Chapter 186

Evelyn arched an eyebrow. "Ms. Takahashi?"

Yuna Takahashi lifted her chin arrogantly. "How surprising you remember me, Ms. Sinclair. I heard marriage alliances here only happen between families of equal status."

She smirked. "Was that wealthy businessman just now your match? Though he's not particularly handsome and rather old, I suppose he must be filthy rich."

"Otherwise, how could someone of his... caliber possibly match someone as refined as you, Ms. Sinclair?" Yuna hadn't been following the latest Montecito gossip online.

She remained blissfully unaware of Lucas's true identity. Penelope Sinclair had only called Yuna to complain about Evelyn's retaliation, prompting Yuna's angry confrontation.

Natalie moved to intervene but Evelyn stopped her with a subtle gesture. Evelyn's icy gaze locked onto Yuna. "Don't assume your foreign status protects you."

"Stay away from me. The sound of your voice makes me physically ill." Yuna's face twisted in outrage.

Humiliated, she brandished her phone in Evelyn's face. "I'll simply have someone trace that car's owner to expose your sugar daddy's identity."

"I recognize it's a classic Porsche worth about $10 million. My father drives the same model." Yuna sneered. "I'm sure everyone would love to know about Ms. Sinclair's marital arrangements, wouldn't they?"

Evelyn's lips curled into a frosty smile. "Are you attempting to blackmail me with this?"

Yuna mistook Evelyn's calm for fear. "Hmph! Just drop the charges against Penelope. She's kind-hearted - how could you destroy her acting career? You're utterly vicious!"

"She made her choices," Evelyn replied coolly. "No one forced her to commit those despicable acts."

Her dismissive glance made Yuna bristle. "Ms. Takahashi, you should worry about yourself." Evelyn turned to leave.

Yuna grabbed her arm. "Withdraw the lawsuit or I'll post those photos online! Everyone will know you're sleeping with some old man for money!" Nearby guests pricked up their ears.

Evelyn paused, her eyes glacial. Yuna flinched under her gaze. "Go ahead, Ms. Takahashi," Evelyn challenged.

"My butler isn't bothered by rumors. With four companies and a dozen luxury cars, he can handle whatever nonsense you spread."

Yuna froze. "A butler?!" The man who drove the same car as her father, owned multiple businesses, was merely a Sterling family employee?

The eavesdropping guests reevaluated Evelyn's status. Someone who casually spent $800 million in an afternoon wouldn't marry some random businessman. The Sterlings practically printed money! Yuna clearly understood nothing about true wealth.

"W-what does your family actually do?" Yuna stammered. "I thought it was just some small company! You have staff this wealthy?!"

Natalie suppressed a laugh. "Ms. Takahashi, since you're so close to Penelope, didn't she warn you about the Sterlings? How... disappointing for your friendship."

Evelyn gave Yuna a pitying look. "If you're so concerned about Penelope, why waste energy threatening me?"

"Why not take her place in prison? I'm sure she'd appreciate such loyalty." Evelyn's tone dripped with sarcasm.

Yuna paled. Their words filled her with sudden dread. Had Penelope lied to her? Her lips trembled.

Before she could respond, the Hart family butler arrived. "Ms. Sinclair! Master Reginald was just saying Mr. Sterling's gift is too extravagant for young Sebastian."

"The old man seems quite taken with it himself though." The butler's words shattered Yuna's remaining doubts.

So the "wealthy businessman" was merely Evelyn's servant. Her attempt to humiliate Evelyn had spectacularly backfired.

"That gift is for Reginald Hart. My father simply used Lucas as delivery boy," Evelyn clarified.

"Ms. Sinclair, Ms. Beaumont, this way please." The butler bowed respectfully.

As Evelyn turned to leave, she suddenly addressed Yuna. "Why are you here anyway?" As a newly debuted K-pop star, Yuna hardly qualified for Montecito high society.

Yuna blanched. The butler answered first. "Ah, she's here to perform. Her agency promised something... exotic."

"If you'd prefer different entertainment, we can replace her immediately." Yuna's agency had secured this prime opportunity - performing for Montecito's elite at the Hart gala.

Penelope had arranged this chance for Yuna to mingle with potential benefactors. But confronting Evelyn had been a catastrophic miscalculation.

Evelyn waved dismissively. "No need. Ms. Takahashi should be backstage preparing."

She fixed Yuna with a final glare. "Though performers who threaten guests with blackmail rarely get second bookings, do they?"