Half an hour later, Joshua’s assistant rushed back and whispered urgently to Joshua. His expression immediately turned pale.
“Is that what the expert confirmed?” Joshua’s eyes widened, his expression hinting at a desire to lash out at the messenger.
The assistant responded with a tremble in his voice, “Yes, those were the expert’s exact words, no doubt about it.”
Stunned by the revelation, Joshua staggered back a few steps.
“Mr. Reed, what’s the verdict? Is the wine genuine?” someone asked.
Joshua’s anger erupted as he hurled his wine glass to the ground with a crash. “Damn it! I’ve been deceived!” he shouted.
The room, once alive with conversation, fell deadly silent. All eyes were fixed on Joshua.
Joshua wasn’t a wine connoisseur; he simply enjoyed the finer things. He had heard about the prestigious Romanee-Conti and, without much consideration, had a friend acquire it for him.
But it turned out to be a counterfeit!
The audience grasped Joshua’s fury and understood the mistake.
“Well, it seems we have our answer,” Dave remarked, arching an eyebrow at Joshua. “Who would have imagined Joshua Reed of the respectable Reed family serving fake wine? This could seriously tarnish your family’s reputation.”
“Did he pick a fake wine rather than admit defeat?”
“He seems wealthy but gullible.”
“And who’s the guy who immediately spotted the counterfeit Romanee-Conti?”
“He knew it was fake, and Joshua didn’t-quite impressive.”
Bianca, impressed, turned to the man beside her, seeing him in a new and impressive light.
“Have you tasted this wine before?” Bianca whispered.
“Just once, with my boss. It’s a flavor you don’t forget,” Dave replied, smiling faintly.
Bianca looked at him, surprise evident in her wide eyes. “I might have underestimated you.”
“Why’s that?” he asked, a bit taken aback.
Her gaze, a mix of challenge and charm, narrowed thoughtfully. “I used to think I knew a lot, especially around you. I had my own areas of expertise. But now I realize someone in your position must see things on a much broader scale. I can’t just show off around you anymore. I wouldn’t want you to think less of me.”
Dave chuckled warmly and pulled her closer. “And what exactly do you want to show off?” he asked, locking eyes with her, which sparkled even more up close.
Blushing, she playfully smacked his chest. “Where is this conversation going?”
Leaning in, he whispered softly near her ear. “You can flaunt anything you like. Let’s explore that tonight.”
“Enough teasing!” She laughed nervously, pushing him back and turning away to hide her reddening cheeks.
Meanwhile, Joshua slammed his glass down in frustration. Stacey and Petter walked through the crowd to Ashley’s side and pulled her away, whispering urgently, “What’s bothering Joshua so much?”
In frustration, Ashley exclaimed, “That guy Bianca brought with her has made Joshua look foolish!”
“I had a bad feeling the moment she arrived!” Stacey’s eyes, filled with bitterness, scanned the room before settling on Bianca. There she stood, poised and elegant despite her simple outfit. Her grace was unmistakable with just one look.
Bianca’s presence constantly caused Stacey’s anxiety.
Tonight’s family dinner was initially only for Ashley, but Stacey insisted on coming along. When she heard the Reed family hosted it, Petter saw a chance to network with influential people and possibly secure investments.
So, they convinced Ashley to talk to Joshua, and eventually, they were allowed to attend.
Now, with Bianca appearing alongside that man, they were facing a critical moment. Offending the Reed family could ruin Ashley’s opportunity to marry into wealth.
Stacey looked at her daughter with a blend of helplessness and frustration. Ashley’s pride and impulsiveness often caused her to act without considering the consequences.
Perhaps Bianca had deliberately tricked Ashley into inviting her. It was difficult to predict her intentions.
It seemed like all she wanted was to cause chaos!
Deep in thought, Stacey was determined to find a way to keep Bianca from attending the dinner.
A view of the infinity pool through the French windows sparked an idea and a cunning grin formed on Stacey’s face.
By the poolside, the Reed family had organized a performance by a renowned orchestra.
Approaching Bianca with a deceptive smile, Stacey said, “Bianc, didn’t you used to adore playing the violin as a child? What made you give it up as you grew older?”
Bianca’s expression darkened, and she tightly pursed her lips.
‘Why was Stacey bringing this up all of a sudden?’
As a young girl, Bianca had shown great talent with the violin, prompting her mother to hire a renowned violinist for lessons. The tutor was expensive, charging a steep fee per session, totaling nearly a million annually.
When her parents divorced, her father, burdened by financial strain, had to cease her violin lessons.
Understanding the situation, young Bianca reluctantly set aside her beloved instrument, continuing to practice in secret.
She often wondered if she had stayed with her mother, she might have become a skilled violinist.
Bianca let out a bitter laugh. Life, she thought, was like arriving at a crossroads where one wrong decision could lead to an entirely different path.
But the choices were hers, and despite the challenges, Bianca was determined to move forward without regrets.
Stacey had always known how much Bianca loved playing the violin since childhood. When Stacey started working for the Scott family, she often heard the sweet strains of violin music coming from Bianca’s room.
“Bianc, the Reed family has brought in the most famous orchestra in Edenfield for a performance today. Guess who’s leading? Monica Hughes, the renowned violinist. It’s a great opportunity for you to spend time with Ashley.”
Monica Hughes…
Bianca’s eyes sparked with recognition. Her old violin teacher had the last name, Hughes. ‘Could it be the same person?’
Overhearing their conversation, Ashley lifted her head with a smug smile. “That’s right. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have this chance to enjoy such skilled music, let alone meet Ms. Hughes.”
They were clearly emphasizing this point in front of her.
Glancing out the window, Bianca noticed a group performing by the pool. Driven by curiosity about whether this Monica Hughes was her childhood mentor, she found herself drawn toward them, almost as if compelled.
Stacey chuckled softly and followed Bianca, aware of her growing interest.
Bianca’s eyes fixed on the woman at the center of the orchestra, playing the violin with effortless grace. She stood there, mesmerized, unable to speak. Although Bianca couldn’t recall Ms. Hughes’s face, the beauty of her violin playing had always stayed vivid in her memory.
Suddenly, Monica glanced over at Bianca. Catching her gaze, Bianca quickly looked away, unable to meet Monica’s eyes. Monica had once been hopeful for her, even offering to reduce her lesson fees. But Bianca, eager to ease her father’s financial burden, had falsely claimed she lost interest in the violin and wanted to stop her lessons.