Chapter 4: The Party

The party hall at Olive Hotel was already sparkling with life and colour. Gold ribbons hung from the ceiling, and the chandeliers glittered like captured stars.

At the far end of the hall, the Reynolds family stood together, perfectly composed as always. Gavin Reynolds, tall and confident, was in a deep navy tuxedo, one arm around his wife, Megan.

Beside them, their sons, Bosco and Elliot, chatted with a group of men in suits.

And in front of them, the shining star of the family, Bella Reynolds, smiled gracefully at the guests as though the entire celebration was meant for her alone.

A female guest with diamond earrings approached, raising her glass toward Gavin. “Mr. Reynolds, congratulations,” she said warmly. “Not only do you have two capable sons, but also such a smart daughter. You’re truly winning in life.”

Before Gavin could respond, another guest - an older man with silver hair, joined in. “Indeed,” he said. “This event is for the top fifty students and their families, right? That means Bella must’ve done really well this year!”

There was a wave of cheerful applause from those nearby.

Megan smiled proudly and placed a hand on Bella’s shoulder. “Thank you so much,” she said modestly. “Bella worked really hard.”

Bella’s soft laugh followed as she gave a polite curtsy. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” she said humbly, her voice gentle yet clear enough for the crowd to hear. “There are so many brilliant students out there. I’m just thankful I could make my parents proud.”

The guests applauded again, impressed not only by her intelligence but also by her composed humility.

Some murmured to each other, “What a well-brought-up young lady,” while others nodded approvingly, saying the Reynolds truly raised their children right.

Gavin chuckled, his chest swelling with pride. “Thank you, everyone. My daughter has always been hardworking,” he said. “It’s all her mother’s good training.”

The laughter around him grew louder.

But then, from the same man who had praised Bella earlier came a curious tone. “Uh… by the way,” he began slowly, “I remember you have another daughter. Julia Reynolds, right? She took the HET too, if I’m not mistaken. How did she perform?”

A brief silence swept through the Reynolds family.

Gavin’s smile stiffened. His hand tightened around his glass, but before he could speak, Bella’s voice slipped smoothly in.

“She didn’t score well on her HET,” she said quickly, her tone calm but slightly cold. “In fact, she went on a reckless drive afterward to blow off steam and ended up hitting a lady. The poor woman is still in a coma.”

The entire hall gasped. Several people exchanged horrified looks, and a few women covered their mouths with their hands.

Bella lowered her gaze and sighed dramatically. “She was arrested after that,” she added softly. “But she was released today.”

Her eyes turned to Bosco, who stood with his drink halfway to his lips. “Bosco,” she said sweetly but firmly, “did you pick her up?”

Bosco blinked, caught off guard. “We went to get her,” he said after a pause, his tone casual. “But she refused to come back home. She said she’s done with us… that she’s cutting ties.”

Another ripple of shock passed through the hall. The murmuring grew louder this time.

“What?” “How could she say that?” “Cut ties with her family?” “Unbelievable!”

Even Bella pretended to look stunned, though there was a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes.

Elliot, who had been silent until now, suddenly snorted. “Don’t let it bother you,” he said loudly enough for others to hear. “She’s done that so many times before. She always says she’s leaving for good, but give it a day or two, she’ll crawl back, crying and begging for forgiveness.”

A few people chuckled uncomfortably, but he wasn’t done. “This time, though,” he added with a smirk, “I say we don’t forgive her easily.”

“Elliot!” Megan snapped immediately. “Don’t be ridiculous!”

She folded her arms, looking exasperated. “Julia is still my daughter, your sister! Yes, she has her faults, but she’s blood.” She turned to her husband. “Let her kneel at the gate for three days first if she must. That should teach her humility before we take her back.”

A few of the guests gasped again. Someone muttered under their breath, “That’s cruel…” while another whispered, “Even her mother?”

Ridiculous indeed. How could even a mother suggest a thing like that? In a hall full of strangers, with soft lights and fine music, the words sounded like a public execution.

Julia, who once bore the Reynolds name with innocence, was now being spoken of like a stain on their image. But to the Reynolds, appearance was everything.

What mattered wasn’t Julia’s pain or truth—it was how her story would look to others.

The silence after Megan’s words was thick and awkward. A few guests exchanged worried glances; others shifted uncomfortably.

The air had become heavy, and even the music seemed distant.

“Enough!” Gavin suddenly barked, his voice cutting through the tension. Everyone fell silent at once.

His face was red now, his eyes flashing with anger. “Don’t bring up that disgrace again!” he thundered. “She can stay gone for all I care!”

Megan looked startled, but she didn’t interrupt.

“She doesn’t study!” Gavin went on furiously, pounding his chest with his hand. “She’s lazy, ungrateful, and always up to no good. I’ve had enough of her embarrassment.”

Then he turned sharply toward the guests, raising his voice. “Everyone, listen up! From this moment, Julia Reynolds is no longer my daughter!”

The hall erupted in gasps and shocked whispers. Some people lowered their glasses in disbelief; others stared wide-eyed at him.

“The Reynolds family,” Gavin declared, “has only one daughter!”

He turned dramatically toward Bella, who was already standing perfectly poised, her head bowed modestly though a faint smile touched her lips.

“Bella Reynolds!” he announced proudly. “The only daughter of the Reynolds!”

The crowd hesitated for a moment—unsure whether to clap or stay quiet—but Megan’s bright smile and the proud expressions of the sons broke the silence. Soon, the hall filled with applause and cheers.

“Well deserved!” shouted someone near the back.

“Bella truly represents the family!” added another.

But not everyone clapped. In the corner, two older guests exchanged uneasy glances. One of them whispered, “That poor girl… wherever she is, I hope she didn’t hear this.”

Another man muttered, “A father disowning his daughter in public? Over what? A mistake?”

The applause died down after a moment, leaving behind a low buzz of murmurs. Some were still uneasy; others returned to their drinks, trying to act like nothing had happened.

Megan reached for Gavin’s arm, her eyes glinting. “You did the right thing,” she whispered. “She would’ve ruined our name if she came back.”

Bella stood beside them, still smiling sweetly, basking in the attention.

Every congratulatory remark that reached her ear made her chest swell with silent pride.

She looked perfect, untouchable—the daughter her father chose.

Then, suddenly, a sharp, firm voice echoed from behind.

“I hope Mr. Reynolds keeps his word… and doesn’t go back on it.”

The words sliced through the laughter and chatter like a blade.

Everyone froze. The clinking of glasses stopped. Heads turned toward the large doors at the end of the hall.

And then, slowly, Julia Reynolds stepped into the light.

She was still wearing the same faded dress and worn-out shoes from her release earlier that day, the fabric wrinkled and stained.

Gasps rippled through the hall like a wave.