Selina Hughes suddenly lifted her head, tears still visible, her eyes filled with pain. Adrian Jennings actually confessed his feelings to Talia Rhodes in front of so many people! When those whispers reached her ears, she was very uneasy. She was afraid Adrian Jennings would really, as they said, favor Selina Hughes and stand against her. At this moment, Talia felt incredibly grounded. A warm sensation came from her palm, Adrian Jennings’ broad hand holding hers, giving her the strength to feel at ease. Talia’s heart slowly settled, her mood calming down. Grandma Jennings was far from calm. Adrian Jennings saying such things in front of everyone was nothing but slapping her in the face! The old lady was so angry that her words trembled, "Adrian, don’t say this here..." "Miss, the surveillance is here." The waiter interrupted Grandma Jennings, handing the USB drive in his hand to Talia Rhodes. Everyone looked toward the USB in the waiter’s hand, eagerly anticipating what it contained. Talia reached out to take the USB and said to everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me to the screening room on the fifth floor, where the truth will soon be revealed." Selina Hughes was so nervous that her palms were sweaty. She bit her lip, feigning calmness, "Sister Rhodes, I’ve already apologized to you. Why are you being so relentless?" "Was that a genuine apology?" Talia Rhodes glanced at her coldly, "I don’t accept it." Selina Hughes continued to make excuses, "Don’t just think about me, consider the guests. The banquet hall is so big, there are so many people, can the screening room accommodate all of us?" Talia Rhodes chuckled mockingly, "Sorry, Miss Hughes, the screening room upstairs can accommodate one thousand people, no need for you to worry." Selina Hughes’ face stiffened, frowning as she thought up another excuse. Yvonne Coleman watched Selina Hughes with her arms crossed, intrigued, "Oh dear, someone seems to be feeling guilty and afraid to go, huh?" Selina Hughes gritted her teeth, "I’m not feeling guilty at all, I just don’t want to waste everyone’s time. It’s just a misunderstanding, why make such a fuss?" Yvonne Coleman laughed heartily, "Hahaha, I didn’t specifically say you were feeling guilty, Miss Hughes, but you recognized it yourself, you’re so anxious." "Ladies and gentlemen, those interested in accompanying me to the screening room, please go to the fifth floor." Talia spoke calmly. Grandma Jennings spoke again, "Look at you, you don’t have the demeanor of a family heiress. Just accidentally dirtying your dress and being so unforgiving. I’ll have Hughes compensate you for the dress. Why go to the screening room to watch surveillance? We’re all family; don’t make it irreparable." Yvonne Coleman rolled her eyes at that and thought to herself: troublesome old hag, always bullying Talia, not letting her call you grandma at the family banquet, and now wanting to settle things, claiming we’re all family. Talia and her girlfriends shared everything; she had already complained about the grievances she suffered at the Jennings Family banquet to Winter Donovan and Yvonne Coleman. Yvonne Coleman was very dissatisfied with Grandma Jennings and her adopted daughter. Shawn Rhodes was outside in the garden, discussing business with important clients during the banquet, completely unaware of the commotion inside. Jasmine Rhodes had caught a flu two days ago and was receiving IV treatment at the hospital, with Lillian Young accompanying her, unable to attend the party. Therefore, members of the Rhodes Family couldn’t immediately support Talia. Talia thought she would be isolated and helpless when Selina Hughes bullied her but didn’t expect Yvonne Coleman and Adrian Jennings to step in to defend her. "What does grandma think a family heiress should be like?" Adrian Jennings’ tone was chilling, "Is she to let others bully her and swallow her pride?" The old lady looked incredulous, "Adrian, what are you saying? What do you mean by letting others bully her? Are you implying that Hughes and I are bullying her?" "Isn’t that the case?" Adrian Jennings’ eyes were cold and sharp, "The dress getting dirty was minor, yet Selina Hughes immediately blamed Talia for not watching where she was going. It’s reasonable for Talia to suggest checking the surveillance, but you blame her for being relentless and making a fuss. Today, I insist on seeing the surveillance. I won’t let you bully my wife in front of me." Selina Hughes was shaken to her core; the word "wife" pierced her heart. Adrian Jennings actually defended Talia Rhodes ! They haven’t even gotten engaged yet, and he’s already calling her his wife. How could he do this! Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI★Fire.net The old lady was so angry that her chest was heaving violently, "Adrian, you’re part of the Jennings Family, why are you siding with outsiders?" Adrian Jennings held Talia Rhodes’ hand tightly, meeting Grandma Jennings’ gaze without backing down, his tone extremely serious, "My allegiance is only to my wife, no one can change that." "You, you, you, you..." Grandma Jennings clutched her chest, so angry she couldn’t speak. "Brother, say less, won’t you? Grandma has a bad heart; don’t upset her." Selina Hughes said to Adrian Jennings. Adrian Jennings let out a mocking laugh, hitting the nail on the head, "If you caused less trouble, she wouldn’t be so upset." Selina Hughes was struck dumb, a mix of anger and frustration raging inside her. "Enough, everyone stop talking, let’s go to the screening room." Talia Rhodes said coldly. At each end of the banquet hall were three elevators, totaling six, each able to carry fifteen people at once, transporting up to ninety people per trip. Talia raised her voice, "I personally detest being slandered. Those interested can take the elevator with me to the screening room to watch the surveillance video." Many guests followed Talia Rhodes toward the elevators. Whispers arose once more. "It seems that Miss Rhodes has been wronged. What could the Rhodes Family heiress lack that she’d be unforgiving over a dress?" "I agree; I always felt there was something off about the Jennings Family’s adopted daughter. If she’s innocent, why not let everyone see the surveillance?" "I wanted to say this when they were criticizing Talia Rhodes earlier; Selina Hughes seems so clearly manipulative, haven’t you noticed her gaze toward the Jennings Family Crown Prince?" "Yeah, I noticed too; her feelings for the Jennings Family Crown Prince don’t seem like sibling affection." "Tut-tut, pretended siblings, huh? Interesting, the elite families are always so intriguing." "Sister, I’m an expert at spotting phonies, and Selina Hughes is definitely manipulative. Luckily, the Jennings Family Crown Prince sees through her and is better than most men." "Exactly, Selina Hughes’s manner of speaking makes me uncomfortable, such an affected damsel!" "Let’s go, let’s watch the surveillance, waiting for the faker to get exposed." Despite being whispered, these conversations still reached Adrian Jennings’ ears. He tightened his hold on Talia’s hand, "Talia, I only have sibling-like feelings for Selina Hughes, nothing else." After a pause, he added, "From now on, there won’t even be sibling-like feelings." Talia responded with a soft "Mm," without saying anything further. Among the guests were those social elite young men and women who enjoyed the spectacle, nearly all heading to the screening room, while the older generation left in the banquet hall continued mingling and networking, attending to their businesses. A large group of young people who loved drama reached the fifth floor and entered the screening room. Some couldn’t help but exclaim. "Wow, indeed the Rhodes Family is Oakhaven’s top luxury family; such a large screening room with a starry ceiling, I’m envious." "Have your dad build you one ." "Impossible, just one screening room would cost over a billion, our family can’t compare to the Rhodes Family." "I heard the entire estate was bought by Shawn Rhodes as a dowry for Talia Rhodes; we really can’t compare, this is genuine wealth." "I spend a million monthly, and my dad calls me wasteful. Truly, there’s a gap between people." "Isn’t there? You see those online, they say the biggest divide in life is the amniotic fluid." Once guests were seated, Talia personally went to the front computer to operate. She plugged in the USB, opened the folder, found the corresponding surveillance video, and turned on the projector.