Chapter 266

Chapter 266 Esther sneered, believing Elena to be indifferent to all, yet Elena harbored care for one person–Elysia, who had recently returned from the countryside.

Esther wasn’t naive; Elena’s genuine defense of Elysia and the affection in her voice were unmistakable. If anyone claimed ignorance of their acquaintance, Esther wouldn’t believe it.

+23)

Based on her knowledge of Elena, it was evident that Elena and Elysia were not only aware of each other but also quite close.

It turned out that Elena wasn’t heartless; she did care about others, just not Esther. Esther had once tried to forge a friendship with Elena, but was repeatedly rejected, convincing herself that Elena treated everyone the same, so it wasn’t too disappointing.

However, now that Esther knew Elena had a friend, and that this friend was Elysia, a surge of anger and humiliation overwhelmed her.

Esther’s gaze shifted to Elysia on stage, who had just finished speaking and was met with thunderous applause from the audience. Esther seemed oblivious to the sound, her eyes filled only with intense hatred.

Elena ignored Esther completely, her face radiating joy as she watched Elysia standing under the spotlight. Elena was thrilled for Elysia, finally finding a home where she was loved and cared for by her family.

As the applause diminished and Elysia prepared to descend from the stage, Vincent’s voice echoed through the hall. “Elysia, as your mentor, I have a gift for you.”

The previously quiet hall erupted with excitement upon hearing the word “mentor.”

“What does Vincent mean by that? Her mentor?”

“Isn’t it clear? Ms. Evans is Vincent’s apprentice. I had heard rumors of him taking on a final student, but I never expected it to be Ms. Evans.”

“With Vincent as her mentor, Ms. Evans is destined for greatness!”

“Absolutely, so what if she hailed from humble beginnings? Look at all the elite families in Jorlandia; none have captured Vincent’s attention like she has.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the person next to him tugged on his sleeve, whispering cautiously, “You shouldn’t say such things aloud. Be careful; someone with malicious intent might hear you.”

Upon hearing this, the speaker felt a chill of fear. In his haste to speak, he had forgotten his surroundings–directly insulting the prestigious families present.

Esther’s face darkened as she overheard the compliments. She watched Vincent, assisted by Faelan, slowly make his way to the stage and present Elysia with a light wooden box in front of everyone.

“Elysia, this is a gift for you. Open it and see,” Vincent said.

Elysia gently opened the box to reveal a round fan adorned with a golden border. The handle was crafted from gold and beautifully engraved with an eagle, showcasing the carver’s exceptional skill. The intricate details left everyone in awe as they gazed at the fan in Elysia’s hand.

Not only was the fan crafted from pure gold, but Vincent’s painting on it was invaluable. Vincent clearly favored Elysia, bestowing her with such a precious item.

Esther’s envy was palpable. Elena glanced at her with a slight smile, saying, “I told you, Elysia is truly talented.”

“How is this considered great? It’s just winning Vincent’s favor and receiving a gift from him. That’s not real talent!” Esther 1/3 83%

Chapter 266 retorted.

Hearing this, Ava’s previously subdued anger flared up again. Seeing that she couldn’t stop Ava, Elena could only caution her, “Remember the occasion. Don’t ruin Elysia’s party.”

Upon hearing this, Ava finally realized the importance of the evening. Elysia was the guest of honor. While confronting Eather might be satisfying, it could tarnish Elysia’s event.

Yet, simply letting Esther go wasn’t appealing to her. So, Ava decided to find a middle ground–she would still criticize Esther, but with a touch of diplomacy.

As she pondered this, Ava looked at Esther with a sarcastic tone and said, “You know, when someone is truly talented, they often attract haters. That’s certainly the case here.”

Saying that, Ava leaned in closer to Esther, scrutinizing her closely. “Do you know what you remind me of right now?”

+23 *Esther remained silent, whereas Ava sneered, “You remind me of that zoo fox that claims grapes are sour merely because it can’t reach them.”

“Your” Esther wanted to retort.

“Shh, keep quiet,” Ava urged. “Too many people are watching. If any malicious rumors spread, they could seriously tarnish your reputation.”

Esther’s face darkening with anger but maintaining composure. She glanced at Elysia on stage, feeling resolute. She cursed inwardly, ‘Just wait! The dignity I lost due to your friend, I will reclaim from you!‘

Clenching her fists slightly, Esther maintained a calm demeanor and walked away.

Joanne, who had overheard Ava mocking Esther, felt uneasy and initially wanted to come to her defense. However, upon hearing Ava’s final remark, she hesitated.

Joanne realized Ava was right; in such a setting, an argument would only damage her and her family’s reputation. She wasn’t that naive, Seeing that Esther had already left, she deemed staying further pointless. Giving Ava a fierce stare, she quickly followed Esther.

Ava remained unaffected by Joanne’s gaze, wearing a mischievous smile as she leaned in to whisper in Elena’s ear, “What do you think? Wasn’t I fantastic just now?”

Elena nodded and asked, “Do you know who you reminded me of just now?”

“Who?” Ava inquired curiously.

Elena stepped closer and replied calmly, “Like Elysia. Just now, you had a hint of her aura, akin to The Devil of Mischief.”

Ava, who had been beaming with joy, quickly changed her expression and sounded hurt, “Elena, you’ve changed. I can’t believe you just called Elysia The Devil of Mischief.”

Elena believed she was justified in her statement. She had witnessed Elysia leading a group of black–clad bodyguards to raid the Rosewood residence. That exactly was what The Devil of Mischief would do.

Although Elena hadn’t seen the entire scene, she could imagine the trouble Elysia had caused the Rosewood family.

Meanwhile, Elysia had accepted Vincent’s gift, and supported Vincent with Faelan on both sides. Initially, she had intended to decline, but with so many spectators and it being a heartfelt gesture from Vincent, she had no choice but to accept.

As she descended from the stage, the microphone crackled to life. Elysia turned to see a defiant girl standing on stage, staring at her intently.

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