She believed that when Melinda found out Bianca hadn’t brought a gift, she would surely be disappointed, making Ashley appear more favorable to her.
Ashley’s smile, filled with anticipation and pride, lit up her face as she imagined the events to come. Suddenly, the doors of the Reed family villa swung open, and two sharply dressed men entered.
They wore white gloves and carried a tray of aromatic wood covered by a red silk cloth.
Instantly, they captivated the attention of all the guests, drawing everyone’s eyes to them.
Both men had diamond-studded nameplates on their chests.
Someone in the crowd recognized the emblem and gasped in surprise.
“They’re from Imperial Treasure.”
Imperial Treasure was a famous jewelry brand in the country. It specialized in the most luxurious and exclusive jewelry, known for its priceless pieces that were not sold publicly. Every two years, Imperial Treasure unveiled a new creation, which was showcased for public viewing but not available for purchase.
Owning an item from Imperial Treasure’s collection was a prestigious status symbol.
Even elite families like the Reed family couldn’t claim ownership of Imperial Treasure’s collections.
The sudden appearance of Imperial Treasure representatives raised eyebrows. Could the item on the tray they carried be….
The two well-dressed men approached Melinda, their smiles polished and professional. They said, “Mrs. Reed, this is the birthday gift from Miss Bianca Scott. We hope you’ll graciously accept it.”
With that, one of the men gently removed the red silk from the tray, revealing a necklace made of agate beads. The agates were unprocessed, displaying their natural beauty. Each stone had unique features and shapes.
The rarity of such an agate bead necklace was immeasurable.
Adding to its value, being a creation of the reputable Imperial Treasure elevated its rarity and significance.
Everyone around was astonished. Those who had earlier mocked Bianca and Dave were now craning their necks to get a better look at the necklace. They looked like people who had never seen such luxury before.
Their view of Bianca suddenly changed, filled with awe and a hint of fear.
‘Who on earth was this Bianca, capable of gifting something from Imperial Treasure? The necklace was incredibly valuable.’
Yet, Bianca herself was just as baffled. She had no idea when or how she had arranged such a gift.
She glanced at Dave, who seemed to sense her gaze. To divert attention from the fact that he might have been secretly behind this surprise, he averted his eyes and said, “Bianc, I didn’t know you had connections with Imperial Treasure. You’re quite extraordinary. Looks like I’ll need to rely on you even more.”
At first, Bianca thought Dave might be behind everything. But after seeing his reaction, she changed her mind. It didn’t seem possible for him to get things from Imperial Treasure.
‘So, who was it then?’
Bianca always sensed there was someone strong supporting her secretly. She had felt it faintly before, but now she was almost certain.
This made her feel uneasy and anxious. Who could be giving her such important help?
Bianca looked around the room but found no clues.
Petter, Stacey, and Ashley were silent, shocked by Bianca’s ability to afford such an expensive gift.
Petter stared at Bianca, unable to believe it. What else did he not know about her? He was amazed by her connection to Imperial Treasure. Her wealth and background seemed vast. Why hadn’t she helped his company when it was in trouble?
He felt a mix of disappointment and respect for Bianca.
Realizing the gift was from Imperial Treasure, Melinda reached out with a trembling hand to gently lift the necklace.
Melinda had always wanted something from Imperial Treasures but never managed to get one despite trying for years.
In Edenfield, only the Evans and Lawson families, from the four main clans, had connections to Imperial Treasure.
The other Scott family members gave normal gifts, but Bianca gave them this amazing necklace.
This showed that it wasn’t the Scott family who were important, but Bianca herself.
Could Bianca be linked to either the Evans or Lawson families?
Melinda felt even more disappointed now. Why did Joshua pick Ashley instead of Bianca?!
If Bianca did have powerful connections, the Reed family could use that to improve their status among the four main families in Edenfield.
But then again, Ashley was Bianca’s sister, and family bonds were important. Bianca would naturally support her family in some way.
Thinking about this made Melinda feel much better. If Bianca had ties to those two families, Joshua wouldn’t have been able to marry her.
“Bianca, thank you so much for the expensive gift. I really love it,” Melinda warmly said as she looked at Bianca.
Bianca smiled awkwardly in response.
“I just realized Bianca seems to be the head of the new Emerald Artists Agency! It was all over the top search results recently.”
Since the Reed family owned Golden Gate Films, guests from the entertainment industry attended the event. Bianca’s plain outfit initially didn’t draw much attention.
But when she presented the valuable necklace, Bianca’s name quickly spread among the crowd, and people started recognizing her.
“Emerald Artists Agency, huh? I’ll remember that. I might come by sometime,” someone remarked.
“My daughter dreams of working in entertainment. Would Bianca’s new agency consider new talent?”
“With such a solid background, her company seems poised for success. Let’s talk about possible collaborations soon.”
Bianca’s company gained a lot of attention, and its reputation soared.
Dave had achieved his goal with the gift.
“Ashley, your sister runs her own impressive company. What are your plans?” Evelyn asked Ashley.
Ashley nervously bit her lip and confessed, “I… I’m an actress at Golden Gate Films.”
“Oh…” Evelyn nodded, looking slightly disappointed. Ashley must have gotten her role at Golden Gate Films with Joshua’s help.
Moreover, Ashley didn’t seem to be well-known in the entertainment industry. She appeared relatively unknown.
The contrast between the two sisters was clear!
“The entertainment industry can be unpredictable. Joshua, your girlfriend…” Evelyn’s keen gaze showed a hint of discontent.
“Mom, Ashley just graduated. She’s innocent and inexperienced,” Joshua defended Ashley, holding her close. “She’s always been loyal to me and hasn’t dated anyone else.”
“She’s not like those flirtatious women.”
In truth, Joshua wasn’t eager to marry Ashley. He had brought her here today for two reasons: to satisfy his family’s constant pressure for marriage and to persuade her to be intimate with him before they wed.
Although Joshua wasn’t excited about marriage, his family’s expectations weighed heavily on him. Plus, fulfilling his grandmother’s wish was crucial.
Despite his reputation, Joshua deeply respected Melinda, who had always favored him.
Being in the entertainment industry, Joshua understood the moral complexities that often fascinated women. Wealthy girls, raised with strong morals, often seemed unexciting to him, like lifeless statues without romantic passion.