บท 4: Turmoil at the Coming-of-Age Banquet（1）
At 7 PM, the Davis Group estate was brightly lit, hosting a grand coming-of-age ceremony.
The courtyard was adorned with lavish flowers and colorful lights, with a faint floral scent filling the air. Guests gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing about recent events.
Ella arrived early, quietly contemplating the possible outcomes of the evening. She wore a strapless gray-blue gown made of lustrous fabric that shimmered under the lights, reaching just to her feet—elegant and dignified.
Ella, with a well-thought-out plan, walked towards the hall with a slight smile. She knew tonight would mark the beginning of her counterattack.
Inside the hall, Brianna was greeting guests with a polite smile. Upon seeing Ella not wearing the tampered halter-neck gown, she frowned slightly, surprised. She approached Ella and gently asked, "Ella, why aren't you wearing the dress I prepared for you? Don't you like it?"
Ella looked up, a hint of coldness in her eyes, quickly replaced by a gentle expression. She softly replied, "No, Mommy. Since it's my coming-of-age ceremony, I wanted to pair my gown with the family heirloom—Heart of the Ocean, which my mother gave me. That's why I changed into this gray-blue strapless dress."
Just then, Mrs. Taylor, a close friend of Ella's biological mother, approached and asked with concern, "Ella, why aren't you wearing the Heart of the Ocean?"
Ella's eyes dimmed as if she were about to cry. "I... I can't find it, so I came to ask Mommy about it."
This statement instantly sparked a flurry of discussion among the guests. "The Davis family has been robbed? Could it be an inside job?"
"How could the maids dare to steal something so valuable?"
"Maybe the stepmother took it for herself."
In the midst of the heated discussion, Hannah walked in, wearing the Heart of the Ocean around her neck. The guests fell silent, all eyes on them.
Mrs. Taylor's face darkened as she demanded, "Hannah, the necklace is Ella's family heirloom from her mother. How did you get it?"
Hannah smiled slightly and said without hesitation, "My sister lent it to me. She knew I didn't have suitable jewelry for today, so she lent it to me."
Hearing this, a look of pain and grievance flashed in Ella's eyes. She bit her lip, her voice trembling, "That necklace is a family heirloom from my mother. How could I lend it out?"
Realizing her words might have been too harsh, she quickly added with teary eyes, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have doubted my sister. If my sister likes it, she can wear it." She lowered her head, fearing Brianna's reprimand, her eyes glistening with tears.
The surrounding guests began to whisper again, "See, it's the actress climbing her way up, putting on quite a show!"
"Exactly, Ella's biological mother passed away when she was three, yet Brianna's daughter Hannah is only two years younger than Ella. Looks like Brianna and Robert were involved long before. She's clearly the homewrecker..."
"They pretend to treat Ella well in public, but who knows how they mistreat her behind the scenes? Even Hannah dares to step all over Ella."
Brianna's face turned pale, feeling her carefully crafted image of the good stepmother crumbling. Struggling to contain her anger, she forced a smile and said, "Hannah, return the necklace to Ella."
Hannah froze, still processing the situation when Brianna slapped her hard, her voice trembling with rage, "This is your sister's necklace! How could you take it without permission? Return it to your sister now!"
Hannah, tears streaming down her face, looked at Ella with grievance and yelled, "She lent it to me willingly! Ella, say something! You lent it to me!"
Brianna glared at Hannah, her voice stern, "Stop lying! Give the necklace back to your sister!"
Only then did Hannah, sobbing, return the Heart of the Ocean to Ella.
A fleeting glimmer of triumph passed through Ella's eyes. She stepped forward, taking the Heart of the Ocean, and said gently, "I'm sorry, Hannah. I didn't know you took it. If I had known, I wouldn't have made a fuss."
Hannah glared at Ella with intense malice, as if she wanted to devour her.
The surrounding guests immediately praised Ella's maturity. "Ella truly is the dignified daughter of the first wife. Look at how understanding she is, not getting upset even when her stepsister makes a mistake."
"But that Hannah, at such a young age, has such a scheming mind. Truly..."
"People used to say Hannah was more elegant and poised than Ella, with the demeanor of a true lady. Clearly, rumors are just rumors. The daughter of a mistress can never compare to the daughter of the first wife. Today, the difference is clear."
Though everything happened in an instant, it was enough for the guests to see the truth.
Brianna's image was utterly shattered, and the guests looked at her with scorn and disdain. Ella rejoiced inwardly, knowing her plan had half-succeeded.
The banquet continued, and Ella, now wearing the Heart of the Ocean, looked even more radiant.
Eric and Brian stood not far away, observing the scene.
Brian chuckled, "Ella, as the eldest daughter, is bullied by her stepmother and stepsister but doesn't dare to speak up. What a coward."
Eric, however, disagreed, his eyes following Ella. He knew she was a smart girl. Although her performance just now was flawless, her subtle expressions didn't escape Eric's sharp eyes. He knew Ella had done it on purpose.
...
The atmosphere in Hannah's room was stifling. Hannah sobbed, "Mommy, I didn't steal Ella's necklace!" Tears streamed down her cheeks, her eyes filled with grievance and anger.
Brianna knew it was Ella's trap but couldn't figure out how Ella had suddenly become so cunning.
Listening to Hannah's cries, Brianna waved her hand impatiently and said coldly, "Stop crying, it's annoying! How did I give birth to such an idiot like you?"
Hannah tried to hold back her tears. With the dress plan ruined and herself framed as a thief by Ella, she angrily asked, "Mom, what do we do now? That bitch made me look like a fool. You have to help me get revenge, Mom!"
A sinister glint flashed in Brianna's eyes. She whispered, "Don't worry. I've already arranged for a maid to spike her drink. Later, you offer her a toast and watch her drink it. That little bitch is in for a humiliation."
"Mom, you always know what to do. I can't wait to see that little bitch make a fool of herself!" Hannah wiped away her tears, her eyes burning with hatred.
She touched up her makeup, composed herself, and headed back to the banquet hall.
...
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