Ryanna smiled, nodding in agreement.

“Indeed, it’s delightful. I’ll make sure you get a bottle. Don’t worry, I brought this one straight from the royal palace.”

The message was unmistakable—this wine wasn’t from Fiona’s collection. Katelyn could accept it freely, without suspicion. Understanding the awkward dynamic between Katelyn and Fiona, Ryanna offered that reassurance.

Setting her glass down, Katelyn leaned back with a smile, nodding graciously.

“Princess Ryanna, you truly are thoughtful. I’ll accept it, thank you.”

At this point, rejecting the offer would only stir gossip. She was interested in uncovering Ryanna’s hidden motives.

Behind the scenes, Ryanna had been a puzzle, pulling strings with calculated precision. Katelyn couldn’t wait to see when Ryanna would finally reveal her true colors.

Ryanna maintained her smile, a flicker of surprise crossing her face at Katelyn’s unexpected response. After all, Katelyn had always kept her distance. But now, she was readily accepting a gift from her.

Annie’s eyes flicked to the bottle, her jealousy impossible to hide. Countless times, she had asked Ryanna for that very bottle—only to be turned down.

But now, Ryanna had handed it directly to Katelyn, her supposed romantic rival—a gesture Annie couldn’t quite understand.

Sensing Annie’s cold stare, Katelyn’s curiosity about the wine only grew stronger. How good could it really be?

With a forced smile, Annie hissed through clenched teeth,

“Miss Bailey, you’re quite fortunate to be receiving that expensive red wine Princess Ryanna bought.”

Resting her chin on her hand, Katelyn looked at Annie with an air of calm amusement and said,

“What can I say? Ryanna and I just get along very well.”

Check what’s new on g@lnovs.c○m

Annie’s face froze, her facade faltering. As Ryanna’s cousin, she felt entitled to certain privileges, and yet here was Katelyn, claiming a bond that seemed to surpass hers with Ryanna.

Annie seethed with contempt, her thoughts burning with the belief that Katelyn was nothing but a horrible woman.

But even if Annie was truly angry, she knew she couldn’t upset Ryanna, so she had no choice but to hold back her frustration and force a smile. The effort was too much. Her strained smile twisted her face into something unrecognizable.

On the other hand, Katelyn stayed calm. She simply picked up the glass on the table and took a sip of her wine.

The event had been billed as a wine tasting, but it had quickly devolved into a parade for Fiona’s expensive jewelry collection.

Katelyn barely spared the display a glance. It felt like a tedious spectacle, unworthy of her attention. These noblewomen took pleasure in such little things, but Katelyn believed true treasures belonged in museums.

Excusing herself with a polite nod to Ryanna, Katelyn stood.

“I’ll be right back, just need to step out.”

Ryanna offered a warm smile and nodded.

Without a second thought, Katelyn walked toward the restroom.

Stepping outside, she breathed in the refreshing cool air—a welcome relief as it washed over her. The weight on her chest lifted, and her body relaxed instantly.

Inside, the overpowering scents of perfume and cosmetics had been unbearable. The constant barrage of fragrances had made her head spin after a while.

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Message from Noah: Have a great week dear readers! There will be new novels tomorrow. God loves you, and Noah wishes you all the best. ? ? ?

P.S. There readers, the linktree is now available: https://linktr.ee/ . There you’ll find all our links, including the website and the community—and soon, we’ll be releasing audio novels for you to enjoy ?( ? )

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