Chapter 4

On Saturday evening, as darkness fell, the neon lights of City A began to shine, highlighting the city’s prosperity and allure. A black Mercedes slowly came to a stop in front of the Rhodes family’s villa. Maddix Rhodes got out of the car first, dressed in a black evening gown, looking elegant and sophisticated.

Following closely behind were Serena Thorp and Adrian Thorp. Serena Thorp was dressed in a simple white dress, with no makeup on her face. Her delicate features appeared especially gentle under the light. However, she seemed a little uncomfortable—the atmosphere wasn’t really suited for her at all.

Adrian Thorpe, on the other hand, had put a lot of effort into her appearance. She wore a red plunge dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Her face was beautifully made up, and her corn-blond wavy hair fell over her shoulders. She wore a light fragrance, and her eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation as she looked around at the magnificent villa before her.

The Rhodes family’s villa is a three-story European-style mansion, surrounded by vast lawns. The courtyard features Chinese-style rockeries and fountains. The scenery is delightful, and every detail reflects the grandeur of a wealthy family.

Selena Thorne looked at everything around her, feeling even more uneasy. She tugged at Maddix Rhodes’s sleeve and whispered, “Sis Qi, please take Adrian in. I’ll wait for you here. I’m not really suited for this kind of occasion.”

“Don’t even think about it.” Maddix Rhodes refused without hesitation. He grabbed her hand. “You’re someone I’ve brought here. How can you wait here? Besides, if you don’t go in and help your sister make a decision, do you really want her to make a random choice on her own?”

Selena Thorne had no choice but to follow Maddix Rhodes into the villa. The villa was brightly lit, filled with the scent of fine clothes and fragrant hair. Soft music filled the air. Many men and women in gorgeous dresses gathered in small groups, talking, drinking, and dancing. The atmosphere was lively and festive.

As Madix Rhodes entered, she was immediately surrounded by many people. While greeting them, she didn’t forget to pull Selina Thorpe and Adrian Thorpe along, introducing them to the wealthy young men who met her criteria.

“This is Selena Thorp, my trusted subordinate. And this is her sister, Adrian Thorp,” introduced Maddix Rhodes with a smile. “Adrian is a lovely girl, and she doesn’t have a boyfriend yet. If you’re interested, you’d better take your chance.”

Selena Thorpe wisely stood aside, occasionally joining in the conversation with Adrian Thorpe, thereby drawing the attention of those wealthy young men toward him. Adrian Thorpe, in turn, was very generous, smiling and greeting them, his gaze filled with subtle hints.

Time passed slowly. As twelve o’clock neared, Adrian Thorpe had talked with several wealthy young men. He even danced with a few of them, his face beaming with joy. Meanwhile, Selina Thorpe found a quiet corner, sat on the sofa, and took out her phone. She played with it silently, hoping that this uncomfortable party would end soon.

Not far away, on the sofa, Eloise Rhodes was sitting with a few friends. She held a glass of red wine in her hand, casually listening to their conversations about the beautiful people in the entertainment world. Yet, her gaze kept drifting toward the figure sitting in the corner.

“Xuan, what are you looking at? You seem so absorbed.” His friend Ye Da followed his gaze and saw Selina Thorpe, who was sitting in the corner playing with her phone. He smiled and said, “Look at her. Aunt Qi introduced her to me today. She seems pretty innocent. Just a bit too quiet, I think.”

“I was also introduced to her by Aunt Qi,” Li Daqi added with a smile, his eyes hinting at something more. “She’s pretty okay-looking, but too ordinary. She’s not my type.”

Three pairs of eyes turned toward Eloise Rhodes at the same time, with a teasing tone in their voices. “Xuan, Aunt Qi must have introduced her to you as well, right? What’s with that look in your eyes? Are you interested in her?”

“No.” Eloise Rhodes spat out the two words coldly, her eyes filled with disdain. “A woman who’s only interested in marrying a rich man like her? How could she possibly interest me?”

Although he said those words, his gaze never left Selina Thorpe. For some reason, watching her sit there quietly, unassuming and out of place amidst the hustle and bustle around her, he felt a strange sensation in his heart—a feeling he had never experienced with any other woman.

Just then, Selena Thorp suddenly shivered and rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. She changed positions and continued playing with her phone. She had the feeling that someone was staring at her, which made her feel uncomfortable.

Seeing her like this, Eloise Rhodes couldn’t help but smile mischievously. So, this seemingly cold woman also had such a cute side to her.

“Xuan Shao, would you like to dance with me?” Chen Jialing, sitting next to Eloti Rhodes, suddenly put her arm around his and said in a coquettish tone. She was wearing a sheer dress, her perfect figure barely visible in the light. The scent of her perfume was strong and pungent. Her eyes were filled with charm and scheming.

She’s a very popular model these days. She’s here at the party today with the goal of getting close to Eloise Rhodes. She knows all too well that, as someone who relies on her youth to succeed, the only way to ensure a comfortable life is by marrying into a wealthy family. And Eloise Rhodes is her perfect target.

Eloise Rhodes frowned, calmly pushing her hand away. Her tone was cold: “No, I don’t want to dance today.”

Chen Jialing was stunned. She hadn’t expected Eloise Rhodes to reject her. In the past, no man could resist her when she acted a little coquettishly. Not giving up, she took Eloise Rhodes’s arm again, her voice even more cajoling: “Young Master Xuan, just dance one dance with me, please?”

Eloise Rhodes ignored her, her gaze still fixed on Selina Thorpe nearby. At that moment, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and looking quite refined approached Selina Thorpe. He extended his hand, wearing a gentle smile on his face. “Miss, may I ask you for a dance?”

Selena Thorp paused for a moment, then shook her head. Her tone was polite yet firm: “I’m sorry, I can’t dance.”

“It’s okay, I can teach you.” The man continued to smile gently, showing no signs of giving up.

“I’m very sorry, but I really don’t like dancing at all. Please find someone else to dance with.” Selena Thorp refused again, her tone carrying a hint of indifference.

The man smiled knowingly and turned to leave. Selina Thorpe sighed in relief, tapping her fingers idly on the phone screen, her face showing signs of exhaustion.

“Another one,” Eloise Rhodes murmured, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. He himself didn’t know why seeing another man approaching Selina Thorpe made him so angry.

“What, another one?” Chen Jialing asked in confusion. Following his gaze, she saw Selina Thorpe. A flicker of jealousy passed through her eyes. She couldn’t understand why a woman who seemed so ordinary could capture Eloise Rhodes’s attention so much.

Eloise Rhodes’ friends also noticed his unusual behavior and gave him suggestive looks. “Xuan, something’s not right with you. Are you really interested in that woman?” Li Daqi asked with a smile.

Eloise Rhodes came back to her senses, suppressing the strange feelings in her heart. With a cold smile, she recounted word for word the conversation she had overheard in the hospital between Selina Thorpe and Maddix Rhodes.

“I really couldn’t tell,” Ye Da shook his head. His gaze toward Selina Thorpe was filled with disdain. “I thought she was some innocent, naive girl. Turns out, she’s just another woman who’s desperate to climb the social ladder by attaching herself to the rich and powerful.”

“That’s right,” Li Daqi agreed, patting Eloise Rhodes on the shoulder. “Xuan, women like her need to be taught a lesson. They need to understand that not every woman is meant to marry a rich man.”

Eloise Rhodes wore a cold smile on her lips, her eyes filled with mockery. Teach her a lesson? Of course he would. He wanted to see whether this woman, who was so desperate to marry into wealth, could still maintain her icy demeanor after being teased by him.

He picked up the red wine on the table, took a small sip, then turned his gaze back to Selina Thorpe. He already had a plan in mind.

At this moment, Selena Thorne had no idea that Eloise Rhodes had already made her the target of her pranks. Watching Adrian Thorne chatting and laughing with other men in the dance hall, she prayed silently that her sister would find a reliable person and stop chasing those unrealistic dreams.

She had no idea that this seemingly ordinary banquet would not only lead Adrian Thorpe into a scam, but also drag her own life, along with that cynical wealthy young man, into a complex web of love and hatred. A carefully orchestrated prank was about to begin. And Eloise Rhodes never imagined that her impulsive prank would ultimately result in her falling completely under the control of this seemingly ordinary woman.