Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 390: Chapter 390

But none of this was a big deal. Aileen was no Sophia or anyone else. She was the heiress to one of Merilunia's most powerful families.
Not only Tobias and his crew, but even people far more influential had to curry favor with her family.
Now that she knew Zoe had those three backing her, Aileen would use her family's power to make them back off. 'Once that bitch loses her support, let's see how long she could keep causing trouble,' Aileen thought.
After receiving applause from the crowd, Zoe and Shawn boldly locked lips, completely unrestrained. The atmosphere was just right, so it was natural.
Shawn not only accepted Zoe's kiss but reciprocated fervently, a sight that left Aileen green with envy.
'Damn it, I can't let that woman keep flaunting herself like this. I have to find a way to tear them apart for good,' Aileen fumed inwardly.
The party was hardly the right moment, and coming up with a way to separate them in such a short time was almost impossible.
To ensure flawless execution of her plan, Aileen decided to bide her time and wait for another opportunity.
At the party, Shawn and Zoe received everyone's heartfelt congratulations. As for the earlier commotion caused by Sophia, it was as if the crowd had developed collective amnesia. No one dared bring it up.
The elite could easily distinguish genuine affection from political arrangements. It was clear Shawn and Zoe were truly in love, while Sophia was merely a pawn in a marriage alliance.
Zoe arrived at the buffet area with Shawn by her side.
"What a shame. To most people here, these delicacies are probably just decoration," Zoe remarked as she picked up a plate. She began selecting some of her favorite dishes.
Shawn followed closely behind, quietly noting down each of her food preferences.
Zoe took a bite of a strawberry and found it delightfully sweet, so she playfully offered it to Shawn. "Try it," she said.
Shawn didn't hesitate. He opened his mouth and let her feed him the strawberry. As his lips closed around her fingers, he gave her fingertip a lingering, teasing lick.
'Damn it, he's turning the tables on me,' Zoe thought, her heart racing. 'I've been the one always initiating, and I didn't even notice he'd mastered all my moves. Now he's using them on me!'
Suppressing her pounding heartbeat, she turned back to the buffet to continue her food hunt.
Their intimate moments—from dancing to eating together—were secretly filmed and sent straight to Sophia's cell phone while she was stuck at home.
Sophia's eyes blazed with fury as she watched. "How dare they!" she seethed through clenched teeth.
In a fit of rage, she slammed her phone to the floor. "Zoe, this means war between us!" she snarled.
Just then, Rick entered the room.
Sophia was still fuming at Rick for making her leave the party, so the moment he came in, she immediately turned her back on him.
"Sophia, this tantrum of yours won't solve anything," Rick said calmly.
Sophia grew even angrier. She spat sarcastically, "Oh, so I'm useless now, huh? But when you needed me, you sweet-talked me into coming here just to humiliate myself.
"And the moment I was no longer useful, you just kicked me to the curb. Isn't that your usual trick?"
Her voice rose sharply as she vented her frustration, completely forgetting she had no right to speak to an elder this way.
Rick's hand cracked across Sophia's face with a sharp slap, leaving her momentarily stunned.
"Calmed down yet?" he asked coldly.
Sophia's face stung from the slap, but her heart ached even more. 'I did exactly what they wanted. So why am I the one humiliated, the one getting hit? How is this even fair?' she wondered.