Chapter 990 - 515: There Are Fairy Tale Carriages, But She Is Not Cinderella (2)

The entire Hughes Family’s mansion was bustling from top to bottom, and on both sides of the road were large, luxurious red roses, with dewdrops on petals as velvety as red silk. Each one was vibrant and enticing, and the red carpet extended all the way to the castle’s steps, while dozens of bodyguards patrolled around the castle. The kitchen was also busy preparing delicious pastries, and the first dinner after Joshua Hughes made his selection tonight was of great importance.

Behind the kitchen was a small courtyard where the Hughes Family had special staff sourcing food and daily supplies from around the world, ensuring they were the freshest, most authentic, and best quality. Every day, cars would drive into the Hughes Family estate, though these vehicles transporting food or supplies did not enter through the main gate but through this entrance, waiting for inspection by the staff inside.

The last shipment was a truckload of fruit, freshly transported from the airport, with various types of fresh and seasonal produce boasting vibrant colors, mouthwateringly tempting. Everyone working in the kitchen had to wear masks and caps. All hands were busy, and the kitchen manager loudly reprimanded the petite figure standing by the courtyard gate: "Hurry inside, what are you doing here? Trying to be lazy? Today’s banquet is very important, quickly go in and help."

The maid seemed startled at the scolding, paused for a moment, then hurriedly went into the kitchen.

On the clean and tidy countertop, everyone was busy, and as the sky slowly darkened, all the girls arriving from around the world would soon be at the Hughes Family estate. Once they were ready, they also had to welcome the distinguished guests, as per the Hughes Family’s tradition.

The parade of cars arrived one after another, like the pumpkin carriages in fairy tales, yet they carried not Cinderella but actual princesses, born of noble lineage and reputable families. Cinderella never truly existed in this world; Avery Jane lowered her head to look at her own black-and-white maid attire, which actually suited her quite well. She bitterly tried to smile but couldn’t manage it; her heart felt soaked in gentian water—bitter, numbing, so uncomfortable that she almost didn’t want to watch anymore. Should she sneak away just as she’d secretly come? Return to Las Vegas, pretending to know nothing, then wait for Joshua Hughes to come find her, and later move elsewhere, waiting for him to exhaust her passion at night, shamelessly savoring her body. She truly lived humbly, yet even reduced to dust, he couldn’t deceive her like this, could he?

Raising her head, high above was the room she had shared with him, where, the night before their separation, they were passionately entwined, stirring deep emotions. But now? She stood far at the back of the crowd, among over a hundred servants, yet through the gaps she could see the young ladies stepping out of the cars one by one.

They were all wearing stunning dresses as if attending the grandest ball; some were sultry and enchanting, others were elegant and dignified, and some were shy and charming. If Joshua Hughes liked one of them tonight, she would stay, and if he still favored her after a year, she would marry him. Tonight, they would share an intimate evening. The young maids were all gossiping about this, in truth, all were intrigued by Joshua Hughes, eagerly discussing matters of his bed.

Recalling previous banquets, how the next day, the young master would leave women too exhausted to get out of bed, and when cleaning, the bed was always as messy as a battlefield. Every word pierced her heart like needles. She knew Joshua Hughes’s past, he had admitted to previous affairs with some women, but hearing others talk, she realized she couldn’t bear it—she was jealous. But what about tonight? Those women were before her; he had once said he loved her—would he really choose a woman to share an intimate evening tonight?

At the bottom of the steps stood twenty women neatly lined up, and on the steps, a man in a black suit cast a cold glance over them.

He was dressed very formally today, and Avery Jane’s heart began to ache; the talkative maid hadn’t lied to her—today truly was his special day—and there he stood. His looks undoubtedly attracted all women’s attention, with sharp features radiating unparalleled innate nobility and elegance, with eyes deep and chilling, possessing a soul-stealing allure that magnetically drew people, making them unconsciously succumb to his presence. He was looking down at those women, like a king choosing his handmaidens, and Avery Jane’s heart pounded as if about to leap from her chest; she hoped he would tell them in the next moment he already had someone he liked and let them all go.

If only that could happen, how happy she would be. She almost wished to plead with the heavens not to let her humble love be trampled underfoot, no more deception...