“An apology really isn’t that hard, you know. You’re just a nobody, yet you’re acting like a princess!”
This time, no one cared about maintaining any pretense of class or civility. The words grew harsher, the glares toward Khloe sharper, even rolling their eyes so far it seemed impossible.
Denise had been right-only someone struggling would resort to pretending. Until now, they hadn’t realized how vain Khloe could be.
But their voices abruptly stopped when Tina’s phone suddenly rang.
“… Could it be… a call from the Morrison Group?”
Everyone pressed in, disbelief written across their faces, as Tina’s trembling fingers answered.
“Hello?”
On the other end came a calm, authoritative male voice.
“Hello, is this Tina Boswell from Winsky Technologies? This is the Project Department of the Morrison Group. We understand you are interested in our new energy project. Would it be convenient for you to come to the Morrison Tower at Morrison Ave. tomorrow morning for a meeting?”
“Y-yes! Of course! Thank you so much!” Tina stammered, barely able to speak. Her eyes widened as she turned to look at Khloe, feeling as though she were floating, as if in a dream, until the call ended.
The entire room fell into sudden silence.
A few seconds later, Denise lunged for Tina’s phone.
“Wait-did you graduate from drama school? How could Morrison Group possibly call you?”
“That really was from the Morrison Group,” Tina explained. “This number is one of their official lines.”
Someone checked and confirmed it. The number was legitimate and official.
Everyone turned toward Khloe, disbelief frozen on their faces.
…Could it be? Could she actually be connected to the Morrison family?
Those who had mocked Khloe the loudest moments ago went pale, legs shaking. They had risked offending a true powerhouse, all for Denise’s sake.
Denise herself looked as if struck by lightning. She compared the number, digit by digit, to the one listed on Morrison Group’s website. Veins bulged along her neck.
“Liar! This can’t… it’s impossible… how could you possibly have ties to the Morrison family? Khloe, what… what trick did you use?”
“Trick? Denise, do you really think an official line for Morrison Group could just be faked?”
Some of the classmates finally caught on. They quickly spoke up for Khloe, stepping away from Denise. Those who had clustered around her just moments ago moved back, keeping their distance.
Then Tina’s phone chimed again, this time with a text message.
[Morrison Group: Dear Ms. Tina Boswell, please attend a detailed cooperation meeting tomorrow at 10:00 AM, Third Floor, Conference Room, Morrison Ave., Morrison Tower. Thank you again for your support.]
The message included the full address and official contact information-formal, precise, indisputable.
One former classmate, the one who had been most aggressive in demanding Khloe apologize, literally collapsed to the floor. Others looked ashen, heads bowed, wishing the ground would swallow them whole.
Khloe stepped forward calmly. The others instinctively scattered, each gaze fixed on her now filled with a mix of awe, fear, and disbelief.
The shift was palpable-from feigned friendliness to outright flattery tinged with fear.
“Khloe… what is your relationship with the Morrison family? Are you really… the Morrison heiress?”
Only the organizer of the reunion dared to ask, his voice tight, convinced he hadn’t crossed Khloe and hoping for clarity without offending her.
At once, others seized the chance to curry favor.
“Khloe, honestly, whether you’re the Morrison heiress or not, I’ve never thought you were doing badly. Back in university, I admired you so much!”
“Never thought I’d witness a story about a hidden heiress in real life-I must’ve hit the jackpot, haha…”
“Khloe, you’ve been hiding all this from us? How could you not tell a single soul?”
“Hey, don’t take what just happened to heart. We’re not close with Denise; she’s just difficult. We didn’t want the situation to get out of hand.”
The room buzzed again, but this time, everyone crowded around Khloe, leaving Tina gently pushed aside.
Denise, isolated and helpless, was ignored completely. People even shoved her back as if defending Khloe.
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.