Chapter 5
By the time they arrived at the ballroom, most of the guests had already shown up.
Nathan was surrounded by a group of business partners and drawn aside to chat, leaving Yvonne and Sophia alone.
Yvonne wasn't really into mingling with strangers, so she made a beeline for the dessert table.
As soon as she walked away, a group of socialites immediately gathered around Sophia.
"Sophia, you're amazing. You just got back, and you're already back by Mr. Finn's side."
"Exactly. You were apart for three years and still got back together. Looks like Mr. Finn has been pining for you all along."
"You bet. Back then, Mr. Finn treated Sophia exceptionally well."
Hearing their words, Sophia curled her lips into a subtle smile, a hint of pride flickering in her eyes.
She shot a glance at Yvonne before pretending to be embarrassed and said, "Oh, don't get the wrong idea. I just got back, and I'm only staying at Nathan's place for a little while.
"For the past three years, it was Ms. Warren who stayed by Nathan's side. Honestly, he's moved on from me a long time ago. We're friends now."
As she spoke, her eyes grew a little misty, as if she was holding back tears.
The people around gave Yvonne a once-over, their eyes full of barely concealed contempt.
Everyone who could attend this birthday party came from rich or influential backgrounds, so of course, they looked down on Yvonne as an "orphan."
They didn't bother to lower their voices, so Yvonne caught every word they said about her.
"The Finn family is back on top, and Mr. Finn is the hottest new tycoon in town. Does Yvonne really think she's good enough for him, being an orphan?"
"Exactly. She only stuck around when the Finn family was down and out. Mr. Finn is keeping her close because she was there for him all these years. She's not in the same league as him now."
Hearing their snide remarks, Yvonne chuckled softly.
Sure, on paper, she and Nathan weren't exactly a perfect match. But it wasn't that she wasn't good enough for him; it was the other way around.
Once the birthday party officially kicked off, everyone started handing their gifts to Betty.
Yvonne stepped forward with a moissanite pendant she had prepared.
Betty took the box without even opening it and passed it to the servant behind her.
She took Yvonne's hand, her smile bright. "Yvonne, thanks for always being there for Nathan these past three years. Just having you here makes me happy enough. You didn't have to bring anything at all.
"Now that Nathan's company is listed, the Finn family really owes you. Is there anything you want? Maybe a house?"
Having grown up among the elite, Yvonne could easily spot the hidden agenda behind Betty's gentle smile.
Betty's words were a thinly veiled reminder that no matter how devoted Yvonne had been these past three years, the only reward she'd get was material compensation. Anything more? Not a chance.
Back when the Finn family hit rock bottom, Betty had been so moved by Yvonne's presence that her eyes reddened. She had treated Yvonne with warmth these past three years.
But now that the Finn family was back on top, Betty had started to draw a clear line between them.
Jaded as she was by the fickleness of human nature, even Yvonne felt a flicker of scorn tugging at her heart.
She'd originally come to this birthday party to bid farewell to Betty, but now she realized it was no longer necessary.
Just then, Sophia stepped forward and handed Betty a box. "Mrs. Finn, this is a gift for you. I hope you like it."
When Betty opened the box, a necklace adorned with a rainbow of colorful gemstones sparkled in the light, catching everyone's eye.
Betty still had some resentment toward Sophia for walking out on her son, but when she saw the dazzling necklace, she couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
Sophia took in every nuance of Betty's reaction, a confident smile curling at her lips. "This necklace is from the Veltravian royal family. I won it at an auction overseas. The moment I laid eyes on it, I thought it matched your elegance perfectly."
Betty was clearly smitten with the necklace. She eagerly held it up to her neck to see how it looked.
The people around her immediately started showering her with praise and compliments.
Yvonne felt the atmosphere in the room was stifling; she turned to leave.
But Sophia intentionally stopped her. "Yvonne, how do you like the gift I prepared for Mrs. Finn?"
Yvonne glanced at the necklace in Betty's hand, paused for a moment, then replied calmly, "The design is exquisite, and the craftsmanship is top-notch."
Hearing Yvonne's comment, Sophia's eyes sparkled with even more pride. But the next second, Yvonne added, "It's a high-end counterfeit."