Chapter 442

The whispers around her drilled into Irene's ears.

Her expression stiffened.

A vein throbbed at her temple.

How could this be…

Did the old man and the old lady know everything?

Impossible…

Absolutely impossible…

But the stares felt like knives slicing into her.

Bare.

Undisguised.

She had married into the Evans family over twenty years ago.

She had always been the pampered Mrs. Evans.

Her husband was outstanding.

Her son was exceptional.

Wherever she went, she was the center of attention.

When had she ever been subjected to such pointed fingers?

Irene took a deep breath.

She forced a smile.

She moved to meet Isaac Atlante as he descended from the stage.

"Happy birthday, Father! Your eightieth birthday, and my sister has returned. A double celebration!"

Isaac lifted his eyelids.

He gave her a cold glance.

He avoided her outstretched hand.

"Was what I said not clear enough?"

Irene's face paled.

Isaac was merciless.

"Let me say it again. The Atlante family only has one daughter: Emilia. Don't call me Father."

"You… please don't be angry… If I've done something wrong, I will change…"

She tried to frame the disowning as a mere father-daughter quarrel.

Even now.

She still wanted to paper over the cracks.

Sure enough—

The guests heard this.

So it was just a family spat.

Could they really cut ties?

It must be angry words.

They would make up soon.

"I thought there was some big gossip…"

"Turns out it's just family drama."

"Nothing to see here."

The crowd began to disperse.

Suddenly, Florence Atlante let out a cold laugh.

"I've seen thick-skinned people, but never one as thick as you."

"We weren't spelling it out to save Sebastian some face. If you had quietly accepted it, we could have maintained appearances. But you were never satisfied. You always wanted to flaunt the Atlante name. Then don't blame me for being blunt."

"Mother? You—"

Irene tried to stop her.

But Florence spoke in a rapid torrent.

Years of pent-up resentment came pouring out.

"You think we don't know what you did to Emilia all those years ago? How dare you say these things? Playing dumb and trying to muddle through?"

"We were negligent back then. We let you harm Emilia once. We will never let you harm her a second time!"

Florence's voice was sharp and clear.

The venue fell dead silent.

The guests pricked up their ears.

Afraid to miss a single word.

Irene trembled all over.

Her teeth chattered.

It's over…

It's all over…

The last fig leaf had been torn away.

All the ugliness was laid bare under the sun.

For everyone to see.

Her face.

Her reputation.

Her dignity.

Her status…

Shattered into pieces.

Irene's eyes reddened.

She couldn't accept this!

Why did Emilia, missing for over twenty years, get to return as the Atlante heiress?

Then what did all her past efforts count for?

A wasted effort?

Futile labor?

"You forced me into this! I—"

"Mother!" Sebastian Evans suddenly raised his voice to interrupt.

He stepped forward and took her arm.

He looked down and spoke softly.

"You're tired. Let me take you to rest."

"Sebastian, let go. Today, I must—"

"Mother!" he warned in a low voice.

"The situation is bad enough. Do you want to make it worse?"

Irene choked.

Finally, she was half-supported, half-dragged upstairs by Sebastian.

After she left.

Isaac smiled at the crowd.

"Sorry for the spectacle. Please, take your seats. Enjoy the food and drinks."

"Don't mention it, don't mention it…"

After hearing such juicy gossip.

They really weren't being treated as outsiders.

The farce was over.

The guests happily took their seats.

Only Sylvia Laurent remained standing.

She looked dazed.

Irene had been standing right beside her.

She had seen clearly the shock, panic, fear, and resentment on the other woman's face…

Too many emotions that shouldn't have been there.

Did Irene really…?

But in her memory, Irene was always graceful, virtuous, and kind!

For the first time, Sylvia doubted her own judgment.

"Mrs. Laurent? Why are you standing? Please, take a seat."

"…Alright, coming!"

Also stunned were Victoria Roscente and her daughter, Amelia.

Amelia had hidden away the entire Spring Festival.

After the Lantern Festival.

She locked herself in her room all day.

Meals were brought in by the maid.

She was like a useless person.

Victoria had finally coaxed her out.

To attend old Mr. Atlante's birthday banquet for a change of scenery.

But they hadn't expected…

To be met with a brutal blow.

"Mom…" Amelia clutched Victoria's arm helplessly.

"Tell me this is a dream… It's all fake…"

Victoria was dumbfounded.

Even though the stage was now empty.

She still stared blankly in that direction.

As if needing to confirm something again and again.

"Yes… it must be a dream…" she murmured in agreement.

How could Sophia Sullivan be from the Atlante family?

The old-money, prestigious Atlante family!

Wealth rarely lasts three generations.

But the Atlante ancestors were high officials and nobles.

In modern times, they promoted industry to save the nation.

They weren't just wealthy.

They were also well-connected and respected.

They had kept a low profile for the last twenty to thirty years.

Rarely appearing in public.

Such a family.

Such background and influence.

So many people tried to climb this social ladder but couldn't.

Yet Sophia Sullivan was cherished by the head of the family.

Victoria remembered one Lantern Festival.

Sophia had brought gifts to visit.

But she hadn't even let her through the door.

"Paying a New Year's visit? Look at yourself. Are you worthy? Only Ethan is easily fooled, treating you like a treasure. Not everyone is that stupid!"

"Want to marry into the Roscente family? Which prominent family are you from? Or are you from some political or business dynasty? Since you're neither, be sensible. Don't covet things that don't belong to you. You'll bring harm to others and yourself, and come to a bad end!"

Sophia had looked at her calmly.

Let her finish all the harsh words.

Then replied calmly—

"Is the standard of worthiness only based on family background? My family is ordinary, but I don't think I'm inferior to any socialite. Just like you, with your title of Mrs. Roscente, a wealthy socialite. But in my eyes, you are just Ethan's mother."

"Even if one day you were destitute, begging on the streets or scavenging, your identity in my heart wouldn't change. You would still be Ethan's mother."

Only Ethan's mother.

Nothing more.

"Precisely because of that, I was willing to bring gifts to your door and speak to you politely."

Back then, Victoria only heard the part: "you were destitute, begging on the streets or scavenging…"

In a fit of anger.

She had directly thrown Sophia out.

Ethan had wanted to chase after her.

But she forbade it.

Issuing a harsh ultimatum—

"If you chase after her today, I will disown you as my son!"

Ethan had stopped.

He called out helplessly, "Mom…"

But he didn't chase after her.

Victoria thought she had won.

But now.

She realized how terribly wrong she had been.

How completely she had lost.