“Vance’s face darkened. ” What kind of talk is that?”
“Just speaking from my heart! ” she replied, grinning as she looked ahead. Vance followed her gaze to look over, and there Desmond approached with a girl. ” Hi, Rebecca. I’m Desmond’s sister, ” the girl said, casually linking arms with her. This was Desmond’s thoughtful arrangement, considering Rebecca’s leg inconvenience and fearing she might feel uneasy, so he had his sister come to support her. However, the girl’s enthusiasm was a bit over the top. Rebecca chuckled, and so did Desmond.
Denise Schroeder laughed heartily. ” Pardon my manners. I’m just so happy to meet Rebecca. Come on, let’s get inside. “
“Rebecca! ” Vance called out. Unfamiliar with Vance and his friends, Denise blinked. ” Are they your friends? ” Rebecca glanced at Vance, snorting, ” Not really. ” As they all wished, she’d stay far away from them and would not sabotage anything. ” Okay, let’s go, ” Denise said, smiling warmly at the group. ” Bye! See you inside! ” She really was that outgoing. As they moved inside the venue, Rebecca learned her name. Like her mother, Denise loved to dance and had watched Rebecca perform as a child.
She also mentioned an older sister named Tracy Mueller, explaining that while Tracy took their father’s last name, she and Desmond took their mother’s. If her friends hadn’t called her, she would have kept chattering endlessly with Rebecca. She told them, ” I’m accompanying Rebecca today. Have fun! ” Rebecca encouraged Denise to go with them, saying she would be fine sitting there, and Desmond echoed her sentiment. Denise promised to come back soon before joining her friends.
“Denise has always been spoiled since she was little – lively and a bit of a chatterbox, ” Desmond said, inviting Rebecca to sit down. ” She’s adorable, ” Rebecca said, genuinely charmed by Denise’s innocent vitality and energy. Desmond chuckled, ” Sit tight. I’ll get you a drink. Juice? ” She nodded. ” Yeah, thank you. ” Once Desmond walked away, Vance and his group entered, making a beeline for her. Vance led the way, the other two following reluctantly. His expression was far from pleasant, and his tone was sharp. ” Rebecca, what do you mean by this?”
“What?” She lay back in her chair, looking up at him defiantly. ” You and that dancer… What’s going on between you two?”
“Show some respect! He has a name. ” Catherine stepped closer, interjecting, ” Vance doesn’t mean to disrespect. You’re his wife, and being seen with another man in such a grand setting makes things awkward for him. Today’s meeting with Mr. Mueller is very important. ” Vance shot Rebecca a frosty look, as if silently agreeing with Catherine’s words. Rebecca was unfazed. ” I have a clear conscience. I don’t think I’ve done anything to embarrass him.
If anyone should be embarrassed, it’s those married men showing up with other women, right? And those women clinging to married men. ” Catherine winced. ” Vance…”
“Rebecca! ” Vance’s anger flared up, simmering just below the surface. ” Are you really going to make a scene here in public? ” Rebecca maintained her composure. ” Seems like you’ve got it all wrong. I’ve been pretending not to know you all, but you came over to bother me. Am 1 to blame for that? ” Catherine tried to sound reasonable. ” We didn’t come here to bother you.
It’s just that this occasion is very important, and since you haven’t been exposed to such occasions, we’re afraid you might not handle it well and end up embarrassing yourself. “
All night long, the same tiresome arguments had circled endlessly, with Catherine’s every word and sentence branding Rebecca as an utter embarrassment, until Rebecca had finally reached her breaking point. ” Alright, if you want to avoid embarrassment, stay away from me, ” she said. ” I’m on the edge right now. Who knows what unpredictable things I might say or do? In your eyes, I’m already a complete disgrace, so why should I fear making it even worse?” She deliberately embraced a reckless, devil – may – care demeanor, wishing these intrusive people would simply back off and spare her the mounting irritation. Yet Vance remained rooted in place, unmoved. The other two lingered as well, settling into seats around her. Desmond returned carrying a glass of juice, his eyes scanning the trio before he let out a bemused chuckle. With no vacant spots left near Rebecca, he handed her the drink and chose a chair a short distance away.
Catherine then launched into an effusive monologue extolling the Mueller family’s unparalleled prestige, reserving her most extravagant praise for Tracy Mueller, the enigmatic powerhouse steering the Mueller Group, a distinguished Harvard alumna, and the esteemed president of numerous international associations, among other accolades. ” He is the eldest son of Mr. Sean Mueller, and rumor has it he’s returning to assume formal control of the group, ” Catherine cautioned Rebecca, casting a glance at Vance as if to highlight her own exemplary discretion and foresight.
“When he makes his appearance later, you absolutely must not commit any faux pas. ” Desmond, who had been listening, interjected with a light – hearted chuckle. ” That’s peculiar. I was never aware Mr. Mueller had such a son.”
“Of course you wouldn’t be privy to that, ” Catherine retorted, rolling her eyes in blatant contempt. ” You’re merely a dancer, so how could you possibly know about such matters? ” She nursed a simmering grudge against him for unmasking her pretense as Mrs. Bradford.
Her discreet inquiries had confirmed he was nothing more than a performer from the Soliaridge Troupe, lacking any significant influence or connections. Who knew how he had even gotten into this high – end business gala in the first place? ” Rebecca, ” Vance interjected, ” Cathy does make a valid point. It would be wise for you to familiarize yourself with the Mueller family’s background to prevent any missteps.”
“What does my misstep have to do with you? We’re strangers here, remember?” Rebecca countered, secretly amused by Catherine’s fervent references to the so – called eldest son of the Mueller family. ” Forget it, Cathy. Don’t bother with her, ” Aiden said, rolling his eyes. ” She’s already said she doesn’t know us. Clearly, she couldn’t care less about Vance’s well – being. Why waste your breath?”
“But we can’t just ignore it. We have to look out for Vance, ” Catherine insisted, looking utterly devoted.
The duo orchestrated their exchange like a well – rehearsed duet, their words meticulously crafted to provoke Rebecca and deepen Vance’s growing aversion toward her. In fact, their audacity stemmed directly from his tacit indifference. People invariably gauged others’ reactions and pushed limits accordingly. Had Vance demonstrated even the slightest respect for her, they would never have dared to belittle her so brazenly in his presence. ” Rebecca won’t hold it against me, will she? ” Catherine muttered, her voice quivering. ” Will she think I talk too much?
“
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