Chapter: 243

"What makes that Miss Bennett so irresistible to men, anyway?" another woman mused, her voice dripping with disdain.

"I can't tell if Joshua hid her because she's such a precious treasure or a humiliating disgrace!" Mrs. Reyes chuckled, a sharp sound cutting through the air. "Every man loves to flaunt what he's got. If his wife is beautiful and talented, why wouldn't he show her off to the world? Just look at Lilliana-can you even compare her to Alicia?"

The earlier remarks had been biting, but Mrs. Reyes's words were the cherry on top.

The others shared her sentiment, their snickers bubbling up with a cruel sort of amusement.

"Poor thing," someone murmured between giggles. “Dumped, brokenhearted, and now she's scrambling to make a name for herself in showbiz. Just when she tries to move on, her past gets dragged out, and the netizens tear her apart."

Another chimed in, "I saw her a while back-her face and figure were alright, I suppose. So, why isn't she attracting any men?"

"If she were that gorgeous, she'd have been snatched up by now. These days, it's all about filters and special effects. Who knows what she looks like without makeup?"

They tittered into their hands, delighting in their spite.

Only Rachel stayed quiet, eyes darting around nervously.

She had spotted Alicia not too far away, hovering just within earshot.

Truth be told, Alicia had heard every word.

As the laughter died down, Alicia made her move. With a graceful step, she approached the group, a glass of wine held elegantly in her hand.

She stopped beside Mrs. Reyes and, with a quiet clink, tapped her glass against Mrs. Reyes's.

Mrs. Reyes turned slowly, her smug smile faltering when she saw Alicia standing right next to her.

Alicia wore a champagne-colored silk gown, its delicate straps framing her smooth shoulders. Her skin glowed under the soft lighting, and her lightly made-up face held a serene, almost mysterious smile.

There was a captivating elegance about her, like a rare flower in full bloom amid a garden of thorns.

To put it simply, Alicia was nothing short of stunning.

Mrs. Reyes blinked, her surprise evident.

Part of her wondered if Alicia had overheard their cruel banter, while another part couldn't help but admire how flawless Alicia looked-even up close.

Far from the picture they'd painted just now, Alicia was beautiful.

She was even more stunning than in the videos!

"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Reyes." Alicia's smile was warm and radiant, enough to light up any room. “And what, may I ask, had you all laughing so heartily?" Her tone was gentle, but there was an undeniable edge beneath it.

Mrs. Reyes, momentarily lost in her own thoughts, blinked as Alicia's question snapped her back to the present.

For a split second, a trace of worry flickered in her mind, but it vanished just as quickly. After all, Alicia was a woman grappling with her own burdens, with barely any support to lean on. What did she have to fear?

A slow, deliberate smile crept across her face as she replied, “Oh, Ms. Bennett, were we being too loud? Surely you must've overheard our little conversation?"

The words dripped with condescension, a clear attempt to dismiss Alicia as insignificant.

Alicia's smile didn't falter. "I'm afraid not," she said Lightly.

"Perhaps your voice has grown softer with age, making it difficult to hear. Would you mind repeating it for me?"

A sharp silence fell over the room as onlookers turned their attention to the brewing confrontation.

Alicia's voice was as smooth as ever, not a hint of hostility showing on her face.