"Indeed, Ms. Frazier," Joe acknowledged with a slight bow.


    He flicked his gaze at a maid standing nearby. The maid sprang into action, stepping forward and sshing a ss of ice-cold water onto Eve''s face.


    Eve gasped, her makeup streaking down her now-drenched face. Her expression darkened like a storm cloud.


    YOU


    gone mad? I am a guest here. How dare you treat me this way?"


    "The Nichols family has no interest in hosting ill-bred guests. Besides, we have no record of you.


    Joe regarded Eve with an icy stare, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She had pulled strings through her father''s connections to secure an invitation. Normally, this kind of grand event was beyond their reach.


    Feeling the weight of countless eyes on her, Eve gritted her teeth. "Regardless, I am still a guest. Even if I''ve erred, it is Mr. Nichols'' ce to reprimand me, not yours. You''re just a secretary. Since when do you have the authority to act like this?" Ashley immediately echoed her words. The surrounding crowd watched the spectacle with bated breath.


    ''Joe, long known as Juan''s right-hand man, is not someone to be trifled with. These two are clearly out of their depth."


    Joe offered a chilling smile. "Well then, what is it you want?"


    Knowing Joe''s connection to Juan, Eve didn''t dare demand much.


    "I want a public apology," she said, trying to salvage some dignity.


    Debra knew Eve''s personality well, and that request was the biggest promise she could make.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    But Eve didn''t understand that asking Joe to apologize was essentially pping Juan''s face.


    Debra interjected calmly, "Joe, don''t waste your breath. Let''s go."


    "Yes, Ms. Frazier," Joe replied, signaling to the two security guards at the door. They moved swiftly to escort Eve out. Chapter


    Eve thrashed and screamed, "Unhand me! I am the daughter of the Cameron family. Who dares treat me this way?"


    The onlookers snickered, but Eve was too consumed by her outrage to notice. Ashley sidled away from Eve, afraid of getting implicated.


    She had clung to Eve''s coattails to gain entry to this elite event and wasn''t about to be tossed out now.


    Upstairs, Shelia observed themotion with a scowl. "Who allowed that woman to attend the banquet?"


    Today was her engagement to Juan, a day she had waited tirelessly, and she refused to let anything mar perfection.


    "Miss, she wasn''t on the guest list. She must have slipped in. Joe handled it. Don''t let it trouble you," said the butler. Shelia''s gaze narrowed on Eve''s expensive couture dress, her displeasure growing. Get that dress off her. It''s an eyesore." "Yes, Miss."


    With Shelia''s newfound status as both Miss ir and Juan''s fiancée, everyone around her was quick to obey.


    Eve was unceremoniously ejected from the house. Ashley, having sessfully distanced herself, watched Eve''s humiliation with a mix of relief and satisfaction.


    "Let go! You can''t treat me like this!" Eve''s cries faded into the distance.


    Eve hadn''t evenid eyes on Tracy before the security guards manhandled her like a tagdoll.


    In the blink of an eye, a man in a crisp butler''s uniform stood before her. Eve wrenched herself free from the guards'' grasp, her voice shaking with rage and humiliation. "How dare youy your filthy hands on me?"


    She frantically brushed at her clothes, as if their topch had left a stain. "You must be the butler. I demand to see Mr. Nichols. He should know how his staff is treating his guests."


    She was a richdy, and no one had disrespected her like this befo


    The butler looked down his nose at her, his voice dripping with disdain. "Mr. Nichols is not for anyone to see."


    He signaled the guards with a flick of his wrist. "Miss ir has expressed her displeasure with this outfit. Remove it."


    "Yes, sir."


    The guards advanced on Eve, their hands grabbing at her designer dress. She paled, her eyes wide with terror. The sound of ripping fabric filled the air as her haute couture gown was reduced to ribbons. She clutched at the remnants and cried out, "How can you do this to me?"


    The butler sneered at her. "You''re just another gold-digger, trying to sneak in through the back door and seduce Mr. Nichols. You can dream on."


    He tossed a bank card at her feet, like a scrap to a beggar. "There''s enough money there to buy a dozen dresses like that one. Don''t let us catch you sniffing around again. Miss ir doesn''t take kindly to pests." Eve stood there, shaking, her eyes darting from one sneering face to another. She snatched up the bank card and fled back into her car.


    "Drive!"


    The humiliation had deprived her of the chance to hold her head high in high society again.


    Just then, Michael''s sleek ck sedan pulled up to the curb. Oscar sat beside him,