Jovana Shaw stood up, but Sophie Nye grabbed her wrist and frowned, saying, "Jovana, where are you going? What, you can't even sit at the same table and eat together? She's just a kid, I was the one who called her out. If you're angry, take it out on me!"

"Auntie, it's all my fault. It's only right that Sis is angry with me, you shouldn't blame her because of me." Jovana shook her head, a couple strands of hair falling in front of her face, leaving her looking both bedraggled and delicate, her eyes red as a pitiful little rabbit, making people want to comfort her.

Pa—

Chopsticks were set down.

Both of them looked at her at the same time.

Aurelia Shaw sat with her arms crossed, gazing at the two of them. The panic they expected on her face was nowhere to be found; instead, her crimson lips curled up slightly, her eyes glinting with mocking amusement.

Suddenly, they felt like clowns being toyed with for the crowd's entertainment.

The surge of anger shot straight to their heads, but just then, they couldn't allow themselves to lose their temper. With so many people around, they needed Aurelia to explode first, so they could use public opinion to crush her.

Aurelia's lips were curled in a faint smile the entire time, eating her meal at ease without a trace of stress. After finishing, she wiped her mouth. "Weren't we going shopping? Let's go."

"Heh... heh-heh... No rush." Sophie Nye forced out a stiff smile, a smile uglier than a grimace.

"Sis, I need to go to the bathroom. Can you come with me?"

"How old are you?" Aurelia didn't move, just shot her a glance with those sly, fox-like eyes.

"Ten, eighte—eighteen..." Jovana had no idea why she was even asking.

"Eighteen and you still need someone to go to the bathroom with you? Aren't you even a little embarrassed?" Aurelia never spared anyone's feelings when she spoke. That habit had been trained into her by Clara Yates and her daughter, so let them reap the consequences now.

Jovana's face reddened, feeling the strange stares from those around her. She bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears that threatened to fall, looking aggrieved. "You—how can you say that about me, and in front of everyone? Even if you don't like me, you don't have to humiliate me like this."

She bit her lower lip, tears spilling down her cheeks, yet she made no move to wipe them away, instead raising her tear-streaked face for all to see.

Aurelia's expression darkened instantly, her eyes simmering with anger, those feline eyes dangerously narrowed, the tails sweeping up, revealing a hint of wild arrogance, her lips curled in a cold, contemptuous smile.

If anyone else had this expression, people would find it hateful, but somehow Aurelia made it look irresistible. In a flash, people thought of Anne Hart from that TV series... Nearly everyone in Q City had watched it, and many were diehard Anne Hart fans.

They were seeing her in real life! Phones shot up in the air; they didn't even understand what was happening, but people started recording anyway just in case.

Anne Hart looked even better in person than on TV!

Nobody expected what happened next: Aurelia didn't say a word. She picked up her cup of coffee and poured it right onto the face of the girl sitting across from her.

Hiss—

A chorus of shocked gasps rippled through the crowd.

Jovana's face was splattered, her hair soaked, coffee dripping steadily down her locks. She never imagined Aurelia would dare act out like this in front of so many people!

She caught a glimpse of people momentarily frozen, even more cameras now trained their way.

Behind the strands of wet hair, a ferocious gleam flashed in her eyes. But when her delicate, young face lifted up, it was already covered in tears, and she wailed,

"Sis, I'm sorry, it's my fault, I... I'll wipe it for you right away, please, don't be angry, okay? I'll be good, just don't tell Dad. I don't want to be punished anymore."

Sis!

The onlookers all felt like they had just picked up on some vital piece of information.