Claire Wentworth had experienced Victoire Wentworth's shamelessness in her previous life. Yet, right in front of Leo, Victoire brazenly bypassed her, her elder sister, and declared her intention to see her brother - in - law. Didn't she feel the slightest bit of shame?
Victoire Wentworth, of course, felt no shame. She vividly remembered what Leo said when he saw her: "Come on. Coincidentally, the young master also wants to see you." The words "coincidentally" and "also wants" held great significance for her. It indicated that even if she wasn't Young Master Montfort's wife, she still had a place in his heart. Victoire couldn't help but laugh exultantly, as if she could already picture herself ascending to great heights with the aid of Young Master Montfort.
Claire Wentworth slowly descended the stairs, wearing a sarcastic expression. "What? Regret having me marry Young Master Montfort, this powerful backer, on your behalf?" she asked.
Victoire showed no sign of backing down. She haughtily raised her chin, her eyes brimming with pride. "Sister, what are you talking about? If you're doing well, I'll naturally be happy for you. However..." She leaned in close to Claire's ear, evading Leo's sight, and whispered, "Just like you couldn't hold onto Lucas Moreau, whether I marry him or not, the one Young Master Montfort truly cares about is me. And you? You're destined to remain the same as before, a pitiful being that no one loves or wants!"
Upon seeing Claire's pupils constrict instantaneously, Victoire laughed even more exuberantly. "Sister, Young Master Montfort is waiting to see me. We'll talk later."
Over ten minutes later, Victoire Wentworth came downstairs. Her entire demeanor was filled with joy. It was accomplished. She knew that as long as she intervened, Young Master Montfort definitely wouldn't turn a blind eye. Sure enough, not only did he promise to cease restricting the bank loan of the Wentworth family, but he also signed a contract worth tens of millions for her.
The only letdown was that she didn't get an opportunity to approach Young Master Montfort. She was stopped by him directly before she could reach his side. A flicker of embarrassment crossed Victoire's face, but she didn't attribute it to her lack of charm. Instead, she thought that Young Master Montfort perhaps didn't like the perfume she was wearing. It seemed she had to change her perfume for the next encounter.
When Antoine Wentworth learned that Victoire Wentworth had successfully resolved the bank loan issue and obtained a huge contract, he was almost overjoyed. "Great! Great! Great! Worthy of my daughter!!" he exclaimed.
Simone Lefort was equally elated and said, "Let's hold a celebration banquet for Victoire tonight. I'll go prepare right away."
At 8 p.m., in the hall of a high - end hotel, the relatives of the Wentworth family gathered. The place was bustling with activity, filled with a festive atmosphere.
"I originally thought that after the substitute - marriage incident, our Wentworth family was on the verge of decline. But unexpectedly, Victoire, as soon as you stepped in, all the problems were resolved," Benjamin Wentworth said, beaming with joy.
"Uncle, you're flattering me. In fact, this isn't all my doing. If sister hadn't married in first, our Wentworth family might have declined by the time I recovered and was discharged from the hospital," Victoire Wentworth said with a broad smile, deliberately bringing up Claire Wentworth.
As expected, Benjamin Wentworth then asked, "By the way, where's Claire? Why didn't she come back?"
Victoire Wentworth feigned hesitation and said, "Uncle, perhaps it's better not to. After all, sister has married into the Montfort family. It's not appropriate for her to keep coming back to her natal family."
"What do you mean it's not appropriate? What era is this? Don't say such things. Someone, call Claire Wentworth and tell her to come back immediately. This is a joyous occasion for our Wentworth family. She can't not attend just because she married into a wealthy family," Benjamin Wentworth instructed Amelia Wentworth, who was standing beside him.
A sinister smile curled Victoire Wentworth's lips. Claire Wentworth, come on. Let you witness that even though your substitute - marriage act displeased Young Master Montfort, in the end, the one he cares about is still me. The one who truly shines is still me!
At that moment, Lucas Moreau and his mother, Madame Moreau, appeared at the door. Victoire Wentworth immediately went up to them and said, "Aunt, Lucas brother, you've arrived."
Madame Moreau looked at Victoire with satisfaction, took the hand she extended towards her arm, and gently patted it. "Good girl. I heard from your mother that you not only solved the family's loan problem but also signed a large - scale deal?" she said.
Victoire Wentworth smiled faintly and replied modestly, "It's nothing. It's what I should do." Her modest and endearing demeanor made Madame Moreau even more pleased. "Not bad, not bad. Victoire is a capable girl," she remarked.
"Thank you, aunt, for your compliment."
Madame Moreau released her hand and turned to Lucas Moreau, saying, "Lucas, you chat with Victoire. I'll go say hello to Mrs. Wentworth."
Lucas Moreau immediately took Victoire Wentworth's hand and asked, "What's going on?"
"Actually, this contract was signed for me by Young Master Montfort," Victoire replied.
Lucas Moreau furrowed his brows and asked, "You went to see him?"
Victoire Wentworth wrapped her arm around his and playfully shook it. "Are you getting the wrong idea? Actually, there's something I've never told you," she said.
"What is it?"
"I saved Young Master Montfort two years ago. So, this contract is just a minor matter!"
"Victoire sister actually saved Young Master Montfort?" Victoire's cousin beside her exclaimed in surprise. "No wonder."
Instantly, several people in the hall turned their gazes towards them. Victoire Wentworth blushed and said coyly, "Oh, why are we talking about this? It seems like I got this contract solely through personal connections."
"Victoire, did you really save Young Master Montfort?" Benjamin Wentworth asked, astonished.
Victoire Wentworth nodded.
Everyone in the hall perked up. Victoire Wentworth had a life - saving bond with Young Master Montfort. This was far better than merely marrying Young Master Montfort. After all, marrying him might mean becoming a widow in the near future. But the contract was different. Once signed, it could continuously generate wealth. If the cooperation went smoothly, it might even bring more benefits. Everyone was envious for a moment. No wonder Antoine Wentworth favored Victoire Wentworth so much. She truly had something praiseworthy.
At the same time, Claire Wentworth received a call from her cousin Amelia Wentworth.
"Claire sister,Third Uncle is holding a celebration banquet for Victoire Wentworth. My dad insisted that I call you. Do you want to come?" Amelia Wentworth was Benjamin Wentworth's youngest daughter and the only one in the Wentworth family who was close to Claire Wentworth.
"Celebration banquet?"
"Yeah. It's said that Victoire Wentworth got a large order from Triumph Group, worth ten million."
Triumph Group was the group company of the Montfort family. So, Victoire Wentworth had come to conduct business today? And Alexandre Montfort had agreed? Claire Wentworth furrowed her brows.
"Claire sister, if you don't want to come, then don't. You don't need to worry about my dad. At worst, I'll let him scold me a few times," Amelia Wentworth said.
"I'll come."
Twenty minutes later, Claire Wentworth arrived at the banquet venue. As soon as she entered the door, she was stopped by Ethan Wentworth.
"Claire Wentworth, you're all dressed up today. But why don't you know how to groom your hair..." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, attempting to tug at Claire Wentworth's hair as he used to.
Claire Wentworth took a half - step back and evaded his hand. Ethan Wentworth immediately sneered, "Oh, you've got some nerve now? What, do you think that just because you married Young Master Montfort from Metropolis, your status has changed?"
Another distant relative of the Wentworth family joined in, saying, "Claire Wentworth, what are you showing off? You shamelessly clung to the young master of the Montfort family, but what happened? They didn't show you any respect and directly halted our loan. In the end, it was Victoire Wentworth who stepped in to retrieve the loan."
Someone added, "Our Goddess Victoire not only got the loan back but also obtained a big contract worth ten million!"
Claire Wentworth pursed her lips and looked at these followers of Victoire Wentworth in front of her. Apart from Ethan Wentworth, who could barely be regarded as a relative of the Wentworth family, the others seemed to have emerged from some obscure corners, parasites relying on Amanda Garment Group to scrape by.
"So, although we're all daughters of the Wentworth family, some are willing to go to great lengths for our family, while some only care about themselves. They've never brought any benefits to the family before and just pretend all day long..."
At this moment, the person speaking suddenly stopped. Then, Claire Wentworth heard a familiar voice: "Oscar Wentworth, what are you talking about?" Claire Wentworth's body stiffened immediately. That was... Lucas Moreau's voice.