Chapter 7

The birthday party was a luxurious and breathtaking affair. Everyone knew Henry very much doted on Summer, his only granddaughter. More than once, he had formally declared his intention to let her inherit Hartford Group.

Thus, it went without saying that no expense was spared for her 18th birthday party, much to the envy of the many heiresses and socialites in attendance.

Soon, the party began. When Summer appeared on Henry's arm, she instantly captivated everyone with her beauty. All eyes fell on her, and no one could tear their eyes away. She was far too beautiful.

Some of the socialites who had met Summer on other occasions started whispering among themselves.

"That's Summer? Did she get some work done? She didn't look like that the last time I saw her!"

"I bet she got plastic surgery. She probably even bleached her skin, too. She definitely didn't look that fair the last time. Her skin was so dull and sallow-looking. Look at her now! Her skin looks flawless!"

"Where did she get it done? The results look so natural. I'd like to get it done, too…"

The socialites spotted Rose and quickly called her over, asking, "Rose, where did Summer get her plastic surgery done?"

Rose shook her head and quietly responded, "I'm not sure, either."

Her remark basically confirmed that Summer had gotten plastic surgery, and it made the socialites gossip even more eagerly.

Rose stood on the side with her head bowed, but she gleefully listened to every word they said. So what if Summer had made herself look pretty this time? All the effort she had gone through in the past hadn't been for nothing.

The socialites already had a fixed impression of Summer. No matter how pretty she became, they would simply assume she had gotten work done on her face. It was yet another malicious rumor about her that would be spreading today.

Rose inwardly cursed Summer. It didn't matter what that dumb bitch tried to do. Summer would never be able to escape from her grasp!

Halfway through the birthday party, the cake was cut, and it was time to play a video collage of Summer's growth throughout the years.

In her previous lifetime, this was when the doctored photos of her had been released.

Summer, who was standing beside Henry, looked over at Rose. She would never be able to forget what happened that night—the shock on the guests' faces and the expressions on Henry's and Kristen's. The moment seemed to mark her descent into hell. It would haunt her forever.

Rose was staring fixedly at the screen in excitement. Her nastiness shone through. However, the moment the video started playing, her expression stiffened.

The audio system had been well set up. As soon as the video started playing, the chaotic background noise rang so loudly that everyone felt as if they were part of the scene being depicted as well. Meanwhile, a record of the alarming and unspeakable acts played on the screen.

The excitement and anticipation on Rose's face were immediately replaced by shock and horror.

"Oh, my goodness! What is that?"

"Has there been some kind of mistake? This is far too indecent!"

"I'm repulsed!"

"Hang on. That woman…"

The woman in the video had her face toward the camera. Her features were unmistakable.

"Isn't that Rose?"

"You're right! It's Rose! It's her!"

Stupefied, the guests started eyeing the shellshocked Rose with looks of scorn and disdain.

"You've always seemed so innocent and demure, Rose. Who would've thought you had such a wild side to you?" one of the socialites standing beside Rose remarked with a look of disgust.

"Turn it off! Turn it off at once!"

Snapping back to her senses, Rose immediately had a meltdown. She couldn't be bothered to maintain her usual weak, pitiful facade. Instead, she started screaming like a madwoman.

Henry swiftly instructed the staff to cut the recording. Alas, due to how unexpected the situation was, by the time the video stopped, it had already played for a full 30 seconds. All of the guests had already seen more than enough.

An awkward silence ensued.

Rose looked around her in dread and frantically shook her head, loudly exclaiming, "That wasn't me! Someone must've used AI to create a deepfake of me! Someone's trying to ruin my reputation!"

As Summer stared at Rose, she recalled the way she had made similar claims that night. She had tearfully explained that she hadn't been assaulted, but everyone had sported the same expressions they were sporting now.

No one believed her. Everyone simply exchanged mocking glances with each other.

That night, for the first time ever, Summer experienced what it felt like to drown in despair. This time, it was Rose's turn.

"Why are you all looking at me like that? They're all fakes! I already said they're all fakes!" Rose screamed her head off.

Seeing this, Henry quickly got the staff to take Rose away. Thanks to the video, the party came to a hasty end.

Summer and Henry saw the guests off while Kristen and Luke hung back to accompany the anguished Rose.

In the world of the rich, friendship was a finicky thing—nothing was forever. Many of the guests who seemed kind now had immediately revealed their ruthless side the moment Summer's parents died. They resorted to all kinds of underhanded tricks to seize a portion of Hartford Group for themselves.

It was thanks to Henry's wit and shrewdness that the company survived such attacks.

Summer looked at the stern-faced Henry and thought of what happened in the previous life. When she remembered the way he lay on the hospital bed, gaunt and filled with despair, her heart clenched in pain.

Henry could even handle the sly and cunning businessmen with ease. If not for her, Rose and Anthony would never have been able to torment him.

Thankfully, everything had returned to square one. She would never allow herself to be used as a means to harm Henry anymore. From this moment onward, she was going to be his strongest defender. No one would be able to hurt him!