Chapter 2: The Vance Family Dinner

The large wooden gates of the Vance family mansion looked more like the entrance to a powerful fortress than a home.

Sarah sat quietly in the back seat of a black Rolls-Royce.

Her fingers were tightly locked together on her lap.

She wore a simple emerald-green silk dress. She had changed the dress herself before leaving her apartment because she did not have many clothes.

It was not made by a famous designer, but it looked beautiful on her.

Beside her, Adrian sat in his wheelchair.

His face showed no emotion as he looked through the dark car window.

"The Vance family dinner is like a battle, Sarah," Adrian said.

He didn't look at her.

"Tonight, my grandfather will judge you. My stepmother, Victoria, is Jason's mother. She will try to embarrass you."

He paused.

"If you show even a little weakness, they will attack you."

Sarah took a slow breath and straightened her back.

"They stole my mother's work and sold me like I was property," she replied.

Her voice was calm.

"I didn't sign that marriage contract so I could become a victim. Let them try."

A small smile appeared on Adrian's face.

"Good."

He finally looked at her.

"And remember, when we're with my family, don't call me Mr. Vance."

Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"Call me Adrian."

The chauffeur opened the car door.

Cold air touched Sarah's face.

A few minutes later, Sarah walked beside Adrian as they entered the large dining hall.

The dining room was filled with expensive things.

A long wooden table stood in the middle of the room.

Many members of the Vance family were already sitting around it.

At the head of the table sat Old Master Vance.

Even though he was very old, his eyes were still sharp.

He looked at everyone as if he could see every secret they were hiding.

But Sarah's heart almost stopped when she saw two familiar people.

Jason and Chloe.

Chloe was wearing a very expensive dress covered with diamonds.

As soon as she saw Sarah, she smiled proudly.

Jason looked nervous.

His eyes kept moving between Sarah and Adrian.

"Ah, the newlyweds are here," Victoria said.

Her voice sounded sweet, but Sarah could tell she was pretending.

"Grandfather, this is the girl Eleanor sent here to pay her family's debts."

Victoria looked at Sarah.

"Sarah, right?"

She looked Sarah up and down.

"I must say, Adrian. I thought you had better taste."

She pointed at Sarah's dress.

"She looks like she bought that dress from a cheap store."

Several family members laughed quietly.

Chloe lifted her glass.

"Oh, Mother, don't be too hard on Sarah."

She smiled cruelly.

"Sarah has always liked cheap things. She doesn't understand high society."

Jason lowered his eyes.

Chloe continued.

"She spent three years following Jason around and begging for his attention before he finally realized he needed a woman from a better family."

Sarah felt the insult deeply.

But she remembered Adrian's warning.

This was a battle.

She couldn't show weakness.

Sarah calmly stepped forward.

"It is true that my dress didn't cost a fortune, Aunt Victoria."

She deliberately called Victoria Aunt to remind everyone that she was now part of the family.

"But I'm a designer."

She looked at her own dress.

"I care more about good sewing, good fabric, and good design than famous brand names."

Then Sarah looked at Chloe's dress.

"Isn't that dress from the Vanguard Autumn Collection?"

Chloe proudly lifted her chin.

"Yes. It's a limited-edition dress."

She smiled.

"It's not something a poor girl like you could ever afford."

Sarah smiled politely.

"That's unfortunate."

Chloe frowned.

"Why?"

"Because the dress is badly made."

The room became quiet.

Sarah pointed toward Chloe's left side.

"The sewing around the left side is uneven. The lines don't match properly."

Chloe looked down at her dress.

Sarah continued.

"The silk was probably cut in the wrong direction to save material."

She smiled.

"For a limited-edition luxury dress, it looks like it was made in a hurry."

A few cousins began looking closely at Chloe's dress.

Sarah added calmly,

"But I suppose when someone doesn't know what good quality looks like, they use shiny diamonds to make people ignore the problems."

Chloe's smile disappeared.

Her face turned red.

"You arrogant girl!" Victoria shouted.

She dropped her fork onto the table.

"How dare someone from a bankrupt family insult our guests?"

Adrian's voice suddenly filled the room.

"She is not a guest."

Everyone became silent.

"She is my wife."

Adrian slowly moved his wheelchair closer to the table.

His eyes were cold as he looked at Victoria.

"And as the eldest grandson and the current CEO of Vance Enterprises, my wife has a higher position in this family than anyone sitting on your side of the table."

Victoria's face became stiff.

Adrian continued.

"If I hear another insult against the main branch's wife, I will remove all of Jason's department's funding before midnight."

Jason's face went pale.

He quickly grabbed Chloe's hand.

"Mother, Chloe, please."

He looked nervous.

"Let's just eat."

Old Master Vance had been silent the entire time.

Suddenly, he laughed loudly.

His eyes moved toward Sarah.

There was something different in his expression now.

Respect.

"That girl has a sharp tongue," he said.

Then he looked at Sarah carefully.

"And she has sharp eyes."

He lifted his glass.

"A woman in the Vance family needs courage."

He pointed toward the empty chair.

"Sit down."

His smile grew.

"Let's see if your appetite is as strong as your courage."

Sarah walked over and sat beside Adrian.

Under the table, Adrian's hand briefly touched hers.

His hand was cold and steady.

He didn't say anything.

But Sarah understood what he meant.

The first battle belonged to them.

The food was soon served.

Everyone began eating.

But Chloe leaned toward Jason.

Her eyes were filled with anger.

"I don't care who she married," she whispered.

Jason looked at her.

"Tomorrow is the deadline for the National Fashion Gala design competition."

Chloe's lips curved into a cruel smile.

"Once my portfolio wins the grand prize, I'll destroy her career forever."

Jason's eyes widened.

Chloe lowered her voice.

"After all, I'm using her mother's designs."

Sarah had no idea what Chloe was planning.

But tomorrow, her stolen designs were about to become the center of a much bigger battle.