Chapter 375

Doug wrapped his armn around Joyce's waist, his eyes locked on Daniela as he whispered, "Is that your half -sister?"

Joyce nodded. "She's breathtaking,isn't she?"

Doug had no desire to attend such an event, but Joyce had promised to introduce him to a beautiful woman,so he begrudgingly agreed.

The moment he saw Daniela, he was undeniably captivated.

His pulse quickened with excitement, and he could barely contain his eagerness to approach her.

He extended his hand, his voice smooth. "Good evening, Ms. Harper. I'm Doug Fairburne."

Daniela sized up the man standing before her.

He was a middle-aged man with a protruding belly and thinning hair.

Standing in her high heels, Daniela was a little taller than him. She cast a quick glance at his thinning hair,then at Joyce, who was draped in jewels next to him, and offered a faint smile.

Joyce's discomfort was palpable.

What was Daniela trying to say with that smile? Was Daniela looking down on her? Did Daniela think she had chosen such an unappealing man purely for his wealth?

Doug's financial power allowed Joyce to be arrogant in front of everyone-except Daniela.

She couldn't summon any arrogance around Daniela,who held unmatched power in the business world.

Even Doug, who spent money freely, was nothing in the face of Daniela's influence.

But Joyce knew Doug's weaknesses. His judgment was clouded by desire. Who knew what could unfold?

"Daniela, meet my husband, Doug." Joyce intentionally raised her voice, making sure the gossiping crowd heard every word.

A fake smile stretched across Joyce's face as she waited for Daniela to extend her hand.

She was certain that once Doug shook Daniela's hand,he would be haunted by the encounter, eager to pursue her.

If she couldn't deal with Daniela directly, she'd let Doug take care of it.

She longed to see Daniela suffer the same fate she was trapped in.

Joyce's smile deepened,full of malice.

Doug's hand remained outstretched, waiting for Daniela's response.

Every eye in the room was on Daniela.

Bathed in the spotlight, Daniela stood tall and smiled with poise. "Apologies, I'm a bit obsessive about cleanliness."

Doug's smile faltered, his expression tightening.

Then, Daniela's gaze flicked towards Joyce. "How have you and Alexander been these days?"

Joyce hadn't anticipated Daniela's swift retaliation.Her face drained of color, and she quickly glanced at Doug.

Doug's expression darkened completely.

Daniela maintained her smile. "Doesn't your husband know about your little rendezvous while he was away?Oops, my mistake. I shouldn't have said that. Sorry."Her apology was casual, her demeanor unaffected.

Joyce flustered, waving her hands frantically as she tried to explain, "It's not what it seems! Let me explain -Alexander is my ex-husband. We just exchanged a few words,nothing more."

"Is that so?" Daniela asked with a smile. "Then why have I seen you both going in and out of the Grand Hotel multiple times? Am I mistaken, or was that really you two?"

Joyce clenched her jaw, glaring at Daniela, her eyes burning with fury. "Enough!"

Daniela's smile barely wavered. "I'm only stating the truth. Is that a crime? Using your husband's money to maintain a lover isn't exactly a good look. But then again, your husband is a lot older than you, so in some areas, you might have more energy. I can see why you'd need someone else to help you out."

Daniela savored the drama, unconcerned with the fallout. "Don't you agree,Doug?"

It wasn't merely an affair-it was like publicly humiliating Doug, painting him as a fool for all to see.

Doug could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on him,his face contorting in humiliation for the first time.

"Thanks for the reminder. Excuse me," Doug muttered,yanking Joyce and, despite her protests, tossing her into the car. The car didn't pull away; instead, it rocked violently in place.

The tremors persisted until the banquet finally came to a close.

At some point, Alexander appeared behind Daniela. "Is this about me?"

Daniela turned her head slightly, stepping aside."What are you talking about?"

"You didn't want me with Joyce, so you exposed our affair to Doug on purpose. You still care about me,don't you?"