Everyone gathered around Edith and Lin, marveling at how they had raised such an exceptional youngdy like Wendy.


    Tonight''s dinner was filled with elites from all walks of life-exactly the kind of crowd Edith had always dreamed of. She had always craved the spotlight, yearning to stand on the highest stage and bask in everyone''s admiration.


    For years, Edith had ced her hopes on Jessica and Trish. She had been living in a fantasy where Jessica married Stanley and Trish married Dr. Cen, hoping these two would elevate her to the top.


    But now, what Jessica and Trish couldn''t aplish, Wendy had easily achieved for her.


    Now, Edith truly was the center of envy.


    Oddly, this wasn''t the feeling she had expected.


    Edith forced a smile, one that barely concealed her difort


    Lilian, standing next to her, clenched her fists in frustration. She too wore a smile, but it was more painful than


    tears.


    At that moment, Wendy looked over at Edith and Lilian, her lips curling into a sly smile.


    "You don''t need to ask them for any advice anymore. I''ve cut ties with them," she said casually.


    What?


    The room fell silent, and a murmur of surprise spread through the crowd.


    "Why did you sever ties with the Crone family?"


    Wendy stood up, the bright lights above her casting a radiant glow on her. With deliberate grace, she walked toward Edith and Lilian, taking her time.


    "As you all may have heard, I grew up in the countryside. I wasn''t raised by the Crone family-I was raised in a small vige."


    The room buzzed with whispers. "Yes, I remember she grew up in the countryside. I heard it was her own mother who sent her away there when she was very young."


    "Why would she do that? Isn''t Ms. Wendy her daughter?"


    "Well, what else could it be? Mrs. Lilian remarried. She married herte husband''s brother and became Ms. Jessica''s stepmother."


    "No way! She did such a scandalous thing?"


    Lilian gritted her teeth, her face flushing with anger at the gossip swirling around her. She hated it when people talked about her past.


    Lilian the most.


    Wendy, of course, knew exactly what stung Lilian the most


    With a smile, she continued, "Everyone knows Mrs. Crone is my real mother, but she remarried my uncle. He brought along his daughter, Jessica, so there was no longer any ce for me in the Crone family.


    "Of course, I understand Mrs. Crone. Every woman has the night to pursue love. But it''s quite rare to find someone like Mrs. Crone, who was so blinded by love that she abandoned her own daughter to the countryside and doted on someone else''s daughter like she''s the apple of her eye."


    Halsey chuckled as he turned to look at Lin. "Mrs. Crone you''re in your forties now, huh? Who would''ve thought that simping knows no age? I guess it can happen to the best of us!"


    Halsey''s words wereced with mockery. The rest of the crowd soon joined in,ughing and pointing


    The looks they cast at Lilian turned to disdain. People whispered and snickered.


    "How could someone like her exist in this world? She abandoned her family for a guy! She''s a total simp!"


    "Mrs. Crone has truly opened our eyes tonight."


    "Now her own biological daughter has turned out to be the wonder doctor, Dr. Cen. She must be dying of regret!


    Lilian became the target of scorn. Her face had turned an ashen gray, her anger and humiliation barely contained.


    Jessica red at Wendy with burning resentment. Tonight, Wendy had unleashed all her fury-first humiliating Trish, and nowunching an attack on Edith and Lilian.


    Jessica couldn''t stay silent any longer.


    "Wendy, I know you''ve always resented Mom, but over the years, she''s sessful woman I am today!"


    in me a lot of resources to make me the


    As she spoke, Jessica proudly looped her arm through Stanley''s, showing off the man beside her.


    "Right, Stanley?"


    Everyone''s eyes turned not to Jessica, but to Stanley, the man standing next to her.