Chapter 239

Lucy White returned to the capital just in time for the Wilde Group's annual charity auction.

Hunter Wilde personally delivered the gilded invitation to her, adding with a meaningful smile, "There are several rare treasures up for bidding—ones I think you'll find particularly intriguing."

On the day of the event, Ethan Smith rushed back from his western film set, driving straight to pick Lucy up in his sleek sedan. Their destination: the exclusive Hexagon Club in the suburbs.

Uniformed attendants opened their car doors with practiced grace. As Lucy handed over her invitation, she caught the flicker of surprise in the doorman's eyes.

The penthouse ballroom glittered under crystal chandeliers, filled with socialites clinking champagne flutes. Lucy entered on Ethan's arm, her ice-blue cheongsam embroidered with delicate silver motifs catching the light. The dress was part of a matching set Vanessa Knight had commissioned—ice blue, buttercup yellow, and crimson—for their trio's coordinated debut tonight.

"Is that... Lucy White?" Several starlets accompanying wealthy patrons exchanged startled glances. When they witnessed the club manager's warm greeting to Ethan and unusually deferential attitude toward Lucy, whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire.

In a shadowed corner, the Gould and Von families observed the scene with icy disdain. Fiona Von's knuckles whitened around her champagne flute. "How dare she show her face here?"

"Just another gold-digging actress clinging to the Smith heir," Giselle Gould sneered, nostrils flaring. "Watch how quickly she falls when her sugar daddy tires of her."

Frederick Von's gaze lingered on Lucy's profile—so eerily reminiscent of Grace White's—until his daughter yanked his sleeve. "Father! Why are you staring at that nobody?"

Across the room, Hugo Wilde moved to greet Lucy and Ethan, their easy camaraderie drawing envious stares. Giselle's eyes burned with venom. "That little tramp's wormed her way into the Wilde family now?"

"Enough!" Frederick snapped. "Remember your station."

Near the champagne tower, Oliver Knight circulated with Lily Green on his arm. When Vanessa entered laughing with a handsome companion, his glass jerked violently.

Lily noted his reaction. "You know her?"

"Not really," Oliver ground out, though his gaze tracked the crimson-clad figure like a compass needle. The sight of Vanessa whispering intimately with her escort sent an irrational spike of irritation through him.

Lucy turned as if sensing something, meeting Giselle's poisonous glare head-on. A faint smile curved her lips as she flicked her fingers subtly. A wisp of shadow detached itself, vanishing into Giselle's designer gown unnoticed.

"See something interesting?" Ethan murmured.

Lucy swirled her champagne, the ice-blue silk shimmering like moonlit water. "Just watching... prey walk willingly into the trap."