Tina Wallace’s eyes instantly reddened. Tears welled up, but she stubbornly held them back.

"I knew it... You still won’t forgive me. It’s okay. I deserve this."

She gently placed the gift box on the steps by the door, sniffled, and squeezed out a smile that was uglier than a grimace.

"I left the gift here. You can throw it away if you don’t like it."

"The party... I’ll still have an invitation sent over. You can come anytime if you change your mind. I’m sorry to have bothered you."

After she spoke, she gave Wren Wynter a long, hard look—her eyes a mixture of guilt, dejection, and an indescribable plea. Then, she turned and walked away, looking utterly forlorn.

Wren Wynter stood frozen, watching Tina’s slight figure disappear around the street corner. Her gaze then fell to the gift box on the steps, and for a long moment, she didn’t move.

’Can a person’s personality really change so drastically in such a short period?’

’Or was this just a more elaborate, more covert scheme?’

She didn’t know.

But she knew one thing: she probably had to go to the Wallace family’s birthday party tomorrow.

Some things simply couldn’t be avoided.

Instead of guessing from the shadows, it was better to go see for herself what game this viper was playing.

「The next evening, Wren Wynter went.」

She didn’t dress up extravagantly, opting for a simple, champagne-colored long dress. Her hair was loosely pinned up, and a light dusting of powder on her face gave her an elegant and serene look.

The Wallace family’s villa was brilliantly lit, the lawn teeming with people. It was a lively scene of fragrant perfumes, elegant dresses, and clinking glasses.

Wren Wynter scanned the crowd and noted that quite a few guests had been invited, many of them prominent figures in Corvidale.

This put her slightly at ease. ’It looks like this is just a normal birthday party,’ she thought. ’She wouldn’t dare pull any stunts in front of so many people.’

The moment she stepped into the banquet hall, a sharp-eyed Tina Wallace spotted her.

Tonight, Tina Wallace was undoubtedly the center of attention.

She wore a haute couture gown, the hem glittering with tiny inset diamonds. With her exquisite makeup and sweet smile, she looked like a pampered princess.

"Wren, you really came! I’m so happy!"

Lifting the hem of her gown, she hurried over to Wren and affectionately linked their arms, acting with a familiarity that suggested they were lifelong best friends.

Wren, feeling uncomfortable, tried to pull her arm away, but Tina only tightened her grip.

"Come, let me introduce you to some friends."

Without another word, Tina pulled her over to her circle of girlfriends.

The girls were all dressed to the nines, and the moment they saw Wren, their eyes filled with undisguised contempt as they looked her up and down.

"Tina, is this..." one of the girls, who had curly hair, began in a snide tone, "...Mr. Xavier’s... ex-wife?"

She spat out the word "ex-wife," her voice thick with derision.

Another girl covered her mouth and snickered. "Wow, she’s much plainer in person than in her pictures. I have no idea how she managed to hook Brother Kaden."

"She’s got some nerve, showing her face at Tina’s birthday party after the divorce."

The acidic words stung like needles, showing no mercy.

Wren’s face grew cold. Just as she was about to speak, Tina beat her to it, erupting in anger.

"What nonsense are you all talking about?!"

Her sweet demeanor vanished. Scowling, she snapped, "Wren is my most important friend now. If any of you dare to disrespect her again, you’re making an enemy of me, Tina Wallace!"

Startled by her sudden outburst, the other girls exchanged glances, not daring to say another word.

Tina then turned back to Wren, her expression instantly switching to one of guilt and remorse. "I’m so sorry, Wren. It’s all my fault. I was a bad influence on them in the past, so they tend to speak without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart."

She pulled Wren to a quiet corner and said soothingly, "Don’t be angry. I already told them off. They won’t dare do it again."

The whole performance was seamless. She had publicly defended Wren, then privately offered an apology, leaving no loose ends.

As Wren watched her, the strange feeling in her gut grew stronger.

’She really seems... like a completely different person.’

Just then, a familiar voice cut in.

"Tina Wallace, what are you scheming now?"

Lana Xavier strode over in her high heels, a glass of champagne in hand. Like a mother hen protecting her chick, she yanked Wren behind her and glared at Tina.

"Oh, I was wondering who it was. It’s just you, Lana."

A flicker of unease crossed Tina Wallace’s face when she saw Lana Xavier, but she quickly plastered on a smile. "You’re mistaken. I wasn’t bullying Wren. We’re friends now."

"Friends?" Lana Xavier scoffed. "Someone like you, friends with Wren? You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, up to no good!"

"Lana, don’t."

Wren tugged on Lana’s arm. "She... she apologized to me," she explained.

Tina Wallace chose that moment to lower her head, looking both wronged and sincere. "Lana, I know I was in the wrong before. I did a lot of terrible things that made you and Wren hate me."

"But people can change. I truly realize my mistakes now. Please... just give me one more chance."

Her pitiful, damsel-in-distress act made Lana feel like she was punching cotton—her rage had nowhere to go.

Just then, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace came over to tell Tina it was time to cut the cake.

She gave Wren and Lana an apologetic smile and left with her parents.

Lana Xavier watched her leave, her brow furrowed. "Wren, don’t you think she’s acting strange?"

"A little."

"Not a little, a lot!"

Lana lowered her voice. "Have you forgotten what she used to be like? So arrogant she looked down her nose at everyone."

"This whole meek, accommodating act... It’s like she’s a completely different person. When something seems this strange, it’s always a bad sign. Stay away from her. I’m telling you, it’s a trap."

Wren nodded, feeling the same way deep down.

Lana’s warning was like a stone cast into the already turbulent waters of her heart, sending ripples spreading through her.

’If this Tina Wallace wasn’t the real Tina Wallace, then who was she?’

Melodious music drifted through the banquet hall.

Wren and Lana found a corner to sit, away from the bustling crowd. But, as always, trouble had a way of finding them.

"Excuse me, are you Miss Wynter?"

A well-dressed, middle-aged man holding a wine glass approached them, his expression a mixture of inquiry and respect.

Wren recognized him as a senior figure from the medical community she had met at Elder Hawthorne’s birthday banquet. His name was Archer.

"Professor Archer, hello." Wren stood up and responded politely.

A knowing smile spread across Professor Archer’s face. "It really is you. I only caught a fleeting glimpse of you at Elder Hawthorne’s banquet, but you left quite an impression. I never expected to run into you here. What a pleasure."