Pampered By Power: The True Heiress Returns

Chapter 369

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Esther froze for a second, her mind racing. What does she mean by “steal the spotlight“? Is she really calling me out like that in front of everyone? Does she think I can’t tell what she’s doing? she thought.

Her face darkened. She shot Lindsey a heated glare. If Jim hadn’t just scolded her, she would’ve gone off on Lindsey right here without hesitation.

Her hand, which was hidden in the shadows, clenched into a fist. Stay calm, she thought. Don’t let it get to you. Keep it together.’

Jim, still frowning, clearly frustrated, spoke up. “Lindsey, what exactly are you implying?”

Lindsey tilted her head. “Are you really going to let me explain to everyone how your precious daughter, Esther, is just trying to get attention?”

She said the last part with a noticeable shift in her tone, looking at Esther with a smirk. Jim’s temper flared. He shot Esther an angry look, his patience clearly running thin.

He never expected his family drama to be aired in front of so many people, especially not tonight.

As he scanned the room and caught the mocking glances from the guests, his face turned even darker. His blood began to boil.

Jim couldn’t help but think that after tonight, his family was going to lose even more respect.

‘If only I had known this was going to happen, I should’ve never come to this dinner, he thought bitterly.

But it was too late to regret it now.

Jim took a deep breath, trying to regain control. He raised his voice and forced a smile, looking at the guests. “Just a little misunderstanding between the girls. Sorry to interrupt your evening, everyone. My apologies for the trouble.”

He then turned to Jocelyn on stage, raising his glass toward her. “Mrs. Jocelyn Hartley, I’m truly sorry. Please, go ahead and

continue.”

Jocelyn briefly glanced at Elysia beside her before looking back at the guests, her smile still polite and composed. “Everyone, just a minor interruption. Let’s get back to the dinner.”

She gave Elysia another quick smile, and the two of them proceeded to cut into the cake again.

Elysia was shocked. She hadn’t expected Lindsey to call out Jim like that, especially not at a formal dinner.

character for her cousin, who was usually so polite

Elysia didn’t mind it. There

Quinita stood off to the side, not far from the stage, their eyes fixed on their daughter in

up to?” Quinita asked, her voice quiet but

“If I had to guess, the Hartley family is probably

at the banquet, she’d had a nagging

hit her this

close with Jocelyn, but they weren’t strangers, either. Back when

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Chapter 369

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moved to Durinville, they lost touch. And when she

showed up at Elysia’s welcome party, wearing a purple dress, just like today. But

among

of the

type to make small talk or play the social game. She didn’t flatter or manipulate people to get ahead. Plus, since she lived abroad most of the time, it made sense that few people actually

her,

Quinita wondered if

two of them, so close on stage, made Quinita’s chest tighten.

already, someone was setting their sights on her.

the fifth cut on the cake, both she and Elysia

the staff.

like a masterpiece, slicing each piece with precision, and every cut was

slices, either serving them directly to guests or placing them

Fabian and Javier. They were surrounded by a group of middle–aged men in suits, so

some more, and her eyes landed on two familiar figures standing not far away. A smile tugged at her

smiles, reaching out to take Quinita’s hand as if they were the best

betrayed no emotion. Her

a sip of her juice,

happen if she

out, drawing Elysia’s

with a smile, but as soon as she saw the woman

was dressed in a white off–the–shoulder dress, her hair flowing in soft waves, and her skin was flawless. She had