Chapter 163: It’s something you’ll definitely want to hear.

Meanwhile, the venue had already begun to fill with business delegates from across the world.

It was one of the largest charity galas ever organized by the Pristine Group.

The luxurious ballroom buzzed with conversations as influential entrepreneurs, investors, politicians, and celebrities mingled beneath dazzling crystal chandeliers.

However, the charity itself wasn’t the main reason many people had attended. Most of them were there for one man.

Adrian Graham.

The mysterious CEO of the Prestine Group.

Unlike most business tycoons who constantly sought media attention, Adrian had always stayed away from the spotlight. He rarely attended public events, and interviews with him were almost nonexistent.

That only made him more intriguing.

Everyone wanted an opportunity to get into his good books. Some hoped to secure future business partnerships. Others simply wanted the privilege of saying they knew Adrian Graham personally.

After all, if there was one family capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the Sterlings in both influence and wealth, it was the Grahams.

What made Adrian even more respected was the fact that he had built his empire from the ground up.

He wasn’t someone who could be bought with money or flattery. His principles were firm, and earning his trust was something very few people had managed to accomplish.

That was precisely why today’s charity gala had become such a valuable opportunity.

Amid the bustling crowd, Vincent, Julianna, and Dorothy stood together, exchanging polite smiles as they chatted with a few familiar faces.

Although they had recently lost the Pristine Group contract, they had still received invitations to the gala as representatives of the business community.

Dorothy subtly stepped closer to her daughter. "Is everything ready?" she asked in a low voice.

Julianna followed her mother’s gaze before looking across the hall at someone standing in the distance.

A confident smile spread across her lips.

"Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve already arranged everything."

She took a slow sip of the wine in her hand.

"Just wait and watch. By the end of the event, Clara will be too embarrassed to show her face. Forget about face, she won’t even bother to start a bussiness again"

Her eyes wandered through the crowd.

She had already learned that Dominic Sterling and his family would also be attending the event. It was the perfect opportunity.

If she could humiliate Clara in front of them, perhaps the Sterlings would finally realize that the woman they had chosen to support was nothing but a walking disaster.

Dorothy looked at her daughter, a trace of hesitation crossing her face. For a brief moment, she wondered if they were going too far. But the thought quickly disappeared.

Instead, she silently chose to stand by Julianna’s side.

Suddenly, Julianna let out a faint scoff. "They’re finally here."

Dorothy followed her line of sight.

Across the ballroom, Clara’s team had already begun arranging decorations and setting the tables for the charity auction.

Dorothy’s expression darkened.

Ever since the humiliating videos of her had spread across the internet, she had struggled to show her face in public.

Although the controversy had gradually faded with time, there were still people who had downloaded the videos and occasionally brought them up whenever they saw her.

It had taken a few days before she finally regained enough confidence to attend public events again.

She turned to Julianna with a serious expression.

"Be careful. They may look harmless, but trust me..." she warned quietly. "They’re far smarter than Clara."

Dorothy still remembered what had happened at the bakery.

Despite every attempt to intimidate them, Clara’s employees had stood firmly by their boss’s side without wavering once.

Winning them over—or fooling them—wouldn’t be easy.

Julianna calmly swirled the wine in her glass before taking another sip.

"Is that so?"

The smile on her face only widened.

Seeing her daughter’s confidence, Dorothy could only sigh.

Without another word, she excused herself and walked toward a familiar business associate who had just arrived, leaving Julianna standing alone with a calculating smile as she patiently waited for Clara to step into the trap she had prepared.

***

Meanwhile, across the grand ballroom, Silvia and Lily were busy arranging the tables and making the final preparations for the charity gala.

Everything had to be perfect before the guests settled in.

As Lily straightened one of the centerpieces, her eyes suddenly landed on a familiar figure standing across the hall.

Her cheerful expression instantly disappeared.

"...Why is she staring at us?"

Silvia looked up from the tablecloth she was adjusting.

"Who?"

Lily subtly tilted her head. "There."

Silvia followed her gaze. The moment she recognized Julianna, a deep frown settled on her face.

After spending time with Clara, Silvia had gradually realized just how misunderstood their boss had been.

At first, she had believed every rumor she had heard about Clara.

But the more she got to know her, the more she understood the truth.

Clara wasn’t the problem. Her family was.

Living in a house where she had never truly been welcomed was painful enough. On top of that, believing a stepsister who constantly pretended to care about her had only made Clara’s life even more miserable.

Silvia clicked her tongue.

"Just ignore her."

She returned to arranging the table, refusing to waste another second thinking about Julianna.

Lily nodded. "You’re right."

A few seconds passed. Then Lily’s eyes suddenly widened.

"...Wait."

Silvia didn’t look up. "What now?"

"Why is she coming this way?"

Silvia froze. "What?" She immediately raised her head. Sure enough, Julianna was already walking toward them with an elegant smile on her face.

Each step was graceful. Each smile looked perfectly practiced. By the time Silvia and Lily straightened up, Julianna had already stopped in front of them.

"Good afternoon."

Her smile was warm enough to fool anyone who didn’t know her. "Are you two members of Clara’s team?"

Silvia and Lily exchanged a brief glance. Neither of them answered immediately. The silence lingered for several seconds. Finally, Silvia spoke in a calm but distant tone.

"...Yes. Can we help you with something, Miss Julianna?"

A faint surprise flashed across Julianna’s face. She hadn’t expected them to recognize her.

Still, the smile on her lips never faltered. "I’m glad you know who I am."

She folded her hands politely. "I actually came because I wanted to talk to both of you."

Lily folded her arms across her chest. "About our boss?"

Julianna nodded gently. "Yes. I just wanted to clear up a few misunderstandings."

Silvia’s expression remained unreadable.

"I’m afraid we’re busy preparing for the event." She gestured toward the unfinished tables.

"If there’s nothing work-related, you’ll have to excuse us."

The polite rejection only made Julianna’s smile deepen.

"Oh, don’t worry." She looked at both of them meaningfully.

"It won’t take long. And I promise... it’s something you’ll definitely want to hear."

Both Silvia and Lily looked at Julianna skeptically as she heaved a sigh and lowered her head.

"I apologize on my mother’s behalf."

Her words caught Lily and Silvia off guard, but the woman remained serious throughout, making them wonder if they were hallucinating.