Twin Cupids at Work Daddy Come Home novel Chapter 559

“Miss, it’s time to go downstairs.” Maxwell walked over and gave Claire a gentle reminder.

Claire took a deep breath, letting her features soften into an easy, confident smile. She nodded, her voice light. “Okay.”

Right now, all she could do was take things as they came.

She followed Maxwell down the stairs.

The hall was buzzing with guests, every invitee already mingling below. No one would miss a Ballard family event.

Claire smoothed her dress, straightened her back, and slipped on a flawless, practiced smile.

Maxwell gestured for her to go ahead, and Claire gathered her skirt, gliding down the staircase with slow, graceful steps.

The sound of her footsteps drew everyone’s attention. Heads turned, eyes landing on Claire as she appeared at the curve of the grand staircase.

Her silver-white gown shimmered under the lights, and her beautiful face seemed to glow, drawing every gaze in the room.

“Wow, is that the Ms. Ballard? She’s gorgeous.”

“She really is. Look at her, she’s got such a presence. Even though she didn’t grow up in the Ballard family, she carries herself like she was born for it.”

“Isn’t that dress a Bradley original? The one he designed himself? I heard it was made by hand and has almost a thousand diamonds sewn into the skirt. Under these lights, it looks like a river of stars. This is breathtaking.”

“Yeah, that’s the one. Bradley once said this dress is hard for anyone to pull off, but Ms. Ballard makes it look like it was made just for her. She’s so beautiful and has the perfect figure for it. No one else could wear it like that.”

“With looks like hers, she totally owns that dress.”

How could Madeline be Ms. Ballard?

That made no sense.

Helene shook her head, refusing to believe it. She took a shaky step forward, as if she might charge up and tear away the mask herself. She’d always thought her family background would keep Madeline beneath her forever. But if Madeline was really Ms. Ballard, then Helene had nothing left. There was no way she could compete.

Jealousy burned through her, sharp and wild.

“Helene.” Courtney quickly grabbed her daughter’s arm, holding her back. “You need to calm down.”

Everyone was crowded around, eager to flatter Ms. Ballard. If Helene lost control and started something now, it would drag their whole family down.

Helene clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white, forcing herself to swallow her jealousy. She had suffered so much because of Madeline, and there was no way she’d just let it go.