Chapter 396
Chapter 396:
“Is it about your sister?” Janice asked.
“Yes.” Sierra nodded, her face shadowed with sorrow. “Nellie hasn’t been herself lately. She locks herself in her room all day and refuses to eat or drink. I managed to coax her into eating a little. I thought things were improving. But yesterday, she wouldn’t eat anything. I called her over and over, but she didn’t respond. I panicked and had someone break down the door. I found her…”
Sierra’s sobs grew heavier, her shoulders trembling. “She tried to end her life. If I hadn’t gotten to her in time…”
Janice’s expression darkened, her jaw tightening. She struggled to reconcile the image of strong, resilient Nellie with someone in such a fragile, broken state.
Bart’s cruelty hadn’t just hurt Nellie physically; it had left deep psychological scars that seemed impossible to heal.
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t lose my sister,” Sierra cried, her voice barely audible.
Janice placed a steady hand on Sierra’s shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ll go see her tomorrow.”
“Really?” Nina looked at Janice with concern. She knew the tension between Janice and Nellie, and she wasn’t sure what would happen when they saw each other again.
“Nina, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Besides, Nellie and I aren’t at each other’s throats.”
“All right, if you’re sure. That does ease my mind.”
Janice turned to Sierra, offering her a reassuring smile. “Come pick me up tomorrow, and we’ll go see your sister together.”
“Okay!” The weight on Sierra’s shoulders seemed lighter now. For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she felt certain that Janice might be the only one who could truly help Nellie.
“Ladies.” Wendy stepped forward, her posture poised and her smile confident. “I’ve arranged a little entertainment for today’s cocktail party. I thought it might liven things up.”
“Entertainment?”
“How thoughtful! What kind of entertainment are we talking about?”
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s﹒c𝗈m has it all
The interest of the women was instantly piqued. They turned their attention to Wendy, who basked in the spotlight, her smile widening with satisfaction.
Janice and Nina exchanged a glance.
Earlier, when the ladies had gathered to flatter Nina, Wendy had remained aloof, quietly sipping her drink.
Lesly, too, hadn’t joined the group, but for an entirely different reason—her hesitation stemmed from insecurity. Unlike Wendy, she lacked the confidence to engage in their social games.
Wendy, however, had been watching, scheming. From the very beginning, it was clear she was using this cocktail party as a stage to assert her influence and win over the elite circle.
A few sharp claps from Wendy silenced the room. All eyes turned toward her as a tall, striking man entered.
His features were refined, his bright eyes radiated charisma, and his tailored suit, embroidered with a pair of wings, somehow didn’t feel excessive. On him, it added an air of brilliance, as though he carried his spotlight.
“This is Stephen White. He recently won the Best Actor award.”
Wendy shot Stephen a look, prompting him to step forward and address the room.
“Ladies, it’s an honor to be invited by Mrs. Chadwick to perform for your enjoyment at this lovely cocktail party.”
The words were polite, but something in his tone felt off to Janice, a subtle undertone she couldn’t quite ignore.
Janice narrowed her eyes, studying Stephen intently. On the surface, he was a celebrated actor, but something about the situation didn’t sit right. He wasn’t just a guest; he was a performer brought here to entertain the whims of the elite.
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