Chapter 293

"Miss Adkins, you're here too." Brenda maintained her elegant demeanor, but Layla could sense the underlying hostility in her seemingly gentle voice. "Mrs. Eilish," Layla acknowledged with a nod, intending to leave, but Brenda subtly blocked her path.

"Do you think it's appropriate for you to attend tonight's banquet?"

Layla's response was both honest and assertive. "I'm here with my boss, so it falls within the scope of work. I didn't consider its appropriateness."

"You should know that Nora and Anthony are both here tonight."

"I didn't know, and I don't need to know." Brenda's displeasure was evident. She never expected much from a daughter raised by a wife-beater and a gambling addict.

Despite Layla's prestigious education and career as a designer, her character and temperament were incomparable to the daughter Brenda had meticulously groomed. Brenda couldn't help but make comparisons.

Brenda believed that nurture was more important than nature, and Frank's parenting had clearly tarnished Layla's innate qualities. Though Layla was biologically related to her, she was nothing like her daughter. Brenda couldn't help but feel that Layla was Frank's way of getting back at her.

With this thought, Brenda's attitude toward Layla became even more unfriendly. "Has Miss Adkins always been so willful?"

Layla retorted, "Has Mrs. Eilish always been so condescending?" She was fed up with the high-and-mighty attitude of these old-money elites. She didn't seek their wealth, nor did she need to bow down to them. In terms of character, they were equals, and she was not inferior to them.

"It seems you have no sense of your own mistakes."

"What mistakes have I made?" Layla countered, "Samuel has never belonged to Mrs. Eilish. It has always been her wishful thinking."

Brenda's eyebrows twitched, revealing her displeasure. "If it weren't for you, they would have been married by now."

"If I, a nobody, can influence their marriage, then they were destined to divorce sooner or later. It's better for Nora not to get married than to end up in a failed marriage."

"You..."

Layla was truly sharp-tongued.

She never expected Layla to insult her beloved daughter.

She had initially thought Brenda was gentle and obedient at first glance, but she didn't expect her to be so sharp inside. Nora was right. The responsibility was all on her. She definitely couldn't let her into the Eilish family for her temper.

"Are mistresses so brazen nowadays?"

"Don't casually label me as a mistress. I can't afford it."

"I won't hold the past against you, but if you dare approach Anthony, I won't be polite to you. I warned you kindly before, but you didn't listen, do you think I dare not do anything to you?"

"Anthony and I are just friends."

"Since you understand Anthony's feelings for you, you should avoid it."

"I've never taken the initiative to find him."

Layla just wanted to express that she had no romantic feelings for Anthony, but in Brenda's ears, she was mocking her son.

Her excellent son, how could he be chasing after her?

However, Anthony's enthusiasm for Layla was indeed too eager.

That was Layla taking advantage of Anthony's simplicity.

The highest level of a bitch was to push all the responsibility to the other party, and she remained clean and innocent. That was a great trick.

If Layla thought she could end the topic like this, then she underestimated Brenda.

Although Brenda was always pleasant to everyone, and was a well-known good person in the circle of ladies, it did not mean that she was incapable. She was just in a stable position and didn't need to fight.

How could Brenda marry into the second-largest wealthy family in City A after her divorce if she wasn't capable?

She wouldn't show mercy to Layla just because she gave birth to her. She already had a daughter named Nora.

"If you're as high and mighty as you say, you should refuse him, and keep your distance from him."

"Why should I refuse my friend?"

"You're clearly stringing him along, playing with his feelings."

Layla laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

"If a person's heart is dirty, everything she sees is dirty."

"Do you dare to call me dirty?"

"I'm just making a metaphor. Don't take it to heart. I won't refuse to be friends with Anthony in the past, now, or in the future. Anthony is a smart person, so he can make decisions for himself, and you, even as his mother, have no right to interfere with us being friends. Mrs. Eilish, enjoy your party. I won't accompany you."

Layla bumped past Brenda's shoulder, her strength was somewhat large, knocking Brenda back a step.

"Mom." Nora broke away from a few socialites and came over. "Why do you look so bad? Are you uncomfortable?"

Brenda stared at Layla's retreating figure unhappily. "You're right, she's not a good woman. She dared to disrespect me."

"I told you before, and you still defended her. Now you see?"

"Nora, where are you going?"

"She offended you, and I won't let her go..."

When Nora chased to the corner, Layla was being hit on by a rich young man.

"So quickly you've caught another prey?" Nora said sarcastically.

"Miss Eilish? What prey?" the rich young man asked.

"The prey is you, right? Pretending to be a socialite at a party looking for rich second generations as prey, Miss Layla is one of the best. There are not a few men who have fallen into her hands, right?"

"You see me as prey?" The rich young man frowned, looking at her unbelievingly. She looked so innocent.

Layla was expressionless. "You hit on me first, so who is the prey?"

"That's why you're a master. Men don't care for women who take the initiative. You like to play hard to get, and you're good at it."

"I wondered why you could possibly refuse me. It turns out you're playing that game." The rich young man regained his balance, and snorted heavily, "Miss Eilish, thank you. Otherwise, I would have been tricked by this woman."

How many times did Layla want to laugh tonight?

These so-called upper-class people really repelled her.

"Layla, you are also the most ambitious and shameless woman I have ever seen. Hooking up with my brother is not enough for you. Even these men of low quality, you want them all. How many men do you want?"

Nora was nearly 180 in high heels, her height completely overwhelming Layla in momentum. Layla looked petite, like a Chihuahua against a hostile Poodle.

But in her eyes, Layla didn't lose. After many fights tonight, she laughed lightly and skillfully replied, "You can't satisfy the man you want, and you still have time to worry about how many men can satisfy me?"

"You... If it weren't for you taking Mr. Holland away, I would..."

"I'm not with him. Doesn't he still not want you?"

"The humiliation I suffered at the wedding was given by you. If it weren't for you, Mr. Holland wouldn't have refused to marry. You know this very well."

"I'm not him, and I don't know what he's thinking. Instead of dwelling on what didn't happen, you might as well live a good life in the future."

"What right do you have to lecture me."

"I can't be bothered to lecture you." Layla turned to leave but didn't expect a glass of champagne to pour down from her head.

"Nora!" Layla yelled in anger, "Are you crazy?"

Nora was very proud, "You asked for it."

"Throw it back!"

At this moment, a stern voice sounded.