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Chapter 197
Since Hannah had already given Celeste a piece of her mind, Miranda decided to keep quiet and continued walking towards the platform ahead.
Celeste glared at the Lancasters with raging fury. Her chest heaved with anger, and her expression twisted into something unrecognizable. She was used to being the center of attention, the darling wherever she went. When had she ever been treated like this?
Buying jewelry? Why bother? She’d rather spend those three million dollars on herself! A beautiful wealthy lady? For a mere foster daughter as Miranda, she thought she could compete with someone like Celeste, who came from an illustrious background?
She turned to Elian and Sebastian, hoping for some support. Elian just gave Celeste a cold, dismissive glance. “I think you’re the one with the problem,” he said flatly before following Miranda to the other side.
Celeste stamped her foot in frustration. “Eli!”
Sebastian, meanwhile, said nothing. He merely shot Celeste a cool, indifferent look..
“Sebastian!” Celeste called out in disbelief. “Even you’re siding with her? What spell has she put on you?”
Sebastian paused, his expression as calm and detached as ever. Even behind his glasses, one could feel the chill in his eyes.
“As Caius mentioned earlier, Ms. Sterling, it might be best if you mind your own business,” he said in his usual even tone, which sent a shiver of apprehension through Celeste.
Celeste was intimidated by Sebastian.
Sure, she feared Elian too, but the genteel Sebastian frightened her even more,
At least she had childhood memories of Elian saving her like a knight in shining armor. Sebastian, though, was
in enigma. She could never tell what he was thinking or planning. He seemed courteous and polite to everyone, yet equally aloof.
She couldn’t fathom why even Sebastian defended Miranda. She was just adopted, not truly Lavinia’s daughter. With even Sebastian now heading towards Miranda, Celeste glanced around, relieved to see that others were engaged with their own activities, no one else seemingly noticing her moment of humiliation.
Her eyes fell on Arabella, and she called out imperiously, “You! Come here.”
Celeste was used to being the one with the most influential background, so she had no qualms about ordering someone like Arabella around.
Arabella frowned but walked over, standing tall as if to challenge Celeste’s authority. “What do you want?” she asked, a hint of defiance in her voice.
“Didn’t you just say you couldn’t stand her? Why didn’t you speak up then?” Celeste demanded coldly.
Arabella hesitated, “I…” She thought quickly. “I was scared, she’d lash out at me.”
Celeste sneered, “You got scared because she might target at you?”
Arabella explained in a low voice, “She’s my foster parents‘ biological daughter. I once hoped she’d reconnect with her real family, but she refused. She thinks the Lancaster family is wealthier and won’t acknowledge her own parents. Because of this, she holds a grudge against me.”
Celeste’s disdain for Miranda deepened as she heard Arabella’s words. “She’s really just a gold–digging witch.” Arabella’s gaze was filled with resentment as she looked towards where Miranda stood.
Miranda was examining the displayed jewelry. Elian had followed her but kept his distance, remembering
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someone once telling him that girls needed their space when choosing things. So he leaned casually against a nearby pillar, his eyes tracking Miranda’s movements.
Sebastian soon joined them, silently sipping from his wine glass. Elian knew Sebastian was there, but neither spoke. It was clear to anyone watching that the air between them was tense, as if they couldn’t stand each
other’s presence.
