Chapter 2 Undercurrents Behind the Prosperity

The hustle and bustle of the birthday party has passed, but the focus of tonight is still hot. Sophia, the eldest daughter of Alexander, chairman of Changsheng Group, ushered in her 30th birthday. This birthday party is more of a carefully planned social feast than a celebration.

Smith family, a wealthy family with two daughters, the eldest daughter Sophia is both talented and beautiful, while the youngest daughter Jessica seems a little willful and capricious. Sophia, the darling of the Smith family, has a grand celebration every birthday. This year, it is no different from the coming-of-age ceremony for 18 years old, with guests thronging the house, including business elites labeled with "money", "power" and "interests", and young single upstarts in an endless stream, with obvious purposes.

Sophia , a woman with high education, high looks and superior family background, is still single. She is not in a hurry, but Alexander and his wife are anxious. In the past two years, they have put a lot of thought into the birthday party, inviting all kinds of single talents of equal status, trying to find a good match for their daughter. This birthday party is actually a blind date conference in disguise.

In addition to young talents, there are also a lot of female guests. There were ladies from famous families representing their families, elegant ladies attending the banquet with their husbands, and beautiful actresses from the entertainment industry showing off to the big guys. The men gathered together to discuss business, seek benefits, make friends, and flatter; the women wore spring and summer styles from top luxury brands, showing off their exquisite curves and devilish figures, expanding their network, showing off their men, looking for rich men, or hiding in groups of three or five in the corner eating melon seeds and gossiping.

"Look at Sophia, she's attracting all the attention, her nose is up in the air, what is she so proud of? She's just an adopted daughter, but she really thinks she's the eldest princess."

"Huh? Sophia is an adopted daughter?"

" You don't know? You're not from Jiangyu, are you?"

" I am, but I grew up abroad and just returned to China. Is Sophia really an adopted daughter?"

"The Smith family has three children. The eldest son Daniel and the youngest daughter Jessica are their biological children, and Sophia is adopted. I heard that her biological father died in a warehouse fire, and later her mother also died. She became an orphan, and the Smith family adopted her."

Not many people knew about this topic. A rich girl who had just tasted a piece of cake next to her rushed to speak: "I know this. Sophia's biological father was Uncle Smith's classmate. After Uncle Smith inherited the family business, Sophia's biological father followed him and became his right-hand man. They had a good relationship and deep feelings. Uncle Smith felt sorry for Sophia and adopted her."

Hearing this, some people sighed.

" Then the Smith family is too good to this adopted daughter, right? I heard that Alexander has focused on training his son and Sophia in recent years , and they both joined Changsheng after graduation. Jessica didn't go, and I heard that she started a business and opened a photography studio."

"Alexander's wife usually only takes Sophia with her when she goes out. When she mentions her daughter, she always praises Sophia for being so outstanding and rarely mentions Jessica."

"Who makes Sophia so outstanding? Besides, she entered the Smith family when she was twelve years old and has been raised by them for almost twenty years. She is no different from a biological child."

"It's also Jessica's own fault. What else does she have besides that face?"

"Is it not enough to have a face? With that face, she won the young master of Thomas family early on , and will soon be the young mistress of Thomas family , how amazing."

" That's right, even if Sophia is favored by Smith family , so what? Jessica married into Thomas family! What is the status of Thomas family? Ordinary people can't climb up. Don't look at the many dignitaries who came today, none of them can compare to Justin's status."

"Indeed, Sophia wants to marry better than Jessica, unless...she marries someone from the Thomas family."

The one from Thomas family...

Although no name was mentioned, the sisters who were eating melon seeds all thought of the same person at the same time.

"You mean..."

Bang!

"ah!"

Suddenly, a sharp and piercing crash was heard in the hall, accompanied by a terrified female voice, and everyone subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.

When they saw this, they were all stunned.

Jessica didn't want to cause trouble tonight. She was in a bad mood, and Justin's ruthless words in the car hurt her so much that she didn't want to cause trouble anymore. She just wanted to eat and drink to fill the emptiness in her heart. Moreover, she took money from Miriam, and it would be unkind to make trouble again. It was seven figures, so she had to give him some face tonight.

However, she doesn't cause trouble, but trouble always finds her.

Justin was surrounded by a group of people toasting, while Jessica was dragged by Miriam to be a tool, and acted out a sisterly love scene with Sophia in front of everyone. After the scene, she glanced at Justin who was chatting happily with others , and knew that he would take a while, so she turned and went to the second floor, ready to go back to the room to lie down for a while to sober up. She had drunk several glasses just now and was a little drunk.

When she turned into the bathroom, someone ran out. Just as Jessica was about to dodge, someone hit her shoulder hard, and she staggered back two steps and held on to the wall to barely stand.

Snap——

The white diamond-covered square handbag fell to the ground, the zipper was open, and the things inside were scattered all over the floor.

Jessica rubbed her shoulders and looked down, her eyes fell on the pair of crystal clear emerald earrings at her feet. At first glance, she felt that the earrings were familiar, and when she was about to bend down to pick them up, a hand took the earrings away first.

Jessica looked up and was stunned.

" Violet ?" Jessica thought of Justin the first time she saw her love rival . Did Justin bring her here? This thought was rejected as soon as it came to her mind. Impossible! Justin protected Violet very well, and outsiders didn't know their relationship. He couldn't bring Violet to such an occasion because she was here. Now in Justin's eyes, she was a vicious and venomous woman. Justin was afraid that she would bully Violet and that Violet would be wronged, so he would not bring her here.

While she was in a daze, Violet had stuffed all the things on the ground into her bag, stood up with the bag, put the earrings tightly in her hand into the bag, and then replied: " Sophia invited me here."

Jessica only then remembered that Sophia and Violet were college classmates and had a good relationship. It seemed reasonable to invite Violet to Sophia 's birthday .

"you……"

"I have something else to do. I'm leaving now."

Jessica had just started talking when Violet ran out with her bag in her hands, her steps hurried as if she was in a hurry. Jessica looked at her from behind but didn't chase her, she wanted to have a good chat with Violet but not today.

After coming out of the bathroom, Jessica went back to her room and played two games. As soon as the third game started, someone knocked on the door. She was not lucky tonight and was feeling depressed after losing two games in a row. She went to open the door angrily in her slippers. It was the nanny, Aunt Zhang. Seeing that the little princess was unhappy, Aunt Zhang did not dare to stay any longer and finished her words in one breath: "The eldest lady's earrings are lost. Madam asked me to come up and ask you, have you seen it ?"

"Earrings?" Jessica narrowed her eyes slowly and suddenly asked, "Emerald earrings?"

Aunt Zhang nodded quickly, "Yes, it's an emerald. It's a birthday gift from the Madam to the eldest daughter. She said it was too valuable and the eldest daughter didn't want to wear it tonight. Just now, the eldest daughter's skirt was stained with wine and she changed her clothes. Madam said that the clothes matched the earrings very well, so the eldest daughter was ready to wear them, but who knew that when she opened the box, it was empty."

The old lady left behind...

Jessica finally understood why the earrings that fell at her feet made her feel familiar. It was an earring and a bracelet left by her grandmother, which were passed down from the Smith family and could be called antiques. Before her death, her grandmother told Miriam : "Give the bracelet to your daughter-in-law and keep the earrings for Jessica ." Miriam said she would put them on her on the day of her wedding.

Now Miriam gave the earrings to Sophia...

Jessica followed the nanny downstairs leisurely. Just then, Sophia was sad because of the lost earrings. Miriam gently put her arm around her shoulders and comforted her softly. When she looked up, Miriam saw Jessica and asked quickly:

"Where are the earrings?"

This slightly accusatory tone seemed to have determined that Jessica was the one who stole the earrings.

Jessica glanced casually at Violet beside Sophia , caught her guilty look, and smiled faintly, then turned to confirm with Miriam :

"But the one that grandma left behind?"

Seeing Miriam nod, Jessica raised her chin slightly and signaled to Violet:

"Half an hour ago, you collided with me in the bathroom... Do you want to hand it over on your own, or do you need my help?"

Violet's face suddenly changed, and she exclaimed: "Jessica, what do you mean? Do you think I stole Sister Sophia's earrings?"

The crowd, who were busy socializing around, turned their attention to Violet 's sudden shout. The sharp and excited voice quickly attracted many eyes.

Justin in the crowd was also attracted. As the crowd approached, he saw Violet trying to explain herself. She hurriedly opened her handbag and turned it upside down, with the items scattered all over the floor.

However, there was no trace of the earrings on the ground.

"Jessica, although I am of humble origin and not as noble as you, I also have my own pride. I will never covet what does not belong to me, let alone steal it." Violet spoke earnestly.

She was born sweet, thin and petite, wearing a lavender evening dress decorated with pearls, conservative yet elegant like a girl next door. At this moment, her eyes were red, her pale face was slightly raised, her back was straight, and the humiliation and fragility in the corners of her eyes silently accused Jessica .

And Jessica , with a gorgeous face, delicate features, and a tall figure. Her dress tonight was chosen by Miriam , and she changed into it after arriving at the Smith family . It was a sister style of Sophia 's, also in purple. However, unlike Violet 's conservative style, she wore a smoky purple long dress with a full sense of design, with a shoulder-baring waist, and a slender curve, as sexy and charming as a fairy.

In this scene, on one side is the petite and fragile girl next door, and on the other side is the cold and noble rich lady. At first glance, it seems that Jessica is bullying Violet. Especially the disdainful ridicule and condescending arrogance on Jessica's face, which makes Violet look even more pitiful.

Violet pursed her lips again and asked, "Do you want to search me?" Although this was humiliating, Sophia once said that this was the only way to make Jessica and Justin break up completely. Therefore, Violet was willing to give it a try.

She gently pulled up the hem of her skirt, revealing her left shoulder, revealing a large area of white and smooth skin.

Just then, Justin stepped forward.

He took off his suit jacket and gently draped it over Violet's shoulders. He held her hand tightly and protected her behind him. His handsome face was stained with anger, and his sharp eyes shot directly at Jessica:

"Jessica, don't go too far!"

Jessica stared at the hand he was holding Violet's, her brows furrowed, and she was speechless.

"I went too far? What did I do? I just told her the truth and she got so excited that she started looking through her bag and taking off her clothes." Jessica pointed to the bag on the ground and said, "When I saw it, there were indeed earrings in her bag. I didn't lie and there is surveillance footage at home to prove it."

She bumped into Violet at the bathroom door. Although the surveillance angle was limited, she could still see a little bit.

Jessica wanted to ask someone to check the surveillance, but Sophia stepped forward at the right time and claimed that the surveillance at home had broken yesterday and no one had been found to repair it yet.

Such a coincidence?

Jessica turned her head suddenly and looked at Sophia with sharp eyes.

Sophia seemed unaware of her doubts and smiled gently and generously:

" Jessica , those earrings are my birthday gift from mom. I know you've always loved them. From childhood to adulthood, I will give you anything you love. If you like the earrings, take them. Don't accuse an innocent person."

Miriam had already had doubts about Violet . When she heard Sophia say this and thought about the origin of the earrings, she felt that it was more likely that Jessica had taken them.

"Jessica, those earrings match your sister perfectly. I will definitely buy you another pair. Stop making a fuss and return the earrings to your sister and apologize to Violet."

Jessica's gaze penetrated the crowd and fell directly on Violet behind Justin. Looking at her tearful eyes, she sneered.

Sure enough, only the crying child gets the candy.

And she has never liked crying since she was a child.

With accusations and discussions in her ears, Jessica waved, took a glass of champagne from the waiter, and threw it fiercely in Sophia's direction - dare to plot against her? Then forget about having a good birthday.