Betty was silently trembling with rage beside Lauren, her lips twitching. She wanted nothing more than to tear at Laurenâs face right now.
This fucking bitch! Did she really think that she could do as she pleased just because Landon was protecting her?
Betty thought menacingly, âI going to kill you if itâs the last thing I do!â
Though Sophia had insisted on a low-profile celebration, she had still allowed the media to get word of it.
After all, she needed it like a fish needed water.
The reporters were pa were pacing around the hotel prior to Sophiaâs arrival. They quickly surrounded her when she arrived, though she remained behind a circle of bodyguards as she walked into the hotel, looking like some kind of big shot.
âMrs. Beckett!â
âMadam Sophia!â
The reporters cried, snapping all the photos they could get of her and her family.
Javier was displeased with this turn of events but remained indifferent before the reporters.
âYour family has arrived for your wifeâs birthday celebration, Mr. Javier, but why isnât Mr. Jasper here?â
A reporter asked.
After all, it would be unbecoming of a reporter not to get a little nosy.
âJasperâs occupied, so he had to skip tonightâs event,â Javier replied lightly, nodding at the reporter.
âMadam Sophia, your birthday supposedly falls on Wednesday instead of tonight, yet youâre only celebrating it tonight. Could it have something to do with tonight being KS Groupâs President, Winston Taylorâs third wife, Lylaâs birthday?
âDid you plan you plan to celebrate your birthday on the same night as hers? You two were once TS Networkâs star actresses and were rivals. Is this rivalry still going on today?â a reporter questioned.
âOh? I didnât know it was Lylaâs birthday tonight until you told me!â Sophia put on a look of surprise, her diamond ring glittering as she covered her mouth.
âI must remember to wish her a happy birthday and a cheerful year ahead. But no, I chose today She was all smiles. âWe have many, many quests tonight, after all, so I had to consider their schedules when planning tonightâs celebration.â
âDid you say âguests?â the reporter asked.
They shot looks at one another before someone asked, âWeâve been standing here for two hours but didnât see anyone arrive Sophiaâs heart leapt into her throat.
That couldnât be! She had clearly invited over a hundred quests two weeks ago, and most of them had agreed to attend!
Had they not come?
Sophia forced another smile, though she was as tense as a pulled howstring right now.
âWhy donât we head inside first? Javier urged quietly.
They walked to the hotelâs entrance, where two of the staff opened the grand doors for them.
The moment they did, both Javier and Sophiaâs expressions froze on their faces. Sophiaâs face turned white as a sheet. She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming out.
There were less than a handful of quests in the large, spacious ballroom! Her fantasy of a hall filled with women in flowing gowns and men in crisp suits was gone just like that!
Where was everyone?