"I was never Uncle’s biological daughter to begin with," Sandy said softly. "Selina is. I don’t deserve this seat. Now that she’s here, I should step aside."
She gave a polite bow to Grandma Morris and Joe.
"Don’t worry. I won’t make a scene. I’ll wait quietly until the banquet is over."
Her demeanor—graceful, composed, and seemingly self-sacrificing—earned a few approving nods from the crowd.
This Morris Family side-branch girl clearly knew her place.
After all, Selina’s status was no secret. The Brown Family would definitely have arranged a seat for her. But no one at the second table could be easily replaced. If someone had to go, Sandy was the obvious choice.
And yet, instead of creating tension, Sandy had taken the initiative to step aside—proving she knew how to maintain harmony.
Joe hadn’t spoken yet, but Grandma Morris immediately objected.
"No. You came here with the Morris Family. If we cast you aside now, what does that say about us?"
Her eyes gleamed with haughty disdain.
"You were seated here for a reason, and you’ll stay here. Just because someone else doesn’t know shame doesn’t mean things will change. Right, Selina?"
Joe thought Grandma Morris’s words were harsh, but not exactly wrong. After all... she was Selina’s elder. Maybe the scolding was for Selina’s own good...
Selina gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "You’re right, Madam Morris."
Sandy smiled.
She knew how to play this game. Not only had she won sympathy, but she got to keep her seat, too—win-win.
Grandma Morris scoffed.
"Since you understand that much, then move along. The second table isn’t for you."
Selina nodded. "Mm. I never intended to sit at the second table."
Grandma Morris let out a dismissive laugh. To her, Selina was just trying to save face. The more pride she showed, the more others would belittle her.
At a time like this, she should’ve just admitted she was being petty and apologized...
Before she could finish that thought—
Selina moved.
As she walked, she said casually, "Because my seat is at the main table."
—She never planned to sit at the second table. Her seat was always at the main table.
Then, without missing a beat, Selina sat down at the head table.
The room collectively gasped.
Those who’d just been thinking the Morris Family had gone too far now zipped their lips—because clearly Selina had lost her mind.
How could she be so bold? Even if she was beefing with the Morris Family, this wasn’t the time or place. This was the Brown Family’s event.
Refusing their assigned seat and barging into the head table? That was a slap in the face. No wonder Grandma Morris didn’t like her. She was so—
Grandma Morris froze for a moment, then her expression twisted with fury.
"Selina! What kind of behavior is this? You don’t deserve to call yourself a Morris! Get up! This is the Brown Family’s banquet—do you think it’s your playground?!"
"Only the Brown Family’s immediate relatives can sit at that table. Who do you think you are?! Don’t humiliate us! Watch yourself, or the Morris Family will have you thrown out!"
Selina propped her chin in one hand and yawned.
"You just said I’m not a Morris. So if I’m embarrassing anyone, it sure isn’t you. And if the Brown Family wants to throw me out, that’s their call—not yours."
"You—!" Grandma Morris sputtered, red with rage.
When had she ever been defied like this by someone younger? Usually, her lectures were met with obedience. But Selina—Selina was something else.
"Grandma, don’t get so worked up. Breathe," Sandy said gently, patting her back with concern.
Then, turning to Selina with knitted brows and a wounded voice, she said: "Selina, don’t be like this. I’ll go—just please get up, okay? This isn’t our home. If you make a scene, people will laugh. Don’t you agree?"
Selina’s eyes went ice-cold. She looked up slowly. "Watch your mouth, Madam."
Joe flinched. He wanted to defend Victoria instinctively, but stopping his own mother in public? That would be disgraceful for the Morris Family... so the words got stuck in his throat.
Selina saw it all—and couldn’t help but laugh.
Grandma Morris was losing her mind. In her eyes, Selina should’ve groveled, begged, lowered herself to get back into the Morris Family.
And yet, here she was. Calm, sharp-tongued, unmoved.
Worse still, if Selina really was seated at the main table, it meant her status outranked even Grandma Morris—the matriarch of the Morris Family.
That thought made Grandma Morris snap.
Pointing her finger at Selina, voice shaking with rage, she screamed: "Get up right now and get the hell out! Even I don’t have a place at Chairman Brown’s table, and you think you do? Who the hell do you think you are—"
"Excuse me, Madam Morris—who exactly were you asking to leave?"
The voice, calm and authoritative, cut through the tension like a blade.
Everyone froze and instinctively turned toward it.
There stood Chairman Brown, Mrs. Brown, and the A-list actor Damien—walking straight into the middle of the scene.
The entire room went dead silent.
A few people shook their heads, sighing.
Poor Selina... got caught in the act. Lied right in front of the Morris Family. She’s finished.
Grandma Morris stood frozen for a beat—then a look of triumph lit up her face.
The Brown Family had arrived. And from what she’d heard, Chairman Brown was famously strict, especially toward people like Selina—shameless social climbers who would do anything for power.
All she had to do was push the right buttons... and Selina would be done for.
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