Yet here he was, attending the charity gala with Lana on his arm.
Niamh averted her gaze coldly and turned to Lana. “The host didn’t send you an invitation. Who let you in?”
“You’re right, but the host sent one to Waldburg Corporation, didn’t they?” Kendrick parted his lips, his peach blossom eyes staring at Niamh’s icy and otherworldly appearance.
Lana quirked her lips proudly. “Did you hear that, Miss Montgomery? My boyfriend received an invitation from the host. As his girlfriend, can’t I even come along to take a look?”
“Please, help yourself.” Niamh fired back without restraint. “However, this is a charity gala, after all. The guests present are all charitable and loving people, but what about you? You’re just a vile and heinous woman.”
“…” Lana’s smile instantly fell as she turned to Kendrick. “I think your ex-wife still has feelings for you, Kendrick. Why else would she pick on me like this?”
“Is that so?” Kendrick curled his lips into an intrigued smile as he took in Niamh’s frosty features. “Am I that attractive, Eveline? I’ve hurt you time and time again, yet you’re still interested in me?”
Niamh never expected to hear such ironic words coming from Kendrick’s mouth. After staring nonchalantly at the man with a twinkle in his eyes, she then turned to give Ryan a gentle smile. “Let’s get back to the hall.”
Ryan replied with a gentle smile and followed Niamh away.
Glaring harshly at Niamh and Ryan’s retreating figures, Lana loosened her grip from Kendrick’s hand. “I need to make a call, Kendrick.”
Kendrick nodded coolly and turned his head to watch Niamh leave.
She was wearing a midnight blue gown with her long hair loosely tied up. The azure jewels were subtle yet still elegant as they embellished her dress and makeup.
She reminded him of the night sky, twinkling yet still laid-back.
Kendrick felt his heart twinge as he started besottedly at her retreating figure.
He could no longer tell if it was the slow-acting poison or his heart aching.
Niamh returned to the banquet hall where everyone was happily chatting with one another under the shining lights.
They had raised an accumulated fund of 80 million dollars for children in poverty-stricken areas.
Friends of the late Montgomery couple praised Niamh for her skills while they gave their condolences for the loss of Sean and Eloise.
Niamh was taking pictures with a few well-known gentlemen and madams when the worker responsible for the gala’s funding suddenly rushed up to Niamh.
“Something has happened, Ms. Montgomery.”
Niamh and Ryan shared a look before walking to the side. “What happened?”
“We’ve raised over a hundred million dollars but there’s only 80 million. We don’t know where the 30 million dollars went!” Beads of cold sweat were on the person in charge’s forehead.
Niamh remained cool. “Something must’ve happened in the middle. Don’t fret, I’ll go take a look.”
Ryan followed after. “I’ll come with you, Eveline.”
“Alright.” Niamh turned around.
She had just taken a few steps when Eve from the jewelry department rushed over frantically with a shout. “Ms. Montgomery! Something bad has happened!”
Niamh could guess that Eve was referring to the funds, but with Eve shouting, everyone in the banquet hall turned to look.
“What happened?” someone asked curiously.
Niamh was about to placate the guests when Eve frantically replied, “Someone stole from the charity funds, Ms. Montgomery. 30 million dollars have vanished into mid-air.”
“What? Someone stole from the charity funds?”
“How could such a thing happen?”
“We have to find out who did it. How could someone be so heartless as to steal from funds raised for charity?”
The guests were shocked and furious.
Kendrick and Lana had just returned to the banquet hall when they watched the scene before them unfurl.
He could tell that it was a set-up for Niamh.
At that moment, the banquet hall erupted into chaos.
Most of them were angry, and it was only normal for some of them to fault Niamh for her inability to manage the funds. Some even said that if Eloise and Sean were still here, none of this would have happened. They claimed that as Niamh was still new to all this, she only had the right to take over but not the right to take up such an important role.
In face of doubt, Niamh remained calm as she promised. “Rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, that I will do everything I can to find out where the money went as soon as possible. I will not let your charitable intentions fall into the hands of someone else.”
She promised and took her phone to call the police.
Eve quickly stopped her. “You can’t call the police, Ms. Montgomery.”
“Why not?” Niamh was confused.
“This isn’t something we should broadcast to the world. If the police start investigating, it’ll only tarnish the name of Montgomery Enterprises.
“You might not know this, but Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery’s charity galas have always ended perfectly fine. If you can’t deal with this properly, I’m sure a lot of people will protest about the position you’re holding now.”
Feeling surprised, the corner of Niamh’s lips tugged into a vague smile. “I never knew you cared so much about me.”
“We may have our issues, Ms. Montgomery, but I’ve never thought too much about them,” Eve replied generously, “Relax. I’ll deal with this with you.”
Niamh stared at Eve’s sincere expression. “It seems like I’ve misunderstood you all along. Thank you for standing by me.”
Eve’s eyes brightened as she gave a kind smile. “Please, it’s my job.”
Niamh’s clear gaze swept past Eve as she made her way to dig deeper into the problem when another person in charge ran up to Niamh with a solemn expression. They said in a cold tone, “We found where the 30 million went, Ms. Montgomery.”
“You did?” Niamh was shocked by their efficiency. “What happened? Where did the 30 million go?”
She glared disdainfully at Niamh. “Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery did so much good when they were alive, Ms. Montgomery. But as their daughter, not only did you throw all their hard work away, but you’ve sabotaged it too.”
Niamh frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Are you still going to act innocent when I’ve already found out about it? The 30 million was just transferred from the company’s bank account to your personal one! You stole the money, then pretended to look for the money! How shameless can you be, Eveline Montgomery?”
Everyone in the banquet hall turned to look at Niamh.
Suspicious and doubtful gazes roamed over her.
“She was the one who stole the money?”
“No wonder her worker came to stop her from calling the police. They were all in on it.”
“I can’t say that I’m surprised, but I never expected this from Mr. Montgomery’s daughter, of all people. What a disgrace. How is he and Mrs. Montgomery supposed to rest in peace?”
Hearing such disdainful comments, Niamh felt fury rise within her. Yet, she forced herself to keep her cool.
However, she could no longer stand hearing people involve Sean and Eloise’s names.
“30 million is nothing to me. Do tell why I would risk my reputation for such a small amount?” Niamh asked back, turning to that person in charge. “Nothing happened to my personal account, so there’s no way 30 million could’ve been transferred from the company’s account.”
“Are you still going to deny it, Ms. Montgomery?” she sneered at Niamh, “It’s not my first time here. I have eyes, and my eyes told me that the transfer details of the 30 million was to your personal account! Doesn’t your conscience hurt when you spend that kind of money?”
“Exactly! How could you do such a thing? You’d kill Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery with your insolence if they were still alive!”
Niamh balled her fists, not wanting to hear them use her parents’ names to taunt her.
She tried her best to control her emotions and calm herself down. Looking up, her eyes fell on Kendrick who was standing not too far away as he watched indifferently at everyone throwing their accusations at her.
Standing beside him was a mirthful Lana Johnson. Kendrick merely watched the scene play out.
Niamh felt her heart chill when she suddenly heard Ryan standing up for her. “Miss Montgomery would never do such a thing. I hope all of you can give her some time to investigate the matter at hand.”
“Who are you to guarantee that, Mr. Jones? From what perspective do you stand, and who are you to her?” someone asked in dissatisfaction.
“To be honest, I don’t think Eveline Montgomery ever had the right to sit on that spot at all. She has no experience and no qualifications at all. She’s only there because she’s her parents’ daughter.”
The leaders who were dissatisfied with Niamh’s position in the company began to rub salt in her wounds.
Niamh merely smiled and fired back without restraint. “You’re right. I don’t have the experience nor do I have the qualifications. However, the reason that I stand here today is more than just because I’m my parents’ daughter. If you think you’re so great, then I wish that you’ll reincarnate into a better family in your next life. You’re not getting paid for being judgemental here.”
“What… Eveline Montgomery, how could you say such a thing?”
“I think it’s best you distance yourself from the matter, Mr. Jones, lest you find yourself with a handful of crap!”
Niamh knew that they were picking on her, and she did not want to drag Ryan into this.
However, Ryan stepped up and took Niamh’s hand in his before giving the guests a sincere and humble smile. “I’m here today as Eveline’s boyfriend, and I can promise you that my girlfriend would never do such a thing.”
He replied and turned to look gently at Niamh who was at loss.
“I know that someone is framing you, Eveline. You’d never do something so immoral.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.