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Novel Catalog
Chapter 85: Check Out The News
“Understood,” the bodyguard replied as Zachary made his decision to let Jonathan tire himself out before making his move.
He glanced toward the grand hall where Niel’s birthday banquet was taking place, a sharp contrast to the chaotic scene outside. Zachary knew that the mood here needed to stay intact. After all, it wasn’t the right time to disrupt the event. He had plenty of time on his hands.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Cecilia arrived at the banquet one after the other, as planned. Cecilia had carefully timed her entrance, not wanting to draw attention to herself before Nathaniel, and only entered after he did. Nathaniel, ever perceptive, noticed her subtle maneuver but chose to say nothing.
After weathering an earlier storm, Stella had finally managed to smooth things over with the reporters, but her relief was short-lived. As soon as she saw Nathaniel approaching, she straightened up, her mind quickly shifting gears. She walked toward him, a practiced smile on her face.
“Nathaniel, the banquet has already started. Everyone’s already wishing Old Mr. Rainsworth a happy birthday. Why are you just now arriving? I’ve been waiting for you.”
Nathaniel didn’t seem bothered by her words. He had no intention of explaining himself to anyone. “Well then, you don’t have to wait anymore from now on,” he replied nonchalantly.
Stella froze. His words struck her like a cold slap, but before she could recover, her gaze flicked over to Cecilia, entering the room. The realization dawned on her, and a tight knot formed in her chest. She clenched her fists, her pride stung, but she knew better than to show weakness.
The moment Nathaniel walked into the room, all eyes turned to him. As the youngest head of the prestigious Rainsworth family, his entrance was a spectacle, and many of the guests saw it as an opportunity to gain favor with him. Elena beamed with pride, watching him from the sidelines.
Nathaniel approached his grandfather, Old Mr. Rainsworth, who had a shock of white hair and relied on a cane to walk, though his eyes still twinkled with vitality. “Happy birthday, Grandpa,” Nathaniel said, offering a genuine smile.
Stella, eager to seize every moment to make a name for herself in high society, seized the chance to present her gift. “Grandpa, I’ve also brought you a gift today,” she said, holding out the carefully wrapped package.
Though Niel had never been particularly fond of her, he appreciated that, like Elena, he wanted Nathaniel to settle down soon. The song she had written a few days ago had proven that there was more to her than just beauty. So, Niel graciously accepted the gift.
Stella presented a piece of high-quality nephrite. While it was practically insignificant to the Rainsworth family in terms of monetary value, the gesture was symbolic. The fact that Niel accepted it, however, sent a subtle message that Stella had at least gained some form of approval from the Rainsworth family.
Cecilia stood quietly in the crowd, listening to the gossip swirling around her.
“She’s really gone from rags to riches…”
“Yeah, an orphan who rose to stardom. And now, she’s set to become the future daughter-in-law of the Rainsworth family.”
“It wasn’t just luck, you know. Have you heard her new song? It’s amazing.”
Cecilia remained calm, her expression neutral. The whispers only served to reinforce what she already knew—Stella had risen quickly, but that didn’t mean she was untouchable. Cecilia was playing a different game now. And soon, the grand gift she had prepared for Stella would arrive.
Stella, lost in the admiration of the crowd, made her way toward Cecilia, feeling her own pride swell. “You saw that, didn’t you, Ceci? The world has changed. Now, it’s me who stands by Nathaniel’s side,” she said, unable to hide her satisfaction.
Cecilia’s lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile. “Is that so?”
Stella, still basking in her moment, didn’t sense the warning in Cecilia’s words. “Be careful. Extreme joy often leads to sorrow.”
Stella, dismissing it as just jealousy, waved it off. “Oh, you’re just upset for me. But I’m not worried. This is my time.”
As if on cue, a voice rang out from the crowd. “Guys, check out the news! It turns out that Stella’s new song, Ray of Light in the Dark, was actually plagiarized from a foreign composer!”
Curiosity spread like wildfire, and in a matter of seconds, people gathered around the phone, eager to read more.
“No way. This isn’t plagiarism, this is copy-pasting! The tune is exactly the same—she just added some lyrics.”
“Oh my God, I didn’t expect this…”
“Can you imagine? The Rainsworth family might be accepting a fraud as their future daughter-in-law?”
The murmurs grew louder, and soon, they reached the ears of Old Mr. Rainsworth. His face paled, and he motioned to his assistant. “Find out more about this. What kind of scandal have we just walked into?”
The news hit hard, and it didn’t take long for Niel to learn all the details. His face, usually composed and full of wisdom, was now ashen. He couldn’t hide his disappointment.
Immediately, he called for Elena, his voice tight with anger. “Look who you’ve invited into our family!”
