Chapter 9 Playing Their Cards
Sloane had spent two uneventful days at the Rivers residence, but early this morning, she was woken up to act like a rag doll, being fussed over by a group of servants—getting her makeup done and trying on outfit after outfit.
Looking at the row of fancy dresses in front of her, Sloane could immediately tell how seriously the Rivers family took the Hawthorne family’s banquet.
Since that was the case, she looked forward even more to the disappointed expressions on their faces.
“All you need to do today is stay quietly by your mom’s side. If I find out you said something you shouldn’t have, you know exactly what the consequences will be,” Marshall warned her again before they left, still uneasy.
Sloane glanced at him without replying. She had her own reasons for going to the Hawthorne family’s banquet today.
Just then, Samantha slowly walked down the stairs. Compared to Sloane, she looked like she was attending a grand ball.
She wore a pink off-the-shoulder evening gown with a long train trailing along the floor. The dress was encrusted with countless sparkling diamonds, dazzling under the lights like a princess from a fairy tale.
Sloane blinked in confusion. Isn’t Samantha the one who claims she has no interest in marrying into the Hawthorne family? Then what is she doing dressed like this?
Her question was soon answered.
As soon as they got out of the car, Samantha flitted away like a butterfly. “Mason!”
Not far away stood a man in a white suit. He had a tall, straight posture and a handsome face.
Based on what Sloane had read in the Hawthorne family’s records, he was their adopted son—Mason Hawthorne.
It was said that Lucas’ mother, Aubrey Lane, was especially fond of this adopted son and treated him like her own.
When Mason saw Samantha, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Samantha, you’re here.”
Samantha quickly walked up to him, and the two of them began chatting happily.
Watching Samantha’s behavior, Sloane instantly saw through her intentions.
Aubrey only had one biological son, Lucas. But even though Mason was adopted, Aubrey had openly acknowledged him as the second son of the Hawthorne family. While Lucas had been sick, she had even pushed for Mason to take charge of the Hawthorne Group.
If Lucas really didn’t pull through, Mason might become the sole heir of the Hawthorne family.
The Rivers family really knew how to play their cards.
Sloane followed Helen into the banquet hall. Inside, the guests were dressed in glamorous clothes, laughing and chatting, their voices mixing with the clinking of glasses into a loud hum.
Helen skillfully mingled with the surrounding socialites, making no attempt to introduce Sloane.
The women exchanged a few knowing glances but said nothing.
Still, the way they looked at Sloane made her deeply uncomfortable.
She couldn’t be bothered to deal with them. Instead, she focused on figuring out how to slip away. She had to see Lucas with her own eyes before making her next move.
While Helen wasn’t paying attention, Sloane slowed her pace and didn’t follow. By the time Helen noticed, Sloane had already vanished from the hall.
Helen called Adrian over. “Go find that b*tch Sloane right now. Don’t let her embarrass me here.”
Adrian had been happily chatting with a few executives, but Sloane’s disappearance sparked a surge of irritation in him.
Meanwhile, Sloane had already changed out of the bothersome dress and found one of the Hawthorne family’s servants. Using her own tricks, she managed to get the exact location of Lucas’ room.
She snapped her fingers, and the servant snapped out of a daze, looking at her in confusion. “Miss, would you like something to drink?”
Sloane shook her head and turned to leave.
She knew that in a place like the Hawthorne Mansion, there would be surveillance and bodyguards everywhere. If she wanted to see Lucas, the usual methods wouldn’t work.
Before long, she jumped down from a window, landing lightly inside the room.
The décor was simple and calm, with dark tones that gave it a peaceful atmosphere. A few green plants sat by the bedside, adding some life to the otherwise cold room. Her eyes slowly moved to the bed—there lay a man, who could only be Lucas.
Looking at the row of fancy dresses in front of her, Sloane could immediately tell how seriously the Rivers family took the Hawthorne family’s banquet.
Since that was the case, she looked forward even more to the disappointed expressions on their faces.
“All you need to do today is stay quietly by your mom’s side. If I find out you said something you shouldn’t have, you know exactly what the consequences will be,” Marshall warned her again before they left, still uneasy.
Sloane glanced at him without replying. She had her own reasons for going to the Hawthorne family’s banquet today.
Just then, Samantha slowly walked down the stairs. Compared to Sloane, she looked like she was attending a grand ball.
She wore a pink off-the-shoulder evening gown with a long train trailing along the floor. The dress was encrusted with countless sparkling diamonds, dazzling under the lights like a princess from a fairy tale.
Sloane blinked in confusion. Isn’t Samantha the one who claims she has no interest in marrying into the Hawthorne family? Then what is she doing dressed like this?
Her question was soon answered.
As soon as they got out of the car, Samantha flitted away like a butterfly. “Mason!”
Not far away stood a man in a white suit. He had a tall, straight posture and a handsome face.
Based on what Sloane had read in the Hawthorne family’s records, he was their adopted son—Mason Hawthorne.
It was said that Lucas’ mother, Aubrey Lane, was especially fond of this adopted son and treated him like her own.
When Mason saw Samantha, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Samantha, you’re here.”
Samantha quickly walked up to him, and the two of them began chatting happily.
Watching Samantha’s behavior, Sloane instantly saw through her intentions.
Aubrey only had one biological son, Lucas. But even though Mason was adopted, Aubrey had openly acknowledged him as the second son of the Hawthorne family. While Lucas had been sick, she had even pushed for Mason to take charge of the Hawthorne Group.
If Lucas really didn’t pull through, Mason might become the sole heir of the Hawthorne family.
The Rivers family really knew how to play their cards.
Sloane followed Helen into the banquet hall. Inside, the guests were dressed in glamorous clothes, laughing and chatting, their voices mixing with the clinking of glasses into a loud hum.
Helen skillfully mingled with the surrounding socialites, making no attempt to introduce Sloane.
The women exchanged a few knowing glances but said nothing.
Still, the way they looked at Sloane made her deeply uncomfortable.
She couldn’t be bothered to deal with them. Instead, she focused on figuring out how to slip away. She had to see Lucas with her own eyes before making her next move.
While Helen wasn’t paying attention, Sloane slowed her pace and didn’t follow. By the time Helen noticed, Sloane had already vanished from the hall.
Helen called Adrian over. “Go find that b*tch Sloane right now. Don’t let her embarrass me here.”
Adrian had been happily chatting with a few executives, but Sloane’s disappearance sparked a surge of irritation in him.
Meanwhile, Sloane had already changed out of the bothersome dress and found one of the Hawthorne family’s servants. Using her own tricks, she managed to get the exact location of Lucas’ room.
She snapped her fingers, and the servant snapped out of a daze, looking at her in confusion. “Miss, would you like something to drink?”
Sloane shook her head and turned to leave.
She knew that in a place like the Hawthorne Mansion, there would be surveillance and bodyguards everywhere. If she wanted to see Lucas, the usual methods wouldn’t work.
Before long, she jumped down from a window, landing lightly inside the room.
The décor was simple and calm, with dark tones that gave it a peaceful atmosphere. A few green plants sat by the bedside, adding some life to the otherwise cold room. Her eyes slowly moved to the bed—there lay a man, who could only be Lucas.
