Lise spotted a crack in Katelyn’s defenses and lunged without hesitation.

“Today is Mrs. Wheeler’s birthday celebration, and that’s the reason we’re all gathered here. Yet, you stand here, acting like you’re honoring her, when in fact, you’ve turned this into a thinly veiled love note to a man!”

What had been an innocent choice of a model for Katelyn’s art was now twisted into something far more scandalous.

Lise’s voice dripped with accusation, each word aimed at striking Katelyn, as if she had insulted Carol.

Sharon could barely hide the triumphant smile curling on her lips.

That was her daughter—quick-witted and sharp as a blade!

Jeff tried to pull Lise back, but Sharon shook him off and rose to her feet, her voice ringing through the room.

“Katelyn, everyone knows your game—using men to claw your way to the top. But if you’re so eager to worm your way into the Adams family, maybe pick a more appropriate moment!”

Katelyn’s eyes narrowed, her composure slipping as her patience ran thin.

Lise was flailing, desperately trying to steer the moment in her favor—a move Katelyn saw through easily. The pitiful attempt only fueled her contempt.

Vincent, who had been quietly observing, felt the last remnants of his earlier good mood drain away.

The Baileys were becoming insufferable with every passing second.

There was no longer any reason for the Bailey family to remain in Granville.

He cast a sharp glance at Samuel, a silent message exchanged between them, as if a blade had been passed in the dark.

Samuel didn’t need more than that. His knuckles cracked in response, a small, satisfying sound of anticipation. He’d been waiting for this chance—the go-ahead to finally rid themselves of the Baileys for good.

? ? ? ?ν?

Neil, on the other hand, remained eerily quiet, his eyes fixed on the painting, as if its very existence was an affront.

The desire to tear it down pulsed within him, growing more unbearable by the second.

But Katelyn stood unfazed, a slow, icy smile curling at the corners of her lips.

It was a smile that had once turned heads, but now, its beauty carried a jagged edge, sharp with mocking disdain.

“Are you the queen of the world?” Katelyn’s words sliced through the air, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Because you certainly act like you rule everything under the sun.”

Lise’s face drained of color, her fists curling tightly at her sides.

She fought to maintain her composure, but the cracks were starting to show.

“I’m simply addressing your inappropriate behavior,” she replied, her tone rigid. “We’re here for Mrs. Wheeler’s birthday, after all. If you’ve made a misstep, a quick apology would be enough.”

It was an old trick, one Katelyn had seen more times than she cared to count.

The well-rehearsed routine of pretending innocence while hurling subtle jabs, all designed to paint Katelyn as the unreasonable one.

Lise had perfected this art, always twisting the conversation to fit her narrative.

But Katelyn wasn’t falling for it.

A sharp laugh escaped her. “Apologize? Why should I?” She waved a hand toward the painting. “This was about showcasing my artistry. Every line, every brushstroke, was done for this sole purpose. Who I choose as a model? That’s my decision. It has absolutely nothing to do with you.”

Her voice remained steady, yet the challenge beneath it was unmistakable.

She shifted her gaze to the crowd, her eyes scanning the room with cool confidence. “Does anyone here still doubt my ability to paint?”

The room fell into heavy silence. No one dared utter a word.

They had all witnessed Katelyn’s hand at work—steady and deliberate, each brushstroke as exact as a machine’s. No one could question her talent.

“As long as my skill is undeniable, who I choose to paint is my concern,” she continued, her tone smooth, each word measured. “But if you’re so intrigued, I could always paint your portrait as well.”

Lise’s eyes darted back to the portrait, almost against her will.

For a split second, a flicker of desire crossed her face. Who wouldn’t want their likeness immortalized by such a gifted artist?

But Katelyn, catching the look in her eyes, leaned in slightly, a sly smirk tugging at her lips. “Of course, I can capture your face perfectly.”

She let the moment linger before adding with a wicked gleam, “As for the body, perhaps I’ll make it that of a dog?” A human face with a dog’s body—an image that amused Katelyn, though the room stiffened in stunned silence. Lise’s face twisted in anger.

The insult was unmistakable, and Katelyn had delivered it with perfect precision. Damn her, Lise fumed. This bitch, Katelyn, never missed an opportunity to humiliate her. Sharon, sensing her daughter’s rising humiliation, jumped to her defense without hesitation.

“Katelyn, that’s enough! You’ve crossed the line. What do you gain from belittling Lise like this?”

Katelyn shrugged, her face a mask of mock innocence.

“If I’d really wanted to settle this, I would’ve slapped her the second she started talking. At least then, everyone’s ears would’ve been spared.”

Sharon’s jaw clenched, frustration boiling over. Was there no one who could rein in this insufferable Katelyn?

What had made her so sharp-tongued, so unbearably arrogant? If she’d seen this coming, she would have ended Katelyn’s life when she was still a child.

Jeff felt the chaos escalating, and without hesitation, he clamped his hand around Sharon’s wrist, pulling her back into the chair with a controlled, forceful tug.

His expression was unyielding, his voice a sharp whisper as he leaned close. “Not another word. You’ve said and done enough already. Do you really want us plastered all over tomorrow’s gossip columns?”

He couldn’t fathom Sharon’s mindset. They were clearly on the losing side. The only smart move left was silence—to stop adding fuel to the fire Katelyn had already ignited.

Pushing this argument any further would only drag their name deeper into disgrace. This update is available on fin?novel.net

But Sharon’s eyes burned with defiance. She wasn’t ready to fold just yet.

Before she could retort, Carol’s voice sliced through the thick tension, snapping everyone’s focus back to her with its sharp authority.

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