After her announcement, Nicolette placed Gwendolyn's present in her bag and stuck her tongue out at
Felicia.
Everyone at the table burst into laughter and started teasing Nicolette.
“Look at her. She's still acting like a kid!”
Nicolette had planned to sing karaoke after dinner, but Francine forbade her from doing so, citing
Michael's wrath.
Everyone walked out of the restaurant after dinner.
Nicolette hooked her arm through the crook of Gwendolyn's elbow. She was in a great mood as she
chatted to Gwendolyn.
Behind them, Felicia walked with her parents. She was satisfied with how things had turned out at
dinner, pleased that she was finally the star of the Ashton family after all this time.
Felicia was already playing the role of Mrs. Lowen. Everyone here has to worship me, or Patrick will
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtcrush them if I so much as cough in displeasure.
Candace, on the other side, asked Zachary pretentiously, “Darling, Gwen has appeared before the
Ashton family members. Why don't we welcome her home? I shudder to think what our relatives might
say if we don't.”
She was shrewd enough to maintain her kind stepmother act.
Zachary merely scoffed and spat, “She's not an Ashton anymore. What's the use of bringing her home?
She may not feel embarrassed, but I'm humiliated that she's bringing three illegitimate children home.”
Hearing that, Felicia smiled and mollified, “Don't be angry, Dad. You still have me. I'm seeing Patrick
now. After we're married, I'll convince him to help Ashton Corporation.”
Her words brought a smile to Zachary's face.
He replied, “Thank goodness we still have a sensible daughter!”
Everyone stopped at the restaurant door. Francine asked Gwendolyn, “Did you drive, Gwen? If not, I'll
ask our chauffeur to send you home. We can carpool with someone else.”
After all, Gwendolyn had kindly dropped by for her daughter's birthday, and Francine had heard from
Candace that her niece was having a hard time. Gwendolyn purportedly lived in a decrepit lane in the
Old District. The area reeked of garbage. It was dirty and full of stray dogs.
Francine recalled Gwendolyn's sheltered life, which was a far cry from her current predicament.
Though Gwendolyn had lost her mother at a young age, Michael loved her dearly and spoiled his future
heiress.
The patriarch had given Gwendolyn the best that money could buy, and he expected everyone else in
the family to indulge her every wish.
Look at her life now. It's a tragedy.
Tugging on Gwendolyn's hand, Nicolette urged, “Let our chauffeur send you home, Gwen.”
Gwendolyn checked her phone and said, “It's okay. I called an Uber. It'll be here soon.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
“It's so late. An Uber can't be safe at this time,” Felicia piped up. “I'll send you home!”
Just then, a Maybach Exelero cruised onto the restaurant grounds, pulling up beside Gwendolyn.
Gwendolyn knew the car belonged to Patrick. She frowned involuntarily, wondering why he picked such
an eye-catching car to fetch her.
The car was one of its kind, and it was worth eighty million.
Gwendolyn had some knowledge about cars, and she had searched the price online when she first saw
the vehicle.
She rubbed her temples in exasperation, cursing her decision to claim she had booked an Uber.
Hastily, Gwendolyn announced, “My Uber's here. Bye Nic! Bye, Aunt Francine!”
The surrounding people were staring at the vehicle in awe, and now Gwendolyn was calling it her Uber
ride.
Nicolette exclaimed, “Ah! I've never seen a Maybach Exelero in my life. It's so sleek!”
Zachary and his brothers' expressions had changed as well. The Exelero was the car of every man's
dreams.