Chapter 110

The moment Hannah spoke, every eye in the banquet hall swung her way.

A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd-those who recognized her wasted no time.

"Isn't that the woman Mr. Jones kept around for years?"someone muttered, peering over a champagne glass. "What's she even doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? She came to cause a scene. She must've found out that Mr. Jones is announcing his engagement to Miss Gilbert today and couldn't handle it."

Brinley's lips curled with self-satisfied delight as she absorbed guests' contemptuous remarks against Hannah.

Danica pushed through the guests, scanning the room with a mounting sense of panic. When she failed to spot Vincent, she snatched Hannah's wrist in a tight grip. "What are you doing here? You've been missing all day, and now you show up just to stir up trouble?"

Hannah steadily met her gaze. "Why am I here? Didn't you know?" she retorted, her voice ringing clear and steady. "I came to take back what's rightfully mine."

Danica's hand faltered, her grip falling away.

Hannah squared her shoulders and strode straight toward Brinley, fixing her with a level stare. "Miss Gilbert, there's something I can't quite figure out. Maybe you can help me understand."A flicker of unease passed over Brinley's face. The memory of the "Victoria" incident lingered like a shadow, making her instantly wary. She forced a brittle smile, deflecting with practiced ease. "Ms. Scott, if you're here to celebrate Sharon's birthday, you're more than welcome. But if you're just looking for a fight over Vincent, I'll have to call security and have you shown out."

Danica fell in line beside Brinley, her voice sharp. "That's right.Hannah, stop hanging on to Vincent. Let it go already."

The crowd swelled with low, judgmental whispers-accusing Hannah of scheming for money, calling her desperate and shameless.

Hannah answered their scorn with a cool, cutting laugh. Her gaze locked on Brinley, lips curling into a slight smirk. "Why so flustered, Miss Gilbert? All I wanted was to ask-since the SKY Philharmonic has been performing in Azravia all week, how did you manage to have dinner with their agent?"

Brinley stiffened, but the sight of a room full of guests on her side helped her regain composure. A chilly confidence slipped into her smile. "Of course, I flew to Azravia to meet him. ls there an issue with that?"

Hannah's lips curled into a sly, pointed smile. "None at all-unless you count the fact that SKY Philharmonic spent last week performing in Bellmoor, not Azravia. So who exactly did you have dinner with?"

A ripple of murmurs swept through the crowd. One of the guests pulled out their phone. "She's right! The SKY Philharmonic's schedule shows they were in Bellmoor last week."

"Wait, are you saying Miss Gilbert lied?"

"Come on, Miss Gilbert is Mr. Jones's fiancée. Would she really need to lie about something like this?" For a heartbeat, panic flickered in Brinley's eyes-Hannah had blindsided her again. But she recovered with a quick,breezy laugh. "I've barely slept all week pulling this banquet together.I must have mixed up the details."

Danica chimed in, "Brinley's barely slept these past few days.Anyone would forget details with that kind of pressure."

Hannah's tone turned mocking, as if she'd stumbled onto the punchline of a private joke. "Busy with banquet plans, huh?"She gave Brinley a slow, icy smile. "You really pulled out all the stops this time, Mss Gilbert."

With a glint of mischief, Hannah locked her gaze firmly on Brinley. "Since you've been so involved, I'm sure you know every detail of tonight's music program. Why don't you tell us -which piece did the SKY Philharmonic choose to headline?"

Brinley's composure slipped for an instant. "I... I don't remember."

Hannah arched a brow, her voice sharpened with disdain. "You don't remember, or you just don't know? You didn't plan any of this banquet, and that's why you can't answer a single question."

Her accusation sent a ripple through the crowd. Murmurs broke out at once.

"Wait-Miss Gilbert didn't even remember 'Midnight Bloom?'That's the featured piece tonight!" someone blurted out.

"And what's even stranger-Miss Scott seems to know everything about this event," another guest remarked, their curiosity piqued.