Chapter 9

[Cecilia]

The house had been noisy since early morning. There were the clatter of cooks preparing dishes, gardeners arranging orchids by the entrance, and maids who usually cleaned the house in silence. They were always busy when important days like this rolled around.

The Wang family were used to all kinds of parties. Since morning, Cecilia had already been awake. Her mother was even fully dressed at the dining table during breakfast. As the lady of the house, she then went around checking on the staff’s work, reviewing the decorations, making sure the seating placements were exactly as she wanted.

Cecilia couldn’t even count how many parties she had attended since she was born. No matter the circumstances, attending events as a family was something mandatory. She had been relieved since Maria got married, because they finally had a reason not to invite her to various events. For her, it was far easier to make up an excuse for why Maria couldn’t make it than to have to share the same space with that girl.

But her joy didn’t last long, because Maria would be coming today.

As noon approached, guests began arriving in their luxury cars. Bentley, BMW, Rolls-Royce, and all kinds of collector cars belonging to distinguished people. The first to arrive, of course, were close relatives. Uncles and aunts, cousins from her father’s side, and of course,

Maria.

Maria arrived with her husband, Damian Lee, and quickly became the center of attention among the guests. Her outfit was simple: hair let down without excessive adornment, a minimalist silk dress, and some jade jewelry. Damian Lee looked dashing in a Loro Piana suit, his hair neatly slicked back. Their assistants walked behind them carrying gifts for their father.

Cecilia pressed her lips together, watching Maria walk in with a happy smile on her face, hand in hand with Damian Lee.

She didn’t like seeing Maria happy.

Maria briefly greeted the other guests as she approached their father.

“Happy birthday, Father.” Maria handed a bottle of wine to him.

“Bellmoire? Whoa, it’s from the 1990s.”

Maria nodded, a smile still etched on her face. “It’s your favorite, right?”

“Of course. Thank you, Maria.”

Damian took the gift from his assistant, then handed it to his father-in-law.

“Also, this is a small token from us.”

Their father opened the gift box. He grinned broadly at the Jaeger-LeCoultre inside.

“How thoughtful of you. How did you know I like this? Thank you.”

Damian smiled, then glanced at his wife.

“It’s all thanks to her.”

***

The formal event began with a champagne reception. Guests from the elite circles outside the family started arriving.

Cecilia stood near her father, standing like a display piece, while her father introduced her one by one to his business colleagues. As the future successor of the Wang family business, Cecilia at the very least had to be able to do this.

Besides, this was better than being stuck with her mother who was busy greeting family members she wasn’t even close to. Distant relatives. Cecilia didn’t even know anymore whether they were from her mother’s or father’s side.

After all, she preferred being close to people who were more beneficial to her rather than those she was simply related by blood.

“Damian,” her father made a gesture calling Damian over, who was currently talking with another guest, “come here.”

Damian approached, unfortunately still holding Maria’s hand.

“This is my son-in-law, Damian Lee from RQL Group,” he said proudly. “Damian, this is Mr. Baldwin, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

Mr. Baldwin looked back and forth between Cecilia and Maria.

Her father placed his hand on Maria’s shoulder and patted it with a laugh. “Ah, this is Maria. Damian is married to my daughter, Maria.”

“I see.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Damian said. His arm loosely wrapped around Maria’s waist. “If it weren’t for my wife, and of course my father, I probably wouldn’t have been able to meet someone as great as you here.”

***

“Watch your expression, Cecilia.”

Cecilia’s mother spoke to her in a cold, dry tone, and completely mismatched with her constant polite smile when saying it.

Cecilia had always admired her mother’s ability to smile non-stop in front of others like this. Piling up all her feelings, keeping them deep inside, and letting them out somewhere when no one was around.

Unfortunately, Cecilia couldn’t do that. She was truly sick of seeing Maria smiling happily all this time.

And what was even more sickening? Watching Damian Lee repeatedly defend that girl again and again.

Cecilia tried hard to lift both corners of her lips into a curve after sitting down at her chair. She was seated on the left side of her father for this luncheon, which meant everyone could see her expression.

Maria was seated at a distance from their family, because the nearest seats were occupied by senior relatives and respected family guests. But sadly for Cecilia, the sight of Maria sitting next to Damian was right in front of her eyes.

It was just ruining the view.

First course.

They enjoyed drinks, either champagne, tea, or sparkling water. Her mother worked hard controlling the flow, rhythm, and of course, the topics of conversation.

Cecilia knew her mother was trying to avoid any topic related to Maria. She wasn’t even sure her mother could fully hide her dislike. Her mother had even deliberately sought an excuse from the start so she could be away from Maria.

Main course.

Traditional specialties, all the dishes curated by her mother. Steamed fish, her father’s favorite roast duck, longevity noodles, and a variety of dishes for the guests to enjoy.

The guests started making small talk with Cecilia, but the girl only gave brief, perfunctory replies. Her gaze was fixed on Damian, who was casually deboning the bones and carving the duck for Maria.

Some guests noticed it and praised Damian for it. They then remarked on how lucky Maria was to have a husband like him.

Cecilia recalled what Maria had said the other day.

“I’ll do my best not to draw attention to myself,” she had said.

What a joke.

Cecilia lost her appetite.

***

The luncheon was over. The invited guests returned to their respective circles. Some guests looked tired and were just sitting at the garden bar. Some even appeared drunk on whiskey. Others took the opportunity to smoke.

In short, it was a free-for-all.

Music played softly, performed by the string quartet they’d hired to accompany their conversations. The gentle jazz served merely as background, not the main act people were watching.

Background.

Cecilia remembered something.

A scheme crossed her mind.

She asked a passing server for a pen, then picked up the menu card on the table. Cecilia wrote something on the back. Something familiar, something simple.

But also something that could teach Maria a lesson.

Midnight Glass Conversation, a modern jazz single by the Julian Veyne Quartet.

Back then, once the party was over and her mother needed to vent her pent-up emotions, she would take Maria to the back of the house. Her mother would blast Midnight Glass Conversation so loud the song could be heard from the speakers in the garden pavilion, then slap Maria.

The music was soft enough to imply peace, yet loud enough to mask Maria’s screams of pain.

No maid would hear her cries and help Maria at that moment. Even if they did hear her, what would they do? Defy the lady of the house?

“You might not feel the actual pain, but you will remember the feeling,” Cecilia murmured softly. A smirk appeared on her face.

She walked over with the card toward the quartet that was performing. She turned her head, looking for someone she could speak to.

“Is there anything we can help you with, Miss?” Someone approached her.

“Are you the manager? Or perhaps, the ensemble coordinator?”

“Yes. Is there something wrong? I can pass it on to the band leader.”

Cecilia beamed before forcing a polite smile. “I’d like to request that a song be added.”

“Well, about that… the setlist has already been given to us and is set in place.”

“Please, this is my mother’s favorite song.” She raised her index finger. “It’s just one song.”

The man looked hesitant as he thought for a moment. “Alright, I’ll try to pass it on.”

Cecilia held out the paper to him, but before he could take it, another man’s hand grabbed hers from behind. Cecilia flinched and turned to look at him in panic.

“Whatever you’re planning, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he whispered in Cecilia’s ear.

Damian Lee.

Damian Lee smoothly took the menu card from Cecilia’s hand.

“Sorry, forget the request. Just play according to the setlist,” he told the coordinator.

Cecilia’s face flushed. She pulled her hand away from Damian’s grip. Her other hand clenched her right hand tightly. Her tongue was tied. She couldn’t evade or make excuses. She couldn’t even say a word in front of him.

“Behave.”

Damian tore the card in front of Cecilia.

“Believe me. You wouldn’t want my family to be your enemy.”