that dress when I saw it on the runway the other day, but I was told it would take at least a month to get it."
Everyone was openly and covertly mocking Eleanor for wearing a knockoff and embarrassing herself.
The banquet was filled with the high society elite, whose everyday necessities were costly.
What they despised the most was knockoffs.
Joelle, hearing the discussions, had a glint of light in her eyes.
No wonder the dress looked familiar; it was from the runway. Eleanor was truly foolish.
Wearing something not yet available in the country at the banquet, did she want everyone to know she was wearing a knockoff?
"Eleanor, you’re shameful! Even if you don’t have a decent dress, wearing a knockoff? Still so vain, no wonder my brother divorced you!!"
Joelle raised her voice, looking at Eleanor with smug satisfaction.
Her words reached the ears of those around, and they finally realized this woman was Eleanor Hollis, who had recently divorced Nathaniel Quinn, a once-inconspicuous figure.
Eleanor said nothing, feeling the disdain and rejection directed at her, biting her lips, with an unspeakable sense of defenselessness.
The malice of one person might be insignificant, but the malice of ten or a hundred could crush someone.
"Eleanor." ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Just as everyone was about to make more sarcastic remarks about Eleanor, an elderly voice called.
The crowd hurriedly made way, and they saw the young darling of the Quinton family leading Grandpa Quinn over.
"Eleanor, Marcus just called me grandpa, thanks to you."
Grandpa Quinn’s face was filled with smiles, seemingly oblivious to what had just transpired around him.
"Grandpa Quinn, it’s what I should do."
Eleanor realized Grandpa was rescuing her, feeling a bit moved.
Everyone present fell silent, believing that after Eleanor’s divorce from Nathaniel, she no longer counted as part of the Quinton family.
But Grandpa’s attitude suggested otherwise.
Grandpa Quinn was in high spirits; just earlier, Marcus had affectionately called him grandpa, making him so delighted that his beard nearly twirled up.
Marcus’s voice was a bit hoarse as he quickly walked to Eleanor’s side, holding her hand.
Those initially wanting to make things difficult for Eleanor saw the situation and kept their mouths shut; everyone knew how much the Quinton family adored this young babied member.
To Hugo, the child was like a treasure above everything else, and most present wanted to curry favor with Hugo, meaning they couldn’t afford to offend the young darling.
And judging by the young darling’s apparent affection for Eleanor, it meant they absolutely shouldn’t disrespect Eleanor in front of him.