Today, all the relatives and friends of the Blair family came to mourn Theodore's passing.
But at this moment, crystal chandeliers dripped light onto guests in somber black, their hushed conversations a buzzing sound, all waiting for a good show to happen.
"It seems the rumors are true, Chloe is not a member of the Blair family." The guests watching the show didn't mind making a scene, discussing one after another, "If so, then she should get out of the Blair estate right now!"
Beatrice, her adoptive mother, in bespoke black silk, beneath her crying expression, her eyes were full of ruthlessness.
"The old man loved you so much when he was alive, but where were you during the funeral?"
"Not only do you disrespect us, how dare you disrespect the old man!"
"From today, you are no longer a member of the Blair family, you are no longer welcome here."
If you want to condemn someone, you can always find an excuse.
Beatrice glared viciously at Chloe, allowing her no room for rebuttal.
She thought she had sufficient reasons to kick this adopted daughter out this time, allowing her biological daughter to fully inherit the family's assets.
A gasp rippled through the crowd.
"Mom, don't be like this, sister is..." Elara Blair, Chloe's stepsister and the family's true heiress, rushed to Beatrice's side.
She clutched her mother's arm, her sky-blue eyes welling with fake tears, she wore an innocent white dress, looking like a heartbroken angel.
Arthur Blair, Chloe's adoptive father, shifted uncomfortably near the bar. He met Chloe's gaze for less than a second before looking away, in the face of interests, he appeared cowardly and greedy.
Eventually, Arthur helplessly came up with an excuse: "We hate to see you go too, but only after you leave us can you truly learn to be independent, right?"
Seeing that no one spoke up for Chloe, Beatrice felt even more smug.
He looked down contemptuously at Chloe, his face full of disdain. "We've raised you for all these years. We've been more than generous. Now, please leave."
Finally, Chloe moved.
She turned her head slowly, without pleading, only incomparably calm.
She placed her glass on a nearby table.
"Okay." Just one word. Clear and cold.
The reaction was immediate. Beatrice and Elara froze, their prepared speeches for a hysterical outburst dying on their tongues.
They had expected a scene, tears, begging. They got a single, devastatingly calm word.
Chloe's gaze swept over Beatrice, then landed on the delicate Van Cleef & Arpels necklace around Elara's throat, smiling disdainfully.
Without another look, she turned and walked toward the grand oak doors, leaving calmly.
The crowd of guests parted for her, their whispers now filled with confusion.
As she passed, Elara leaned in with a polite smile on her face, but whispered only for Chloe to hear.
"Without the Blair family, you are nothing, Chloe. You'll end up living like a dog in some slum."
Chloe shot her a sideways glance, "The way you are whining and barking right now, you really do look like a dog!"
Elara turned red with anger and pointed her finger at her: "Don't be too smug, sooner or later there will be a day you beg me!"
Elara had hated Chloe since they were children because she was too outstanding. The boys Elara liked would all admire Chloe. Plus, Chloe was bright and clever, doing everything better than her, making her feel suffocated under Chloe's pressure,
but for the sake of their grandfather's dignity, she had to pretend to have a deep sisterly bond with her. Now, she finally stepped back on her to her face.
"It's hard to say who will be begging who!"
After saying that, Chloe inserted her hands into the pockets of her simple black dress and turned away, not looking back.