Chapter 8

The voice was so soft that Calla didn't hear it at all. Still frowning, she snapped at him, "What are you still standing there for? Get out, now."

The more she spoke, the angrier she got, taking out all her recent frustrations on Jack. She was even considering physically throwing him out.

Seeing Calla's fury, Jack didn't dare stay any longer and quickly explained why he came: "My stuff was thrown away. I came to see if something happened."

Calla snorted coldly, "I had it thrown out. Jack, if you still want to work as a bodyguard for our family, stay away from Annie. Got it?"

Jack protested somewhat defiantly, "Why should I?"

Calla said smugly, "Because our family feeds you. We pay your salary, which gives you the right to live here. My daughter is not for someone like you!"

Seeing her mother relentlessly scolding Jack, Annie quickly interrupted their standoff.

She said with some irritation, "Mom, isn't there enough chaos at home already? Please stay calm."

Calla was already a harsh woman, and seeing her daughter defend Jack like this, she couldn't help but recall what Thierry had told her.

Could her daughter really have something going on with Jack?

This was absolutely unacceptable to her. Her daughter, whom she had worked so hard to raise into such an excellent young woman, falling for a bodyguard?

Just thinking about that scenario made her skin crawl.

She glared fiercely at Jack, as if looking at an enemy who could ruin her reputation at any moment.

"Don't think you're safe just because Annie's backing you up. Just wait. After the party, I'll deal with you."

After dropping this threat, she said no more. Right now, the Ellis family's party was the most pressing matter.

The party would start in three days. There was so much to prepare—what kind of formal wear to arrange, the etiquette expected of prominent families—she had a mountain of things to handle.

After Jack understood what had happened to his room, though he felt resentful, he couldn't really argue back. He couldn't exactly expect Calla to apologize, could he?

His current status was just a bodyguard. The employer's mother apologizing to him? Don't be ridiculous.

He said goodbye to Annie and returned to his room.

To ensure the security of the entire villa at all times, his room wasn't far from the main house. Through a corridor, that inconspicuous little room was his.

Back in his room, looking at the mess before him, he shook his head and sighed softly. Was this really the ordinary life he wanted? Having to constantly bow his head, becoming a slave to the wealthy who could summon and dismiss him at will.

A few years ago, someone at Calla's level wouldn't even have qualified to meet him. Now he was trash in her eyes, a weed she could crush underfoot at any time.

But since he had already decided to say goodbye to his past, he would stick with it.

He quickly gathered his thoughts and bent down to tidy up the messy bedding and sheets.

Three days passed quickly.

Jack had also been preparing for the party. He hadn't seen Avery in a long time, and he wanted to prepare a big surprise for her coming-of-age ceremony.

On the other side, Annie and her mother were also busy preparing. Although their family was somewhat well-known in Philadelphia, this was their first time attending an event of this caliber.

All of Philadelphia's true power players would be there. They couldn't lose face at such an occasion, so they brought out a medieval painting the family had treasured for years.

Everyone was ready for this party.

Tonight arrived as scheduled.

In front of a magnificent luxury estate, the entrance was filled with luxury supercars. Classical music played in the grand hall, and several uniformed greeters, all with impressive presence, welcomed celebrities from all circles as they entered the banquet hall one after another.

The party that could set all of Philadelphia ablaze officially began at this moment.

A red Ferrari stopped at the steps in front of the estate entrance. Annie and Calla stepped out together. Both had clearly dressed up carefully. Though somewhat nervous, with their looks, even at such an event, they attracted quite a few glances.

After Annie showed the invitation, the greeter finally let them through. Everyone had to be checked, even the most powerful people in Philadelphia were no exception.

Annie nervously gripped her mother's hand. She believed her presence at this party was part of Thierry's scheme. She didn't want to come, yet she had no choice.

The guests chatted happily—all famous figures in Philadelphia. People you'd normally only see on TV were everywhere in the banquet hall. Annie and her mother felt awkward. Their family wasn't quite in this circle yet, and there wasn't a single person they could approach to chat with.

Just then, Thierry, dressed in a suit, walked up to them. He first politely greeted Calla: "Madam, long time no see. You're even more beautiful."

Calla nodded at him and praised him like an elder: "Thierry, you're becoming more and more mature and polite. After all these years, you haven't changed—still so likable."

Thierry smiled slightly, his gaze falling on Annie as he said gently, "My fiancée, you look beautiful tonight too."

Annie replied bluntly, "Stop pretending to be polite. You and I aren't that close!"

Calla tugged at Annie's sleeve, signaling with her eyes that she should watch what she said given the occasion.

Thierry didn't get angry. He slightly turned his body in an inviting gesture, smoothly leading the mother and daughter away from their awkward corner.

At first glance, Thierry's behavior seemed so considerate, but only he knew that he was merely using this woman as a pawn to curry favor with the Ellis family.

Watching Thierry's attentive manner, Calla apologized repeatedly. She suddenly wondered if she had misunderstood Thierry. Maybe he really hadn't lied to her, and it was her daughter being willful?

But she had raised Annie for so many years and knew Annie wouldn't lie about family matters. Having also heard some scandalous rumors about Thierry, she could only lament that Thierry was truly a person fake to the extreme.

Thierry was really in the spotlight today. Right now, all of Philadelphia was talking about how Avery personally delivered an invitation to him. Although Henry Group was a local powerhouse in Philadelphia, as a small-time player, the big shots at parties usually wouldn't even glance at him. But now they were all gathering around him.

Thierry calmly put his arm around Annie's waist. Annie struggled a few times but couldn't move his hand away. Facing a group of Philadelphia's elite, she didn't dare make her movements too obvious, so she could only glare fiercely at Thierry.

Thierry's lips curved slightly upward as he announced loudly to the gathering guests: "Everyone, allow me to introduce you. This is Annie, my fiancée."