Her mother was a living example: she'd thought she could win Zhu Xun’s heart by relying on her children. But she’d forgotten that man never had a heart to begin with. Even when she died, Zhu Xun hadn’t spared her a single glance.

Lauren Shaw heard the sorrow behind Sophia Chandler’s words. "We all have to pay for our own selfish desires. What kind of life someone else wants to live—that’s their choice. The life we want, that’s up to us to choose."

She wanted to comfort her, but she was never good with words and couldn’t seem to say anything moving.

Sophia Chandler took a deep breath and put on a bright smile. "Sienna Shaw, I’m not sad. You’re right. I should be the one to decide what kind of life I want to live."

"You should be like a cockroach that can’t be squashed. That’s the only way life really gets interesting!" Ian Lawrence’s tone was joking, but his expression was utterly serious.

He’d meant to cheer her up, but the moment Sophia Chandler saw his face, she couldn’t help but laugh.

"True! Your life is way more exciting, senior."

"Hey, if you put it like that, I don’t feel like comforting you anymore," he retorted, already expecting her to say something barbed.

"Come on! I’m not ungrateful, you know. Why do you always act so guarded around me, senior?"

Ian Lawrence shot her a look that said, 'You know exactly why,' leaving her to figure it out for herself.

Watching the two of them bicker, Lauren Shaw couldn’t hold back a quiet laugh.

At that moment, Yancy Shaw came over and—out of habit—slipped an arm around her waist, asking gently, "What are you all talking about? Having such a good time?"

Standing beside him, Lauren Shaw's smile softened—her gaze on him tender, practically dripping with affection.

Ian Lawrence, sensing the mood, made himself scarce. Seeing this, Sophia Chandler felt too awkward to stay and risk playing third wheel, so she left too.

As the two of them walked away, Lauren Shaw frowned. "Why did they both leave all of a sudden?"

Yancy Shaw only raised his eyebrows without saying a word.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Shang Min clutched her chest and, gritting her teeth, cursed in rage. "That little tramp! How dare she show off in front of me—she’s got some nerve!"

Zhu Yurou said nothing, her face looking equally sour. Maybe it was because Zhu Xun had brought Xiao Pei along, making it feel like everyone at the party was laughing at her and her mother.

"Did you see the smug look on that man-stealing vixen? I’d love to rip that seductress’s face right off..."

A string of vicious slurs spilled from Shang Min’s mouth, making Zhu Yurou feel only more disgusted.

"Enough, Mom. Can you cut it out?" she interrupted impatiently.

What good did it do to get angry alone? It wasn’t like this hadn’t happened before. These endless, baseless insults only made her look like a jealous shrew—and herself, utterly powerless.

After a few more curses, Shang Min spotted Xiao Pei heading their way. Her face darkened. Before Zhu Yurou could react, she marched right over to confront her.

"You’ve got the nerve to come to a party like this? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?" Shang Min sneered disdainfully.

Xiao Pei snorted, folding her arms across her chest and pretending to look aloof. "I’m ashamed? I think you’re the one who should be embarrassed—can’t even keep your own man. Truly pathetic."

The words were a deep cut for Shang Min. She glared furiously, and if Zhu Yurou hadn’t been holding her back, she would have lashed out.

Xiao Pei shot them both a look of utter contempt, washed her hands in the bathroom, then strode away on elegant heels.

Shang Min was fuming, her face a picture of malice rather than any trace of elegance.

Zhu Yurou only stared quietly at Xiao Pei’s receding figure, her expression unreadable.

—

Seeing Claire Xu’s bright, happy smile, Lauren Shaw could tell her mood was good. "So? Did you guys have a nice chat?"

It almost counted as meeting the parents, and judging by Claire Xu’s look, it must have gone well.

Claire Xu’s eyes sparkled with delight. "You have no idea—I was so nervous coming here, but after meeting Henry Mills’s family, I’m not nervous at all anymore."

Claire Xu hadn’t expected Henry Mills’s family to be so easygoing. She’d thought Old Mr. He wouldn’t like her, but after their conversation, he turned out to be much kinder than she’d imagined.

"You’re always fearless—nothing scares you, and yet meeting the parents rattled you this much? If Henry Mills finds out, he’s definitely going to tease you."

"He wouldn’t dare!" Claire Xu said, not entirely confident. If Henry Mills ever found out how nervous she’d been today, he’d probably tease her forever.

Lauren Shaw’s eyes lit up, teasing her back. "So does that mean we’ll all be toasting at your wedding soon?"

Talking about marriage made Claire Xu a little shy. "That depends on Henry Mills. Getting married isn’t something you do on a whim."

"Oh, wow, is that you acting coy, Qingqing? That’s not like you at all!" Lauren Shaw seized the chance to tease her, just as she’d always been teased before. Now it was time for some payback.

"Shengsheng, stop making fun of me."

Claire Xu lowered her head, radiating the delicate air of someone newly in love.

Lauren Shaw was just starting to laugh when she caught sight of George Xu approaching, wineglass in hand.

Immediately, Claire Xu’s face fell. She wanted to slip away, but George Xu had already reached her side.

"Qingqing," he said in a low, serious voice.

Claire Xu looked up indifferently. "What is it?"

She acted as if the man standing before her wasn’t her father at all.

George Xu didn’t like her tone, but with so many people around, he forced himself to keep his cool and softened his voice a little.

"Since you moved out of the Xu house... Have you been well?"

"Of course I have. You have no idea how great it feels to live alone." There was an icy edge to Claire Xu’s voice, and her gaze was stone-cold.

That attitude was like a knife to George Xu, cutting him to the quick.

When he didn’t answer, Claire Xu let out a cold laugh. "What, does it make you uncomfortable to see that I’m doing just fine?"

"Claire Xu!" George Xu barked her name, pained, as if she’d somehow wronged him terribly.

"Can’t you just talk to me? Why do you have to keep stabbing at me like this?"

Ha, she’d thought maybe he’d finally grown a conscience and remembered she was his daughter. Turns out, nope. He was just bothered that she was thriving without the Xu family and wanted to rain on her parade.

"Am I not talking? Haven’t I always spoken like this? Hm?" Claire Xu glanced at Lauren Shaw. "Shengsheng, do you think I’m being unreasonable?"

What a joke—where was he when she’d needed her father? Now that she didn’t need him, he wanted to play the 'guilt-trip dad'? She wasn’t buying it.

Naturally, Lauren Shaw was on Claire Xu’s side. Thinking back to those lonely, helpless days Claire Xu spent in the Xu family, she couldn’t help but shoot back, "President Xu, Qingqing’s always been this straightforward. Maybe you just don’t know her very well. She’s always been one to say what’s on her mind—if her words are a bit blunt, please don’t take it personally."

Of course, George Xu could hear perfectly well what she was implying—she was as much as saying he’d never acted as a real father. She was criticizing him, just in a roundabout way.