Holding the mask in her hand, Sandy grumbled, "What is this? Seriously, do I have to wear this hideous mask to your dinner party?"


    With a look of pure disdain, she tossed the mask to the security guard. "If I have to wear a mask, what was the point of spending two hours on my makeup? No way, I''m not putting it on."


    The security guard, unfazed, replied, "I''m sorry, but without the mask, we can''t let you in. It''s the Mintons'' policy."


    "What kind of ridiculous rule is that? I''ve never heard of anything so absurd!" Sandy huffed, ready to storm off.


    But Sophie grabbed her hand, whispering urgently, "Do you want to go in and have fun or not?"


    "I..."


    Before Sandy could protest, Sophie leaned in closer and whispered, "The new CEO of the Mintons is trying to make a statement. Just wear the mask to get in, and then you can take it off. Do you really think they''d dare to throw you out?" "Exactly! Even Odie didn''t dare mess with me, I''m not scared of them!" With that, Sandy reluctantly picked up the mask and put it on.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Jenna, watching the exchange, couldn''t help butment to Sophie, "You''re going to be great at handling kids someday!"


    Sophie shushed Jenna with a cautious gesture.


    Once the trio made it inside thevish dinner party, they saw the hall was already buzzing with guests.


    Sandy looked around and scoffed, "Why are all the men here bald? Not a single handsome guy in sight."


    She pouted, clearly unimpressed. "Devonport really needs to step up its game. Where are all the good-looking people?"


    Sophie chimed in, "Don''t underestimate these bald men; they''ve got serious wealth in the industry."


    "So what? They''re not as rich as my dad," Sandy said dismissively. "These people are nothingpared to the Pord family!"


    "Yes, yes, we all know the Pord family is the richest," Sophie said, rolling her eyes.


    Jenna, not interested in the banter, turned to Sophie and asked, "Sophie, have you seen these people at the Mintons'' dinners before?"


    "Yeah, I have," Sophie replied. "The Mintons'' dinners are always over-the-top, basically a huge power y. They do this to reel in big names from various


    industriespany execs,


    financial managers, business el


    moguls. Anyone who gets involved with the Mintons ends up being controlled by them because the Mintons have dirt on them. But tonight, something feels different."


    These were the people who had once bowed to Odie, not realizing that their loyalty was to the Mintons'' legacy, not just Odie. They would follow whoever held the reins at the Mintons.


    "Where''s the guest of honor? Why hasn''t he shown up yet?" Sophie scanned the room but couldn''t spot the newly appointed CEO.


    Sandy, impatient as ever, said,


    "Doesn''t the guest of honor always


    like to make a grand entrant


    a diva move! I''ll go look for him!"


    swny


    Such


    Just as Sandy was about to head upstairs, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly dimmed.