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    Standard invitations were sent out by the Shea family’s assistants, but VIP invitations were personally distributed by members of the family themselves.

    And judging by the handwriting on this one, it appeared to be from Winston himself. Though none of the guards knew who Olivia was, they were certain of one thing: if they failed to let her in, their careers would be over.

    “Alright,” Olivia replied calmly. She epted the tea and took a sip, feeling the chill around her fade slightly. “There is one more thing.”

    “Please let us know. We’ll take care of it immediately!” The guards stood at attention, backs straight.

    “Get a cup for this youngdy as well.” Olivia gently pulled Nina forward. Nina had only recently started feeling better, and after standing so long in the cold, she needed something

    warm.

    The guard promptly obeyed, serving Nina a cup of ginger tea.

    It was only then that Henry got a clear look at Nina’s face. ‘How is she still alive?‘ he wondered. No one survived after being poisoned by the Evans family.

    Henry thought, ‘And yet here she was, not only alive but standing with that wretched girl!‘ A sense of foreboding crept over him.

    When he looked up, he met Olivia’s sharp, knowing eyes. She smiled back at him, a hint of mockery in her expression. Henry’s face darkened. He still couldn’t believe her invitation was real.

    Olivia thought to herself, ‘It seems that patient of mine can be useful sometimes, giving me a VIP invite. I’ll have ito /ithank him properly when I get back.’

    The other guests watched in stunned silence. When they had entered, these guards had acted aloof and superior. Everyone knew the Shea family was notoriously proud, even their security

    team.

    Calling them “security” was almost an understatement. They were more like a small special ops unit with each member retired from elite covert forces. They called themselves security mostly to avoid drawing too much attention.

    The guests thought, ‘And yet, this very team was treating Olivia with such respect? It was unbelievable!‘

    Olivia adjusted her backpack and prepared to enter through the VIP passage the guards had

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    opened. Grandma Grace had specifically reminded her not to draw too much attention. Besides, arguing with these people wasn’t why she was here.

    “Stop!” Margaret shouted, unwilling to let Olivia enter. “Are you sure you looked closely? Is that invitation really genuine?” She thought, ‘How could someone like Olivia possibly get a real invitation?‘

    Cheryl felt embarrassed and gently tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “Mom, let it go. This is the Shea family’s event.” She wasn’t worried about Olivia. She was worried Margaret’s behavior would anger the Sheas and get them all thrown out.

    Margaret snapped back to reality at Cheryl’s reminder. She was so used to throwing her weight around that she’d almost forgotten where she was.

    But Natalie wasn’t nearly as sharp. Convinced Olivia’s invitation was fake, she turned on the guards. “Why aren’t you saying anything? She’s a fraud! How could you just let her in?”

    The security team was growing impatient, though they maintained a professional demeanor.

    “Say something! Why won’t you speak? I get it. She must have paid you off. This is all an act,” Natalie sneered,pletely missing the lead guard’s darkening expression.

    “Miss, if you continue like this, I will have to ask you to leave,” the guard said, his voice cold.

    Natalie scoffed. “Who do you think you are? How dare you speak to me like—”

    Henry quickly mped a hand over her mouth, afraid she’d say something even worse. This was the Shea family’s territory. If they decided to take action, getting kicked out would be the least of their worries.

    The lead guard cleared his throat and addressed the crowd. “If anyone else causes trouble on Shea family grounds, there will be consequences.” Then he turned to Olivia with a respectful smile. “Please, go ahead.”

    Olivia nodded. She cast a nce toward Margaret and remarked lightly, “I don’t think that woman should be allowed insidei,” /i

    The guards immediately moved to block Margaret as she tried to enter. “I’m sorry, ma’am. You are not permitted entry.”

    “What are you doing? I have an invitation.” Margaret sputtered furiously. “You can’t do this!”

    “Escort her out,” the head guard ordered with a wave. Several guards promptly lifted Margaret off her feet and carried her away.

    “Mr. Evans!” Margaret cried, hoping he would intervene on her behalf.

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    But Henry wanted nothing to do with her. He straightened up and said sternly, “Margaret, I warned you about your sharp tongue. You should’ve been more respectful. I can’t help you now. You brought this on yourself.”

    Margaret’s eyes widened in disbelief. She thought, ‘Henry is Cheryl’s god–grandfather! How could he abandon me like this?‘

    She huffed, ‘My family had spent small fortunes currying favor with the Evans family, sending gifts, donations, everything to build that connection. And now, just like that, I am cast aside?‘

    Margaret tried to shout again, but a guard covered her mouth, silencing herpletely.

    Cheryl watched her mother being dragged away, her voice trembling as she turned to Henry. “Grandpa Henry, my mother, she—”

    “Be quiet!” Henry snapped, anger shing in his eyes. Those two had nearly ruined

    everything. He was beginning to wonder whether making Nathan Cheryl’s godfather had been a mistake.

    Without another nce in their direction, Olivia took Nina’s arm and walked calmly into the vi.

    The scene of Margaret being removed served as a stark warning to everyone present: crossing the Shea family was not an option.

    Margaret was, after all, a respected member of the Sherman family, and yet she’d been publicly humiliated and thrown out. After witnessing that, no one dared disrespect Olivia again. From that moment on, everyone chose their words very, very carefully.

    Henry’s expression remained dark throughout the ordeal. If this hadn’t been the Shea family’s territory, he would never have tolerated such humiliation. But this was Kingtonelle, and the Shea family held power far beyond what he could challenge.

    “Her invitation… How could it have been real?” he muttered, unable to let it olligo. /li/ol

    Cheryl bit her lip, the first to regain herposure. “Grandpa Henry, whether her invitation was real or fake isn’t the point. What matters is where she got it.”

    She couldn’t believe he was still hung up on the invitation’s authenticity. The real question was how Olivia had obtained it. The Shea family’s security wasn’t made up of amateurs. They wouldn’t have mistaken a fake.

    Outside, Margaret stood shivering in the bitter winter cold. She had worn a low–back evening gown for the party, and when she was dragged out, she hadn’t been able to grab her clutch or

    coat.

    …

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    Now, freezing and humiliated, she couldn’t help but regret her choice. She thought, ‘If only I had worn a down jacket like Olivia, I might not have been so cold…‘

    Rubbing her hands together, she approached the two guards at the entrance with an awkward smile. “Hey, could you let me back in to grab my coat? It’s seriously freezing out here…”

    “No,” one of the guards replied tly, without a hint of emotion. “Anyone expelled by the Shea family is not permitted re–entry.”