The entire head table fell into a dead silence.

Seated on Ethan's right, Seraphina's polite smile could no longer hold together.

"Ethan..."

She pulled gently at his sleeve.

Ethan didn't look at her.

Nor did he look at me.

He merely picked up his own glass and took a sip.

The gala proceeded.

I sat in my place, composed, tasting one course after another.

Whenever a guest approached the table to offer a toast, I stood up with practiced grace to handle the exchange.

If any of the wives subtly brought up Seraphina, I would steer the conversation away with a seamless smile.

From the beginning to the absolute end, I did not look at Seraphina once.

Yet my sheer presence alone was the ultimate humiliation to her.

She sat on his right.

I sat on his left.

In terms of traditional etiquette, the seat to the host's left was the position of highest honor.

In terms of status, the namecard reading the CEO's wife sat directly in front of me.

In terms of gravitas, every single dignitary who approached to raise a glass fixed their eyes on me first.

Seraphina was rendered a complete non-entity throughout the entire night.

As the gala drew to a close, a major associate, Mr. Davis, walked over carrying his glass.

"Good evening, ma'am. It has been quite a while. I heard a rumor that your health hadn't been ideal recently?"

"Not at all, Mr. Davis. I am perfectly well."

"Splendid, splendid." Mr. Davis hesitated slightly, his eyes drifting over to the right. "And this young lady is...?"

I answered for him before Ethan could speak.

"She is a newly signed talent from Ethan's entertainment division."

Seraphina's face turned violently crimson in an instant.

I held my glass, my smile flawless and unwavering.

"The conglomerate has expanding operations, so there are always occasions where we must bring out new talent to gain some exposure in high society. Please think nothing of it, Mr. Davis."

Mr. Davis looked at me, then at Seraphina, and nodded with a knowing smile.

"Your grace and magnanimity are truly admirable, ma'am."

He took his leave.

Seraphina’s hand trembled so violently she could barely hold her glass.

Ethan reached out, covering the back of her hand with his palm, pressing down to steady her.

I witnessed the gesture clearly.

But I said nothing.

Tonight's battle was already won, and that was more than enough.

One does not need to execute a total slaughter in every single round.

Chapter 15

Following the gala, Seraphina kept a low profile for three days.

I assumed she was licking her wounds.

Yet on the fourth day, someone I never expected to see appeared right before my eyes.

Madeline.

My biological mother.

She was standing right there in my living room.

Wearing the same kind of haute couture suit I had seen before, carrying a designer bag, and stepping in high heels.

Having not seen her for twenty years, she looked a decade younger than her peers, meticulously preserved.

It was glaringly obvious she had lived an exceptionally comfortable life over these years.

"Alaina."

When she called my name, her tone carried a very strange brand of affection.

As if we had just seen each other yesterday.

As if the twenty years between us simply did not exist.

"How did you get in?"

"Ethan gave me an access card."

Ethan, yet again.

I stood at the landing of the stairs, refusing to walk down.

"What are you here for?"

"Just to see you."

She offered a faint smile.

"You are my daughter, after all. It’s only natural for a mother to check if you’re doing well."

"Check if I'm doing well?"

My grip tightened around the banister.

"Now you suddenly care about how I’m doing?"

"Where exactly were you when I was six years old?"

"Where were you when my stepfather beat me until my head was split open and bleeding?"

"Where were you when Ethan killed a man to save my life and went to prison?"

"Where were you when I was seven months pregnant, suffered a miscarriage, and nearly died on that operating table?"

Her smile stiffened slightly, but she rapidly forced her composure back into place.

"Lana, about the past... your mother had her own hardships."

"Hardships?"

I walked down the stairs.

Step by step, I came to a halt directly before her.

"What exactly were your hardships? Taking my father’s settlement money, running off to Nashville, marrying into wealth, and giving birth to Seraphina?"

"And then letting your younger daughter come to steal your eldest daughter’s husband?"

"Is this your definition of hardships?"

The color finally drained from her face.

But it was only for a fleeting second.

She drew a tissue from her purse, wiping her hands as though she were cleaning off something filthy.

"Lana, I didn’t come here to trade insults with you today."

"I came to discuss a matter with you."

"What matter?"

"Seraphina is carrying Ethan's child, as you well know."

"The baby has stabilized; she’s nearly four months along now."

"Ethan’s view is that once the child is born, he will properly settle the situation between the two of you."

"But until then, he hopes you can leave things be."

"Calling Seraphina a 'newly signed talent' in front of hundreds of people... do you honestly think acting that way reflects well on you?"

I nearly burst into laughter.

"You came to demand justice for her?"

"A woman who abandoned her own flesh and blood for twenty years has the audacity to lecture me on how to behave?"

"I am not lecturing you."

Madeline’s tone suddenly hardened.

"I am letting you know that if you insist on continuing down this path, it will yield absolutely no benefit for you."

"Do you truly believe you possess any real influence over Ethan's conglomerate?"

"The leverage you use to throw tantrums before him was entirely granted to you by him, and he can strip it away at any moment."

She stared at me, the final trace of warmth vanishing from her eyes.

"Lana, do not back us into a corner."

"Back you into a corner?"

I pulled my phone from my pocket.

"Do you know who Morgan is?"

She was visibly startled.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just a casual question."

I slipped the phone back into my pocket.

"Please take your leave. This is my home; do not step foot inside again without my explicit permission."

"You don't need to return the access card. It will be deactivated by tomorrow morning."

She stared at me for a few seconds.

Then turned and walked out.

As she reached the door, she cast a final look back over her shoulder.

"Lana, I am your mother, and I would never harm you."

"But if you refuse to see reason, do not blame me for being ruthless."

The door closed.

Mrs. Higgins murmured from the side, "Miss Alaina, don't take a single word she said to heart."

I offered no response.

Madeline’s performance just now had confirmed one absolute fact to me.

She hadn't come to act as a peacemaker.

She had come to deliver a final ultimatum.

Accept Seraphina's presence.

Otherwise, the leverage she held in her hands would be put to immediate use.

She truly believed she was the dealer holding all the cards at this table.

Yet she had absolutely no idea that there was still one more player who hadn't revealed her hand.

Chapter 16

The day after Madeline’s departure, I made a decisive move.

I would make my formal debut at the city’s premier annual economic summit.

A forum held once a year, where every prominent figure, dignitary, and tycoon in Washington would be in attendance.

The investment elite, real estate barons, and cultural pioneers would all converge.

In all the years past, I had never participated in events of this nature.

This year, I actively requested a VIP invitation.

Not under the title of the CEO's wife.

But under the name of Morgan.

Felix meticulously orchestrated every single arrangement.

I entered the venue registered strictly under the name Morgan, with my seat assigned squarely in the very first row of the VIP section.

I had changed into a sleek, sophisticated black evening gown, my makeup entirely distinct from my usual style, with my hair flowing loose down my shoulders.

When I stepped into the grand hall, not a single person recognized me as Alaina.

Yet the moment the name Morgan appeared on the registration ledger, the hands of the young receptionist began to visibly tremble.

"M-Ms. Morgan, please allow me to escort you this way."

The venue was immense, filled with hundreds of dignitaries.

I caught sight of numerous familiar faces.

The prominent socialite sat in the third row, while Mrs. Miller was seated in the fifth.

Mr. Davis occupied a seat in the second row of the VIP section.

Harvey sat at the far end of the very first row.

When his eyes fell upon my namecard, his eyes went wide with absolute shock.