"This is about to get interesting."
June, Rauf, and Chris all turned their heads in the direction Ellie was looking.
A middle-aged woman dressed in designer clothes with a matching purse and shoes walked inside. From the way she had matched everything, anyone could easily tell that she cared so much about her appearance.
Especially in public places like this.
Yet, the beautiful clothes couldn’t hide the sadness lurking on her face.
Her eyes darted around as if in search of someone.
Chris, who had no idea who she was, asked, "Who’s she?"
Ellie smirked, moving closer to his ear, and whispered, "Amie’s biological mother." She didn’t want anyone at the party listening to them.
June couldn’t help but notice how comfortable Chris was beside Ellie.
And a small smile settled on her lips.
But suddenly, the woman lurched forward.
"Amie!"
Her voice echoed across the room, cutting off other conversations.
Heads turned in their direction, and June could tell people were wondering what exactly was about to happen again.
"This party is a soap opera," Ellie said, sipping from her drink.
Amie’s eyes widened as she registered the woman, and she stepped back momentarily. Her eyes searched for her father.
What was this woman doing here?
Her father had assured her that she wouldn’t be at the party.
How did she even find out about the ceremony?
"I heard something unbelievable, Amie. And I said, it’s impossible. It can’t be."
Amie already knew what she was about to say. Before she could make the statement, Amie screamed, "Security! Security! Get this woman out of here this instant. She’s insane."
The security guards ran towards the woman, ready to grab her by the shoulders, when a voice sounded behind them.
"Leave her alone."
They let go of the woman.
Even when Amie continued screaming at them to do their job, they ignored her and stepped back.
It was Chris.
He was enjoying the show before him, and the fact that Amie could deny her birth mother in public only showed how desperate she could be.
June felt uneasy as she moved closer to Ellie.
This was the woman who had made her life hell.
The woman who had made sure she knew no peace in her father’s house.
The woman who had always placed her daughter above June.
June didn’t know whether to smile or feel sorry for her at the moment. But she knew this was karma hitting her directly in the face.
Ellie noticed the change in June and pulled her closer. "It’s okay. She can’t do anything to you here."
June scoffed at Ellie. "I’m not afraid of her. I just feel sorry for her."
"What are you talking about?" Amie’s mother’s voice boomed across the room. "What do you mean I’m insane? I am your mother. I gave birth to you. How can you claim this stranger as your mother?"
But before she could continue, Samir ran to the rescue.
"Are you insane? Just because I let you raise my daughter, you’re claiming to be her mother?"
She stopped.
At first, she hadn’t noticed Samir at the party. Her attention had been fully focused on Amie. So, the shock of seeing Samir and the fact that he was supporting Amie temporarily left her speechless.
Before she could regain her composure, Samir shouted, "Security! Drag this woman out of this place now!"
The security guards didn’t make a move until Chris commanded them to.
They held her arms, dragging her out before she could utter another word.
Yet, she couldn’t take her eyes off Amie and Samir as they dragged her out of the hall.
Everyone watched her, and they couldn’t help but whisper about what had just happened, even if it meant risking Serena’s wrath.
"Why did you let them drag her out?" Ellie turned to Chris. She had been enjoying the whole show.
"Because if she starts spewing more facts, it might destroy the purpose of this party. Look." He pointed at the guests. "If the people start doubting Amie, the enemies will too. And my dearest sister won’t be safe."
Ellie stared at him with a look of awe.
How he could think of all that within a few seconds was surprising to her.
But the seeds of doubt had already been planted in the guests’ minds.
As the conversations resumed, Rauf’s mind and eyes were on his mother.
It was hard to believe that the woman who cared so much about him had suddenly changed.
Worse, she was standing beside the enemy.
He tapped Chris’s shoulder. "Excuse me for a bit. I have something to settle."
Chris understood him perfectly and took his position beside June.
June watched him leave with a small frown on her face.
She didn’t want to be the third wheel where Chris and Ellie were concerned. She would rather stay beside Rauf.
She watched Rauf manoeuvre through the crowd until he got close to his mother. Without so much as an excuse, he pulled his mother away from the people she was talking to.
June was certain that if Samir wasn’t busy conversing with Amie, he would have wanted to follow them out.
But in his absence, Rauf was able to pull his mother away.
"What do you think your father must have offered her to have her obeying his instructions?" Ellie asked, her eyes also following them until they were out of sight.
June shrugged. "I’m not sure, but Father might have something on her. It’s his favourite way of coercing people into doing what he wants."
Ellie found that hard to believe. "But what could he have on her that would make her turn her back on her son?"
June shrugged again.
She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. And one of the reasons she had agreed to come to the party was right in front of her.
She narrowed her gaze at her brother and best friend.
"What’s going on between the two of you?"