Chapter 468: Holding on and Not Letting Go (8)

Chapter 468: Chapter 468: Holding on and Not Letting Go (8)

Preston Patterson was brimming with confidence. In the realm of stock trading, he couldn’t guarantee he would never lose. But if he did, it would only be to someone more brilliant than himself—and that person definitely wasn’t Seraphina Sterling, a mere university freshman!

"Mr. Patterson is right. He’s guaranteed to win this competition! Seraphina Sterling, you should know your place! You want to beat Mr. Patterson? You’ve got a long way to go!" Shelby Fenton suddenly appeared, interrupting their conversation.

The girl who hadn’t caused her any trouble for over ten days had suddenly appeared again. Seraphina remarked with a sigh, "Looks like you’re doing well at Fenton Bank."

"Well, of course. It is my family’s company, after all. My father values me greatly. He takes me along for every major case, which has broadened my horizons and given me a ton of experience—things you can’t learn in school! And my father is already letting me handle some matters independently! Don’t envy me; it’s useless. Your birth has already determined your station in life!"

Having stabilized her position in the Fenton Family, Shelby Fenton had reverted to being that arrogant, spoiled rich girl. Her attitude toward Seraphina was even worse, and she was more prone to showing off than ever.

"Well, congratulations then. But as for who will win and who will lose, nobody knows until the final moment." Leaving a meaningful smile in her wake, Seraphina walked out of the conference room.

Shelby Fenton felt like all her boasting was like punching a pillow—her opponent had no reaction at all, completely unfazed. A ball of frustration lodged itself in Shelby’s chest. She couldn’t vent it or swallow it down, and the feeling was unbearable.

"Let’s go. It’s getting late, and a girl needs time to get ready. It’s an elder’s birthday celebration. As juniors, it wouldn’t look good if we were late." Preston Patterson didn’t dwell on their conflict. He was extremely confident in himself, yet Seraphina’s final smile still left him feeling unnerved. A sudden sense of disquiet welled up inside him.

Seraphina Sterling hurried out of the school gates, where the Sterling family’s driver had been waiting for a long time. She had planned to go home on her own, but Walter Sterling had insisted on sending the driver to pick her up. He had even booked her a spa day! ’I really don’t get it,’ she thought. ’How does Grandpa know so much about women’s stuff at his age?’ When she got the call and heard his arrangements, her mind had been too shocked to even process it.

’Isn’t it just a birthday banquet? Why make it such a grand affair? I’m not the main event; I’m just going to be part of the background tonight! Of course, I’ll also be there to watch the show. Tonight’s drama will surely be full of twists and turns, absolutely spectacular! If I didn’t want to witness the fruits of my labor firsthand, I wouldn’t be going to Old Master Hale’s celebration at all.’

’I really didn’t expect Grandpa to make such a big deal out of it. Anyone who didn’t know better would think I was going on a blind date.’

Little did Seraphina know that a lot had happened at home during her long absence. The biggest news was that Faye Sterling had returned to normal. It was said that Aiden Faulkner had been a great help, and his contribution to her recovery was indispensable. Now that Faye had recovered, Owen Sterling would surely be taking his wife and daughter to the Hale family’s banquet tonight.

No one had mentioned Seraphina, and Walter Sterling, who doted on his granddaughter, was not happy about it. Watching Jasmine Faulkner take Faye around for custom gowns, new jewelry, and beauty treatments only made Walter’s anger burn hotter. ’They’re both children of the Sterling family, so why the huge disparity! Whatever Faye gets, Seraphina must have too!’ In a fit of pique, Walter Sterling had orchestrated this whole affair. He had been very stern on the phone, telling her she absolutely had to go and must follow all his instructions. Otherwise, he would get angry.

Seraphina felt resigned, which was why she was rushing out of school. Classes had already ended a bit late, and with Preston Patterson delaying her further, she was leaving even later. Fortunately, the Sterling family’s driver was highly skilled. Even though she was late, he managed to make up for lost time.

She had left at four in the afternoon. Between the spa, makeup, and hairstyling, she’d lost nearly the entire afternoon. But it didn’t end there. Next came trying on gowns, matching shoes, and selecting jewelry. Before she knew it, her time had vanished. Fortunately, the results left Walter Sterling extremely satisfied. Seeing his happy and content smile, Seraphina suddenly felt that her afternoon had not been wasted after all.

Old Master Hale’s birthday banquet wasn’t held at the Hale family villa. The old master no longer lived there, and if it were held at the villa, he probably wouldn’t even step out the door. But they couldn’t hold it where he currently lived, either. Not only was the place very remote, but the old master disliked being disturbed by outsiders, making it impossible to host a party there. In the end, Justin Hale decided on the Stelluna Hotel.

Justin Hale had booked the largest banquet hall. The Hale family was already large and influential, and when you added their business connections, it was a given that a huge number of people would attend the old master’s birthday banquet.

The Stelluna Hotel was one of the most luxurious hotels in Aethelgard. Its dining facilities featured classic, elegant decor, while its guest rooms were ultramodern—a truly perfect fusion of classic and contemporary. To host a banquet at the Stelluna Hotel, one had to book a year in advance, and not just anyone could secure a reservation.

The fact that the Hale family could book the largest banquet hall here demonstrated, to a certain extent, their power and status in Aethelgard. For the birthday of the Hale family’s eldest patriarch, almost every prominent and powerful family in Aethelgard was in attendance.

An hour before the banquet began, guests started arriving one after another. Decked out in designer gowns and arriving in luxury cars, the scene looked less like a birthday banquet and more like an awards ceremony. It seemed people weren’t there to celebrate a birthday so much as to walk the red carpet.

When Seraphina stepped out of the car and saw the scene, she couldn’t help but think with a sigh, ’The old are always the wisest! It’s a good thing I put some effort into my appearance today. Otherwise, I would have really embarrassed the Sterling family.’