Chapter: 244

Yet, Mrs. Reyes's expression darkened.

Women who married rich tended to rely on their looks, and Mrs. Reyes was no different. Her biggest insecurity was in her fading beauty. At her age, not even the finest cosmetic procedures could fully mask the passage of time.

She loathed being reminded of it. To be called old in front of so many-especially by a younger woman-was an insult she simply couldn't bear.

Fury flashed across her face as she slammed the table, rattling the dishes. “Alicia Bennett, do you know who I am?" she snarled.

The outburst didn't so much as ruffle Alicia's composure, but it did draw the attention of Mrs. Reyes's son.

His eyes locked onto Alicia, and without thinking, he lunged forward like an enraged bull.

"Don't you dare bully my mom!" he bellowed, charging at her with reckless speed.

Alicia blinked, her expression almost amused as she calmly Lifted the hem of her gown and sidestepped. The motion was graceful, fluid— almost like a dance.

However, the wine glass quivered in her hand, its contents swirling precariously, as if it had a mind of its own.

Then, with a cruel twist of fate, the wine leaped from the glass, splashing directly onto Mrs. Reyes's face.

Meanwhile, the boy, unable to stop his momentum, skidded onto the grass, crashing face-first with a resounding thud.

Mrs. Reyes let out a shrill scream.

She didn't waste a moment to fix her smudged makeup, immediately rushing forward to help her son, Ted, who was sprawled across the soft lawn.

Her breath hitched as she knelt beside him, her hands quickly yet gently feeling for any signs of injury. “Are you hurt?"

The grass beneath him was more forgiving than anything else, but Ted's flushed face was a storm of anger. His round cheeks, red from either embarrassment or frustration, puffed up as he glared at Alicia.

"It's all your fault, you stupid woman!"

Alicia blinked, her eyes widening slightly at the outburst.

Ted was only eight, his face still pudgy, his scowl still childish— yet the sharpness of his words stung.

Mrs. Reyes, who had pulled Ted to his feet by now, turned toward Alicia with a hardened look.

“Alicia, if anything happens to Ted today, I won't let you off the hook so easily," she said, her voice edged with warning.

Alicia met the boy's glare with a slight smile, not one of amusement but a knowing one.

She understood how petty disputes like these could spiral out of control if given the chance.

Instead of fanning the flames, she shifted her gaze to Rachel, the hostess of this gathering. "Mrs. Gray," Alicia began smoothly, her tone deliberately calm, “surely you can tell me-did I do anything wrong here?"

Rachel, ever serene, let out a soft sigh, her expression one of gentle reproach.

"Ms. Bennett," she said, her voice lilting like the wind brushing through the trees, "why bicker with a child?"

Alicia faltered, her smile stiffening as Rachel glided past her, reaching out to smooth Ted's ruffled hair with a motherly tenderness.

"He was just playing with you," Rachel continued lightly. “Why didn't you humor him? Do you really think a child could hurt you?"

Alicia's smile vanished, replaced by a shadow of disappointment that crossed her features.

She studied Rachel for a moment, hoping for some flicker of understanding, but Rachel's attention had already drifted elsewhere.

Rachel knelt down and gently invited Ted to play with the other children.