The guests around them all turned their heads and began to whisper among themselves. Talia took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they were filled with a chilling coldness, "Selina Hughes, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?" Selina Hughes was a master at playing the innocent victim, her lips pouting pitifully, "Sister Rhodes, you clearly weren’t watching where you were going and bumped into me. How can you say I did it on purpose? This is your Rhodes Family’s place; how would I dare to deliberately bump into you?" At this moment, Winter Donovan and Yvonne Coleman also noticed Talia Rhodes and began walking over. "Selina Hughes, stop pretending." Yvonne Coleman unceremoniously shoved Selina Hughes, "Who doesn’t know you’re jealous of Talia? You deliberately spilled that glass of red wine to embarrass her in public." Selina Hughes instantly had a layer of mist in her eyes, "What makes you say that?" Yvonne Coleman responded indignantly, "What you did at the stables and on Mount Volantis already proved that point. Do you really think we’re all blind?" Selina Hughes looked as if she was about to cry, "What did I do?" Yvonne Coleman glared at her coldly, "You want me to say it out loud in front of all these people?" "What’s going on, Selina?" The elder Mrs. Jennings came over after hearing the noise. Selina Hughes quickly walked over to the elder Mrs. Jennings, grabbed her arm, and said with an aggrieved expression, "Grandma, they’re ganging up to bully me." Talia let out a cold laugh, unable to hold back anymore, and fired back in front of the elder Mrs. Jennings, "With the Jennings Family’s matriarch protecting you, who could possibly bully you?" "Grandma, look at her." Selina Hughes choked out as she tugged on the elder Mrs. Jennings’ sleeve. The elder Mrs. Jennings angrily said, "Talia Rhodes, don’t you go too far!" "Too far? Mrs. Jennings, is this how you teach your granddaughter? Accusing me of being rude and uncultured? Then take a good look at what your granddaughter has done!" After speaking, Talia calmly instructed a nearby waiter, "Go get the surveillance footage." Selina Hughes’ face instantly turned pale. She had checked earlier; she was sure there were no cameras here. Talia’s sharp gaze swept toward her, seeming to see into her thoughts, and she sneered, "Did you think there were no cameras here? Haha, such a large banquet hall with so many people coming and going, even with your tiny brain you should know it’s impossible to have no cameras." Talia pointed all around, "There, there, and there, all are cameras, they’re just designed as decorations for aesthetics, but the cameras themselves are the most advanced on the market, offering a complete 360-degree view. Let’s see how you try to weasel out of this one now." The elder Mrs. Jennings retorted angrily, "Then check the surveillance. I trust that my Selina wouldn’t lie; we’ll see how you explain your slander against her later!" Selina Hughes’ back was drenched in cold sweat, her mind in turmoil. The footage couldn’t be checked; she had deliberately bumped into Talia to stain her dress. Why was it that Talia looked so beautiful today that Adrian Jennings’ gaze was glued to her? Why was Talia the center of attention the moment she arrived? She refused to accept it! If the footage showed she purposefully bumped into Talia, then even her grandmother wouldn’t stand by her anymore. No, the footage couldn’t be checked. At this moment, out of the corner of her eye, Selina Hughes saw Adrian Jennings’ figure. She immediately bit her lip and apologized with an aggrieved look, "Sister Rhodes, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, please don’t be angry." "What’s going on?" Adrian Jennings asked as he approached Talia. Talia saw Adrian Jennings and immediately understood, a mocking smile curling on her lips, "I was wondering why you suddenly apologized; turns out Adrian came, huh." Selina Hughes cried, looking like a tear-stained beauty, "I’m sorry, Sister Rhodes, I accidentally bumped into you. I’ll pay for the dress; please don’t be angry anymore, okay?" She lowered herself, appearing very pitiful. Talia saw through her act, knowing she was performing for Adrian Jennings and the elder Mrs. Jennings, "Ha, what a performance, if I don’t forgive you I’ll seem aggressive and unreasonable." The elder Mrs. Jennings was so angry she pointed a finger at Talia and turned to Adrian Jennings, "Adrian, look at her, bullying Selina in front of the Jennings family." Adrian Jennings frowned, removing the elder Mrs. Jennings’ pointing hand from Talia’s face, "Grandma, let’s wait for the surveillance footage." Selina Hughes panicked. She acted even more, crying as if she suffered a great wrong. The surrounding guests began to murmur. Though in hushed tones, some words still drifted to Talia’s ears because they were close enough. "Isn’t Miss Rhodes the Jennings Family’s future Young Madam? Why is she arguing with Mrs. Jennings?" "Looks like Mrs. Jennings doesn’t granddaughter-in-law at all." "That’s right; the elder Mrs. Jennings is fond of her granddaughter. Although she’s an adopted daughter, she’s been in the family for over a decade, which makes her closer than an outsider. Miss Rhodes isn’t even married into the Jennings family yet; can’t expect her to be closer than an adopted daughter." "Even if Selina Hughes is just an adopted daughter, she’s still referred to as Jennings’ young lady in public. Once Talia marries into the family, she’d be her sister-in-law. Now she’s offending both the sister-in-law and the elder Mrs. Jennings. Will she still be fit for the Young Madam position in the Jennings family in the future?" "Exactly, Talia Rhodes really needs to tone down her temper; using her family’s wealth to bully others is too much. Does she look down on the Jennings’ adopted daughter for being the daughter of a nanny?" "Isn’t it too much to bully someone like that? She bumped into her by accident and now she’s making a big fuss over a dress? Her family’s so rich, what’s it to lose one dress?" "Is it worth offending Mrs. Jennings over a dress? It’s really not worth it, Talia Rhodes can’t see the forest for the trees." "What do you think the Jennings’ Crown Prince will choose?" "No need to ask, of course, he’ll side with Mrs. Jennings and Selina Hughes. The elder Mrs. Jennings is his real grandmother, and Selina Hughes is the sister he’s lived with for over a decade. Do we even need to ask? His relationship with Talia Rhodes is based on alliance, purely driven by interests, no emotions involved." "Yes, in our circle, marriages are about alliances, no real emotions. Of course, the Young Master will side with Selina Hughes." "Tsk tsk, I see the elder Mrs. Jennings is really upset. Do you think this marriage can still go on?" "I think it’s doubtful." Talia heard these words, as did Selina Hughes and Adrian Jennings. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel⚑fire.net Selina Hughes, with her head lowered, appeared to wipe away tears, seemingly crying, but only she knew her lowered head was to hide a smile on her lips. However, Adrian Jennings suddenly raised his voice, his eyes cold, "Who said I’d side with Selina Hughes? Who said this marriage couldn’t proceed?" The anger in his voice was loud and clear, heard by everyone present. In an instant, the whispers ceased. Even the band didn’t dare continue playing. The banquet hall fell into terrifying silence. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Adrian Jennings took Talia Rhodes’ hand, and with words that were clear and firm said, "This is the person I love deeply, wanting to marry her has been my wish for many years, and the alliance was something I requested from Mr. Rhodes, not for profit."