Chapter 286

The murmurs in the grand ballroom grew louder as guests exchanged knowing glances. "It's hard to believe. She used to live with the Blackwoods, and now suddenly she's a Kensington?"

"True or not, her background means nothing here. At most, she's the daughter of Alistair's only child. She doesn't carry the Kensington name. I doubt the family truly respects her. This whole banquet is probably just for show."

"Don't forget about Olivia and Liam's disastrous marriage. Evelyn has been interfering constantly. If the Kensingtons really cared about Olivia, wouldn't they have confronted the Blackwoods by now?"

"Oh, the scandal!"

Evelyn, overhearing the whispers, felt her blood boil. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her palms as she stormed toward the gossiping women, her designer gown swishing dramatically.

"Enough with your pathetic rumors! I've told you before - Liam and I are soulmates. Olivia means nothing. That conniving witch trapped him into marriage using her family's connections."

"The Kensingtons are too ashamed to defend her. Besides, her so-called identity is clearly fabricated. The Blackwoods hinted her mother came from nothing. Maybe Olivia slept her way into this fake persona."

Instead of joining Evelyn's tirade, the women exchanged amused smirks, their champagne glasses clinking softly.

One bold socialite countered, "Word is you've got a new man, Miss Hartley. Congratulations. Weren't you the one who swore you'd never marry anyone but Liam? What changed now?"

"Can't you see? Miss Hartley always chases the highest bidder," another chimed in. "Years ago, she left Liam for better prospects abroad, only to come crawling back when she realized he was her best option. Now that Liam's inheritance is in jeopardy and he might get disowned completely, of course she's looking elsewhere."

Evelyn's face contorted with rage. Her voice trembled as she snapped, "How dare you say such things!"

But her protest fell on deaf ears. The women had already turned away, continuing their conversations as if she didn't exist.

Many in Crestwood's elite circles had disapproved of Evelyn's meddling in Liam and Olivia's marriage.

In their world, power dictated everything. Liam had once been the golden boy, and no one in Crestwood could rival the Blackwood family's influence. Back then, no one would dare cross Evelyn, who was seen as Liam's chosen one.

But the tides had turned since Evelyn dumped Liam. Watching him lose his status and seeing Evelyn jump to another man had made her the subject of scorn among their peers.

While they wouldn't confront her directly, their cutting remarks left no doubt about their disdain.

Feeling the weight of judgmental stares, Evelyn burned with humiliation. Wasn't Olivia supposed to be the one suffering? Why had everything gone so wrong? To her fury, Olivia - that scheming bitch - had somehow become part of the prestigious Kensington family, living in luxury beyond imagination.

Just then, Evelyn's phone buzzed sharply in her clutch.

"Mother, what is it? I told you I'm busy today," she hissed into the phone, her voice dripping with irritation.