Ariana Stevens turned to look at her, her expression indifferent. "What did you say?"
"I said, as long as you go to the party, everyone will see the scar on your face. Forget the party; don't you get laughed at every time you step outside? You should be used to it by now!" Michelle Stevens's eyes sparkled with sharp mockery.
Michelle had a seemingly harmless, pretty face, but the sarcasm in her gaze was as venomous as a snake's bite.
She couldn't stand it. Today, Ariana was acting so arrogantly, while in the Stevens family, she should be submissive and obedient, always at the mercy of others!
But Ariana raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face, her voice icy. "Say that again?"
"Ah!" Michelle screamed, shocked by the sudden blow.
"Ariana! How could you hit Michelle?" Cassie Ashford immediately shrieked. "Your dad loves Michelle the most! Aren't you afraid he'll be angry with you for this?"
Just then, Frederick Stevens walked in at the perfect moment and asked, "What's going on here?"
Michelle Stevens immediately burst into tears and threw herself into Frederick Stevens' arms. "Dad..."
Cassie Ashford sighed in frustration, saying, "Honey, I just can't manage the kids. It's my fault..."
"I hit her," Ariana bluntly admitted.
"Ariana Stevens! You!"
"She mocked the scar on my face, so I hit her. Do you think I went too far, Dad?" Ariana looked her father in the eye, a rare moment of confrontation. "You don't think my face has always looked like this, do you? Do you remember what I looked like when I was little?"
Frederick Stevens was taken aback. Of course, he remembered. Ariana had been a sweet, innocent child, a classic beauty in the making. If it weren't for protecting Cisco Gustin, her face wouldn't have been marred.
Frustrated with his own work troubles, Frederick snapped, "Enough! You can't even choose a dress without causing a scene! Is there ever a peaceful day in this house?" With that, he stormed upstairs.
Michelle stomped her foot in protest. "Dad!"
Ariana picked up the blue dress and said, "This one will do. I've made my choice." She carried the dress and followed behind Frederick back to her room.
Michelle Stevens felt a bit anxious. Ariana Stevens had always been submissive, but today she had the audacity to hit her, and with just a few words, she managed to convince Frederick Stevens to drop the matter! Now Ariana was still engaged to Cisco Gustin, and she must be eager to marry him as soon as possible!
No way! Michelle couldn't let Ariana steal the spotlight; otherwise, the man she had worked so hard to win over, Cisco Gustin, would slip right through her fingers. Michelle began plotting in her mind.
During lunch, Ariana finally faced the entire family. The old man sat at the head of the table, exuding authority without raising his voice. Frederick Stevens was seated next to him, with Cassie Ashford and Michelle Stevens beside him. Ariana sat alone on the opposite side, quietly sipping her soup.
The old man spoke up, "Tonight's banquet will have guests from the Hart Family as well. Make sure to treat them well and don't let anything go wrong."
"Don't worry, Dad. The banquet has been prepared perfectly," Cassie replied with a warm smile.
Michelle quickly chimed in, "Grandpa, you don't need to worry. Yesterday, when I was having dinner with Cisco, he mentioned that the Gustin Family has business dealings with the Hart Family. He'll definitely help with the hosting tonight. Ariana knows too, right? Cisco is discussing a project with the Hart Family!"
Ariana raised an eyebrow. How could she possibly know? Would Cisco Gustin really share such things with her? Michelle Stevens was clearly trying to assert her dominance.
At this point, Michelle quickly covered her mouth in panic and awkwardly said, "Sister, you didn't know? I spoke out of turn."
Ariana let out a cold smile. "If you know you've spoken out of turn, then keep your mouth shut. If you don't say anything, no one will think you're mute!"
"Ariana! How can you talk to your sister like that?" Frederick Stevens interjected, questioning her tone.
Ariana smiled lightly, put down her chopsticks, and turned to Michelle. "Michelle, let me remind you as your older sister: know your place. Given your awkward position, it's better to keep your distance from Cisco Gustin."
Michelle immediately put on a wronged expression and looked at Ariana. "Sister, how am I being shameless?"
Cassie Ashford quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter's shoulders and spoke softly to Ariana, "Ariana, Michelle is still your sister. How can you say such things?"
Ariana raised an eyebrow at her and asked, "Since you don't know, let me remind you: what position do you think you're in to be having dinner with Cisco Gustin? Don't you know he's my fiancé?"
"But... but you're all about to call off the engagement..." Michelle Stevens quietly assessed her grandfather's expression.
The engagement cancellation was something Frederick Stevens had tacitly accepted. He had high hopes for the Gustin family and supported Michelle's relationship with Cisco Gustin, but the old man's stance remained unclear.
Ariana Stevens let out a cold laugh. "No matter whether we decide to break off the engagement or how we feel about it, we still have an engagement for now. He is still your future brother-in-law. Shouldn't you keep your distance?"
"What would people think if they found out you were entangled with your own brother-in-law?"
"I..."
"Alright, I'm done eating. You two carry on," Ariana said as she stood up, giving a slight nod to her grandfather before turning and leaving the dining room.
The old man was momentarily taken aback; the commanding presence she had just displayed didn't seem like Ariana at all!
Michelle Stevens looked at her father with a sense of injustice. "Dad, my sister—"
Before she could finish her sentence, the old man cleared his throat and said, "Alright, Ariana is right. Since the engagement hasn't been called off yet, it's only proper to maintain some distance."
Michelle's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe her grandfather was siding with Ariana! It seemed she had seriously underestimated Ariana, allowing that brat to climb over her and act all high and mighty!
Before the banquet, Ariana Stevens quickly changed into her gown. Habitually, she tugged at the hem and adjusted the belt. In her past life as an assassin, she often concealed knives and guns in her dresses, so checking for hidden weapons had become second nature.
But to her surprise, as she pulled on the dress, the strapless gown slipped right off her body!
Ariana hurriedly picked it up, relieved that she was in her room. If this had happened at the banquet, it would have been a huge embarrassment!
She carefully examined the dress and noticed that the waistline had clearly been tampered with. It looked normal, but with just a little tug, it would come apart.
There was no doubt about it—this was the handiwork of Michelle Stevens.
Ariana asked a servant for a sewing kit and meticulously stitched the dress back together. Afterward, she replaced the belt with a matching one to ensure it wouldn't fall again before feeling satisfied.
Once she had neatly stored her gown, she decided to pay Michelle back. With a vengeful mindset, she quietly slipped into Michelle's room and replicated the flaw in her own dress on Michelle's gown, carefully pulling a few stitches before sneaking out.
When the banquet began, Ariana put on a light makeup and headed downstairs. She watched as Michelle flitted over to Cisco Gustin like a butterfly, pulling him into a corner room, the door closing tightly behind them.
Outside, a sleek black Bentley pulled up, drawing gasps from the guests.
"Is that a car from the Hart Family?"
"Stevens Family must have some serious connections to get the Hart Family here!"
"The richest family in Swasea City! If you can get in with the Hart Family, you'll never have to worry again!"
Michael Stone stepped out to open the door for Jasper Hart. "Sir, we've arrived."
Jasper Hart glanced at his watch, and Ray Dunlop nudged him, saying, "I've heard the third daughter of the Stevens Family is supposed to be one of the most beautiful women in Swansea City. Should we go in and take a look?"
Jasper Hart stepped out of the car, his voice indifferent. "Not interested."''