Chapter 829:
Belinda returned the gesture with a reserved tilt of her head. She had never been particularly fond of Zandra, and their exchanges were usually just for show.
Zandraâs gaze lingered on Belindaâs dress, a twinge of jealousy coloring her tone.
âBelinda, is that a Harlee design? Itâs absolutely stunning!â
Belindaâs lips curved into a modest smile, a glint of pride flickering in her eyes. The praise for Harleeâs creation was more than she had anticipated.
With a feigned nonchalance, Belinda scanned the crowd and then announced just loud enough for the nearby guests to overhear, âOh, itâs nothing really.
Harlee gifted me ten dresses, all exclusives from the limited collection at Shadow Moon Studio.â
Zandraâs smile wavered, tinged with envy. If she had made it home just a little earlier, Harlee could have worked her magic to design a dazzling dress for her that would have stolen the spotlight.
After lavishing a few more praises, Zandraâs voice carried a touch of bewilderment.
âWhy hasnât Harlee come down yet? Is there a problem?â
âThe makeup artist has hit a traffic snag and wonât arrive for another thirty minutes,â Belinda said, her voice tinged with a hint of exhaustion.
A while earlier, as Etta descended the grand staircase, Belinda had overheard Skyla trying to summon her own trusted makeup artist upon learning of the delay with the appointed one.
Etta had mentioned that Harlee insisted on waiting for her personal makeup artist, necessitating a reluctant half-hour delay.
Acknowledging Harleeâs unique suitability as a prospective daughter-in-law, Belinda resolved to pacify the increasingly impatient guests by announcing a gracious postponement of the festivities.
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âI suppose⦠the finest treasures are worth waiting for.
Another half hour might just prove lucky,â Zandra remarked.
Belinda nodded slightly, saying nothing more.
During the interlude, Oaklee made two thwarted attempts to reach Harlee. Initially determined to see Harlee directly, Oaklee was sidetracked by unforeseen complications and failed to make it.
In the lavish confines of the suite, precisely at 3:30, Lindsay, under Ettaâs unhurried lead, approached the unconscious Harlee with an air of indifference.
After ensuring Lindsayâs entrance, Etta quickly excused herself back to the banquet hall, her presence essential to maintain calm and prevent curious guests from wandering toward the suite.
Mindful of the still-precarious situation, Lindsay avoided any overt confrontation. With a discreet nod, she directed four people disguised as waiters to swiftly conceal the unconscious Harlee and Nyomi in two food carts.
Before long, the four people, under the disguise of waiters, had meticulously handled everything. Stealthily, they navigated the two heavily laden food carts toward the underground parking lot, managing to evade any curious eyes.
On this particular occasion, the sprawling underground parking lot of the Grand Oak Hotel was off-limits to the public due to the lavish engagement celebration, accessible only to guests flashing their gilded invitations.
At this point, the guests had all settled inside, turning the parking lot into Lindsayâs personal territory.
Despite the seeming tranquility, the area bristled with hidden surveillance cameras. Lindsay, with a calculated gaze, skillfully guided them to avoid the electronic eyes that could betray them to the watchful Sanderson family, transferring the two women from the concealed depths of the food carts into the shadowed safety of the trunk.
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