18
People had begun to mutter in low voice, “Who’s that! She’s so beautiful.”
“I don’t know. Maybe some guest from the Gil family.”
Five years ago, when Zoe left the Gil family, she was still a little bit too young to show her beauty. And then she spent more of her time in the school so not many people had ever met her.
And now she’s right in front of them, and nobody knew her.
But at least Annie knew her.
At the moment, surrounded by a crowd of guests, she also felt surprised seeing the woman walking in from the door.
“Is that Zoe?”
As far as she could remember, Zoe was always dressed in her profession attire, and even when she was off work, she just wore some casual clothes.
Though she looked neat still, she looked boring and plain. Being around her for a long time, anyone would just think she lacked femininity.
Besides, she seldom did made-up, and she was quite careless with her hair. Her black and long hair was always left there naturally, making her look old.
If she were the daughter of some working-class family, she might also stand out, but in front of all these ladies of wealthy families, who would just pay a lot of attention to their face and hair every day, she would simply be shadowed.
Yet, someone like her, was like an angel today in the hall, surprising all of her guests.
She could not help clenching her fists.
The girls around her all asked out of curiosity, “Annie, who is she? She is so beautiful! Did you invite her?”
“Would she be an actress as well.”
“I don’t think so. She would be so popular with her face should she be an actress. We should already know her.”
The muttering around her was just needles, piercing through her heart one by one.
She gritted her teeth. After a while, she took a deep breath.
“Don’t you know her? She’s my sister, Zoe.”
“Ah?”
“How was it possible?”
They all looked shocked.
Annie gave a warm smile, “It’s alright. Zoe does look different from five years ago. If I just met her now, I won’t believe it’s her, either.”
There was something in her words and someone immediately understood her.
“You mean, your sister had a surgery?”
“No wonder! I thought she was quite ordinary five years ago and she is stunning now!”
“Emm. Could it be the scandal of five years ago? She might be afraid of being teased at with her own face, so she changed it!”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“Hah, makes sense to me!”
And Annie put on an embarrassed look on her face.
“Please, don’t talk about my sister like that. It was not her fault five years ago.”
“Annie, you are just too kind. If she did not steal your work, you would go to Royal College of Art already.”
“That’s right. It has been too easy for her. She just went abroad for a few years and people just let her go. What about you? Who would ever compensate for your loss and sorrow?”
“If you ask me, now that she’s returned, she will definitely go against you, Annie. You better watch out for yourself.”
Their muttering just continued. Annie tried to stop them in a low voice and a flash of smile crossed her eyes.
In the meanwhile, Zoe walked up to Ciara.
“What took you so long to get here.”
Jaden knitted his brows in displeasure.
Zoe cast a cold glance at him and said in a cold voice, “I have shown you enough respect to be here, Mr. Gil.”
“You!”
Enraged by her condescending manner, Jaden swept his glance over her dress and growled.
“What are you wearing! Today’s Annie’s birthday party, not yours! Are you here to hook up with men?”
Zoe looked at him, and she widened her eyes.
She knew her father had never liked her, but he had never said such woeful words to her.
But today … what father would talk to his own daughter like this?
Her heart felt cold, but her face remained expressionless.
“It’s none of your business!”
“You!”
“Stop!”
A stern voice sounded, and Ciara interrupted their conversation suddenly.
She summoned a waiter, who then served a drink to Zoe, and she said in a low voice, “Don’t make a scene in the public. Shut up your mouth! Both of you!”
Reluctant, Jaden seemed to still have something more to say, but he was then eyed by Ciara angrily.
He could only swallow the rest of his words.
Zoe curled her lips coolly. It was a very light cocktail that the waiter had served her, with an appetizing alcoholic fragrance.
Ciara cast a glance at her and her gaze then stopped at the glass in her hand for a while. Her voice softened, “Mrs. Wright is here. You know how to explain to her about you and Steven, right?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“You can just say you are not right for each other, and you have long broken up. And it has nothing to do with Annie.”
Zoe gave a cold sneer and agreed immediately, “Alright.”
Ciara nodded in satisfaction, and clanked Zoe’s glass with hers.
“It must be hard for you. I will remember what you do for the family. We will compensate for your loss.”
Zoe raised her brows and felt somewhat surprised at her attitude.
Since Ciara needed her help, she naturally said some nice words, and Zoe did not think much. She’s thirsty anyway, so she also took a sip of the cocktail.
After that, Ciara took Zoe towards Mrs. Wright.
Actually, Mrs. Wright had long noticed her. After all, she was the reason for her being here today.
It had been five years and the shy little girl had grown up into a beautiful woman.
The aloof and noble aura of hers was just like that of her mother. Mrs. Wright felt as if her old, deceased goddaughter had come back to life.
Mrs. Wright was so excited and walked directly to them with a stagger.
“It’s really you. Zo.”
Zoe saw her and hurried up to hold her hand.
“Grandmother.”
“Kid. When are you back? Why don’t you come to your grandmother?”
Mrs. Wright, who had always been so calm, became so emotional and her eyes grew red. Zoe also felt touched.
“I’ sorry. I haven’t make it to visit you. How are you?”
“Good, I’m good.”
The incident of five years ago was now a sore point in Zoe’s heart, so she did not contact many people when she returned to the country.
Mrs. Wright seemed to be able to understand her, patted her on her hands, and comforted her, “Kid, it’s all in the past. It’s fine now that you are back.”
Ciara walked up to them, smiling, “Mrs. Wright, Zoe has something to tell you.”
At that, she cast a warning glance at Zoe.
Zoe sneered in mockery, “Why the hurry? I
sure will tell Grandma what you have taught me. Can we even have a chat first.”