Every single one of them was determined to ensure Serena stunned the world in her absolute best form.
They refused to let anyone look down on their precious girl.
Watching them revolve their entire universe around Serena, Isabella seethed with venomous jealousy.
Still, she didn't have the guts to step into the camera's view and face her parents.
She wasn't entirely sure.
If Uncle Silas had forwarded the security footage to her parents yet.
If he had...
And her parents demanded an explanation.
She would have absolutely no way to explain herself.
She would let Serena bask in her little moment of glory for now!
-
Later that afternoon.
Several of her socialite friends from the elite circles of the United Realmon States found excuses to drop by the Vinton estate.
In reality, they were all dying to catch a glimpse of this mysterious new heiress who commanded so much of the Vinton family's attention.
They wanted to find a way to network with her.
Since these women came from highly influential families themselves, they were genuinely close to Isabella.
With the debutante gala fast approaching, it was crucial to avoid any nasty rumors about Serena.
The Vinton family naturally couldn't stop these socialites from visiting Isabella.
Thus, the group gathered for an elegant afternoon tea with Isabella in the estate's sprawling gardens.
Naturally, the conversation revolved entirely around fishing for information about the new heiress.
Isabella offered polite, perfectly practiced smiles, exclusively singing Serena's praises.
They heavily emphasized that Serena was nothing more than a classless country bumpkin who had never seen the world and didn't belong in high society.
They brought up her high school expulsion and other scandalous rumors.
They even spun wild tales about her aggressively chasing after a C-list playboy back in Elyndor just to climb the social ladder.
As they kept talking, the rumors escalated into malicious, graphic slander.
They suggested Serena had slept her way into high society and manipulated her way into the Vinton family's good graces, heavily relying on men to get where she was.
The socialites turned pale, scandalized by the juicy gossip.
Right on cue, Isabella slapped on her protective mask and sharply reprimanded the maids, ordering them to stop their nonsense and get out of the garden.
Then, grabbing her friends' hands in a frantic show of sisterly defense, she hurriedly explained, "The staff just loves to gossip. Serena... yes, she grew up in the countryside, and it's true she didn't finish high school, but she is incredibly brilliant! My grandparents and uncles wouldn't adore her so much if she wasn't!"
Unsurprisingly, the socialites completely saw through her words and didn't believe a single defense.
Seeing this, Isabella smoothly pivoted the conversation. "Have you all picked out your gowns for Serena's gala? I managed to secure a piece from YB Atelier this time. What about you guys?"

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