This was the first time Matthew had seen her in a dress-a pink glossy silk creation that hugged her beautiful and alluring curves. The fabric’s perfect cut was soft, accentuating her slender waist. The dress cascaded down to her ankles, while her casually styled hair added a soft and enchanting touch, enhancing her natural charm as a woman.
As she turned around, she noticed a man standing by the car, his gaze fixed on her. She was about to greet him, but Matthew swiftly walked past her without any intention of engaging in conversation.
Dolores understood his reaction. He must have seen Victoria’s car just now.
After Dolores led Victoria to the guest lounge, Armand called out to Matthew.
Without hesitation, Matthew rushed over, concerned that Victoria might cause trouble or embarrass Dolores. To his surprise, he found them smiling and chatting, appearing quite familiar with each other.
This caught Matthew off guard. Dolores hadn’t been in China for a long time, so how did they get acquainted? And they seemed to get along well.
Upon seeing Matthew, Armand approached him immediately. “She just left.”
“I saw,” Matthew replied, his lips curling, but no smile reached his eyes.
Armand shrugged. “They were talking in the room, but we couldn’t hear their conversation. However, I’m certain they have met before. They didn’t appear unfamiliar when greeting each other.”
Armand wondered if Matthew had introduced Dolores to Victoria and that was how they knew each other.
Matthew’s voice turned cold. “Never.”
Armand fell silent, sensing something was amiss. He couldn’t help but wonder how Dolores had come into contact with Victoria.
Before he could say anything else, Boyce pulled him aside, whispering, “Can’t you see he’s in a bad mood?”
Armand pursed his lips and kept quiet.
Soon, more guests began to arrive. Dolores returned to the hall but didn’t spot Matthew. Mrs. William then introduced her to some friends, and Dolores focused on socializing.
“You’ll be responsible for all my future outfits,” a rich and elegant woman in her fifties said. She appeared slightly plump, dressed in a black gown with a chiffon shawl draped over her shoulders, exuding an air of nobility.
Being able to afford clothing from LEO Corporation indicated that she was either wealthy or influential.
As the capital city of China, City B was home to many affluent and influential individuals.
Dolores smiled and thanked the woman. “I appreciate your trust, ma’am.”
“In the past, I had to go overseas to buy clothes from LEO Corporation. Now, it’s much more convenient,” the woman remarked, glancing at Mrs. William. She then complained, “You should have opened a branch in China long ago!”
Clearly, she was curious about Mrs. William’s sudden decision to open an overseas branch, starting with China. She inquired, “Why did you decide to expand abroad? And why choose China? Is there a reason behind it?”
Mrs. William hesitated, knowing that discussing this matter would lead to another long-held secret she didn’t wish to share. Dolores quickly stepped in to save her. “It was because of me. I begged Mrs. William to open a branch here because I’m from China. So, I convinced her to choose this location.”
“I see.” The woman didn’t think it was a significant issue, so she didn’t question the truth behind Dolores’ words.
“Later, there will be a fashion show showcasing unique designs from LEO Corporation specifically for this opening ceremony. If you find anything you love, take the opportunity to place an order,” Mrs. William continued, engaging in conversation with the woman.
At that moment, more guests entered through the entrance. Camilla arrived with Maria. After the series of incidents that had befallen the Herbert family, Camilla seemed somewhat subdued. However, being familiar with Mrs. William, she felt obligated to attend the ceremony.
Maria accompanied her, linking arms. As the sole daughter of the Herbert family, she naturally carried herself with grace. She wore a black dress with a captivating design that revealed her back. The dress parted at the waist and hips, exposing her fair back and emanating an enchanting allure.
Knowing Dolores would be present, Maria made an effort to dress up for the occasion. Unlike her impulsive behavior in the past, she didn’t immediately provoke Dolores upon their encounter. This time, she stood quietly beside Camilla.
The woman who had been conversing with Mrs. William greeted Camilla. Since their husbands often attended different social events together, they had become acquainted. Therefore, it was only natural for them to exchange pleasantries upon meeting.
Their common connection to Mrs. William stemmed from their mutual appreciation for the exquisite dresses created by LEO Corporation.
As the wives of prominent chairmen and CEOs, they had impeccable taste when it came to dressing and makeup. Their standards for outfits were exceptionally high, but fortunately, the tailor-made clothes met their expectations flawlessly.
With such perfectly coordinated attire, they had no worries about any embarrassing clashes.
Moreover, they had the luxury of requesting the shop to create matching dresses that complemented their husbands’ suits.
Despite the connection between Dolores and the Herbert family’s recent turmoil, Camilla maintained a composed expression on her face, concealing any personal grievances. Instead, she greeted Dolores with a friendly smile.
Dolores wasn’t well acquainted with Camilla, as her only connection to her was through Sampson.
In response to Camilla’s greeting, Dolores simply returned the smile without saying a word.
In a corner, Beulah tightly clenched the mop handle, her eyes filled with a fierce glare directed at Dolores. Her daughter was missing, and she had suffered unjustly in jail, while Dolores reveled in her newfound glory.
At that moment, a man entered the hall, dressed in a formal suit. Although the suit was tailored to perfection, his slightly hunched back revealed his age.
Upon spotting the man, Beulah opened her mouth, as if about to call out to him. However, she quickly reconsidered, knowing all too well the ruthless nature of the man.
“Hi, Lola,” he approached Dolores.
Dolores’s expression gradually darkened, wondering why he was here.
“Your store is opening today, so I had to come and show my support,” his voice lowered as he noticed the array of cars parked outside, indicating the presence of numerous celebrities.
Truthfully, he felt unworthy of supporting her.
“Thank you, but it’s not necessary. Please go home,” Dolores declined his kindness.
She didn’t want to delve into past grievances, but she could never forgive him.
Unfazed by Dolores’s words, the man, Randolph, didn’t leave or back down. Ever since the incident six years ago, he had seen people’s true colors.
His most beloved daughter had taken the donation fund and disappeared, leaving him in a dire situation.
“Lola, I want to thank you,” he said.
Dolores furrowed her brow. “For what?”
“After the incident six years ago, without Matthew’s help, you might not have seen me again.”
Dolores was shocked.
It turned out that it was Matthew who had helped him during the company’s difficult times six years ago.
“It seemed strange to me as well, why he would help me. He said it was because of you,” Randolph confessed. He had isolated himself in his room because of this revelation. It wasn’t out of excitement but regret. If his relationship with Dolores hadn’t deteriorated so much, the Flores family would have been leading a much better life by now.
Recently, he had accidentally seen Jessica with two children, which led him to pursue Jessica once again and seek Dolores’s forgiveness.
He believed that Matthew was the father of those children. Since Dolores had given birth to two beautiful children for Matthew, Randolph assumed that Matthew must treat Dolores well.
Therefore, perhaps he could benefit from the situation as well.
If Dolores had nothing now, Randolph wouldn’t have to humble himself in front of her.
Human nature wasn’t easily changed.
Dolores never expected that Matthew would continue to take care of Randolph after she left.
She began to doubt if he had done it solely because of her.
“I won’t disturb you. I’ll find a quiet place to sit. There are so many people here, and the atmosphere is vibrant. You can consider me a stranger attending this ceremony,” Randolph suggested, fearing that Dolores might kick him out. He decided to take the initiative and find solace in a quiet corner.
Dolores ignored him, allowing him to do as he pleased.
It wouldn’t be so simple for her to forgive him, as he hoped.
The pain he had caused her and Jessica had left scars that would never fade. Whenever those memories resurfaced, the pain was still fresh.
Beulah seethed with fury. Her once well-maintained face had lost its luster after the torment she endured in jail. Glaring at Dolores, her eyes seemed on the verge of popping out, presenting a disturbing sight.
She had never witnessed Randolph humble himself before anyone, especially not to Dolores.
And he did it while talking to Dolores.
Beulah couldn’t accept this change or her own failure, all of which stemmed from Dolores’s return to town.
‘Go to hell! Go to hell!’ she cursed silently in her heart.
Discarding the mop, she approached Dolores with determined strides. Before standing in front of her, Beulah pulled out a dagger she had concealed in her pocket. “Dolores Flores, go to hell!”
“Watch out!”
As Dolores turned around, she saw Beulah charging toward her like a ghost from hell. Beulah appeared terrifying, brandishing the gleaming dagger and aiming it directly at Dolores’s chest.