Lauren Shaw rushed in from outside. The moment she saw Yancy Shaw, her heart finally settled a little.
Mrs. Chen sat on the couch, her face stormy with anger. Upon seeing Lauren Shaw, her expression softened slightly, but she still averted her head in cold silence.
Shen Wentian said nothing, only shooting Yancy Shaw a meaningful glance, warning him not to say the wrong thing.
Eva Snow’s gaze was filled with resentment—especially when she saw Lauren Shaw walk to Yancy Shaw’s side and the two of them clasp hands tightly.
Standing next to Yancy Shaw, Lauren Shaw looked to him, somewhat at a loss.
Yancy Shaw gripped her hand reassuringly, silently telling her not to worry.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about this sooner,” Yancy Shaw said, his tone unusually humble as he spoke to Mrs. Chen.
“No, this is my fault. It has nothing to do with Yancheng. If you’re angry, be angry at me,” Lauren Shaw said, having rehearsed several approaches to this conversation on her way over.
She knew Mrs. Chen might dislike her for this, but she wanted to make it clear that things weren’t as Eva Snow claimed. Whatever the Shen family thought of her after today, she couldn’t let this become a wedge between Yancy Shaw and his family.
“Both of you, come in here!” Mrs. Chen barked, leading Lauren Shaw and Yancy Shaw into the study while Eva Snow and Mandy Snow watched.
Looking at the young couple, Mrs. Chen couldn’t help but sigh.
“Do you really think your father and I are such unreasonable people?” Her tone softened, a touch of maternal warmth breaking through.
“I’m not angry because of Shengsheng—I’m angry because you didn’t tell us ahead of time. When Eva Snow came to me with all that, I was left completely in the dark.”
She never liked the Snow family, but since Mandy Snow’s connection to the Shen family couldn’t be severed, they had to stay civil with Eva Snow.
When Mrs. Chen first heard Eva Snow’s accusations about Lauren Shaw, shock was her first reaction—then disbelief. Lauren Shaw was such a good girl—how could she possibly break up someone else’s relationship?
But Eva Snow’s story sounded all too convincing, and in that moment Mrs. Chen found herself at a loss for words.
Her only response was to call the young couple in a fury. She hadn’t expected them to come back so quickly.
Lauren Shaw, momentarily confused by Mrs. Chen’s words, wondered if she’d misunderstood.
Shen Wentian just chuckled. “Do you really think your mother’s actually mad at you? Relax, she’s just putting on a show.”
Mrs. Chen shot him a glare. "Way to ruin the mood!"
“Shengsheng, tell me, what actually happened? Eva Snow claims you’re the other woman—are her accusations true?”
Between Eva Snow and Lauren Shaw, Mrs. Chen chose to trust Lauren Shaw.
Lauren Shaw actually found it funny. “Mom, do I look like that kind of person to you?”
She knew Mrs. Chen wouldn’t actually believe Eva Snow, not if she asked about it directly.
Lauren Shaw briefly recounted her engagement and breakup with Yvonne Sung.
She’d worried Mrs. Chen might judge her, considering she’d wasted three years on Yvonne Sung.
“What a scumbag!” Mrs. Chen muttered, giving Lauren Shaw a look of pity. “You did the right thing breaking it off. When you meet a jerk like that, you should cut him off without hesitation. I’m glad you didn’t drag it out.”
Lauren Shaw hadn’t expected such support and looked at Mrs. Chen in surprise.
Mrs. Chen turned to Yancy Shaw. “Yancheng, you’d better treat Shengsheng well from now on.”
Lauren Shaw was amazed by how open-minded the Shen family was. They knew about her past, yet held no bias against her.
After chatting in the study for a while, they returned to the living room, where Eva Snow and Mandy Snow were still waiting.
As it grew dark outside, Mrs. Chen remembered the charity gala she had to attend that evening. Recalling the family Lauren Shaw had run into previously, a new idea came to mind.
"Shengsheng, there’s a gala tonight. Come with me, won’t you?"
Lauren Shaw started to decline, but Mrs. Chen gave her no opportunity.
“You’re the Shen family’s daughter-in-law now. I have to show you off a little—otherwise, people might think our family’s daughter-in-law is an easy target.”
“But I don’t even have a gown—” Lauren Shaw had run straight here after Mrs. Chen’s phone call, all the way worrying how she’d explain herself.
“We’ll go pick one out right now—there’s time,” Mrs. Chen said, shooting a look at Yancy Shaw and furrowing her brow. “Yancheng, honestly! Shengsheng married you, and you didn’t prepare anything for her—not even a wedding! Stingy, penny-pinching... no wonder people have the nerve to step all over us.”
Mrs. Chen cast a meaningful glance at Eva Snow nearby.
Eva Snow’s face went green on the spot.
Mandy Snow looked no happier. She tugged Eva Snow’s hand, whispering, “Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough today? Come home with me!”
Eva Snow bit her lip, unwilling to give up, and shot a resentful look at Lauren Shaw.
Sensing the hostility, Lauren Shaw smiled faintly. “Miss Xue, let me be clear: I’m now Yancy Shaw’s lawful wife. Perhaps it’s time you let things go?”
She figured it was best to be direct; otherwise, people would just assume she was a pushover.
Eva Snow looked like she wanted to retort, but Mandy Snow, afraid she’d say something else rash, gripped her arm tightly to keep her quiet.
Swallowing her words, Eva Snow’s anger could only smolder in a silent, wounded look.
“Don’t get too pleased with yourself,” she hissed before Mandy Snow dragged her out.
Glancing at the time, Mrs. Chen took Lauren Shaw along and set out.
—
At the gala, Lauren Shaw wore an iridescent green evening gown, the mermaid-tail design fitting her figure perfectly.
As a new face at the event, she was an instant focal point—countless eyes turned her way.
Everyone was abuzz, speculating which prestigious family’s daughter she might be.
As Mrs. Chen swept in, she was immediately surrounded by a gaggle of bejeweled society ladies.
The Shen family was an old-money clan, with two unwed young masters reputed to be quite the catches. Many were eager to draw closer ties.
Seeing Mrs. Chen caught up in conversation, Lauren Shaw let her eyes roam over the ballroom. Across the way, she spotted a circle of ladies gossiping, and her gaze darkened.
Just then, one of them noticed her too.
Lauren Shaw quickly looked away and found herself an empty seat.
Mere moments later, that woman led her companions over to sit right behind her.
It wasn’t long before they noticed Lauren Shaw—after all, she was easily the best-dressed, most striking presence in the room.
“Who is that? Which family does she belong to? I’ve never seen her before.”
“Hmm, a new face.”
The women behind her were openly curious, whispering as they tried to guess Lauren Shaw’s identity.
Zoe Carter snorted. “You don’t know her?”
Her companions shook their heads.
Lowering her voice for effect, Zoe Carter continued, “That’s the girl who was shamelessly chasing after my son. But my son has high standards—he wouldn’t even look at her.”
Zoe Carter’s words reached Lauren Shaw’s ears, loud and clear.
Lauren Shaw clenched her fists at her sides. Although she was grinding her teeth in anger, this was a formal occasion—and with Mrs. Chen around, she couldn’t afford to lose face.