Chapter 146: Chapter 146

"It’s because we’re not familiar that I’m taking you to get to know them. You’ll have to get used to it sooner or later." He turned around and looked at me, giving a slight smile.

I frowned and complained, "You should’ve told me earlier, so I could’ve tidied up a bit. Looking , isn’t it embarrassing for you..."

"Not at all, you look great just as you are." He glanced back at me, smiling indulgently, "From now on, don’t dress too beautifully, or I’ll get insecure."

I looked at him incredulously, "Second Master Carter, you seem so gentle and respectful towards women, are you also a bit chauvinistic?"

"I don’t know what you mean, I just don’t like other men drooling over my girlfriend."

"..." I smiled helplessly, turning to look out the car window, sighing, "You’re really changing my perception of you."

"What, are you regretting it?"

"Yes, I’m realizing how perfectly you’ve been pretending."

"Too bad, it’s too late to regret now."

We joked around, the sun was bright, the streets were bustling, and I started humming a song, feeling very cheerful.

"What are your plans for New Year’s? Since you don’t have family with you, do you want to come to Carter Manor for the celebration?" Daniel Carter casually asked while driving.

I turned to look at him, "You’re inviting me to your family for New Year’s already? I haven’t even passed the test with your grandfather yet."

"No problem, you’ll know after meeting him tomorrow."

I didn’t say anything, but the uneasy feeling in my heart surfaced again.

"During the Spring Festival, I probably won’t be in the country. As I told you before, I have to go to Milan for work, and then the fashion week starts right after the New Year."

Daniel Carter frowned, "You’re not coming back for the New Year?"

"Hmm, probably not. It’s been the same every year during this time."

My relationship with the Miller Family is too strained; going back for a reunion just feels pointless, and going to the Gordon Family feels awkward and inappropriate.

So every Spring Festival, I’m abroad preparing for fashion week, conveniently avoiding the awkward family reunion moments.

Then, after the New Year, around the fifth or sixth day, I visit the Gordon Family in the country.

But this year, I don’t need to do that, which means less hassle and more focus on organizing the fashion week.

Daniel Carter sensed the underlying meaning in my words, glanced at me, and comforted, "From this year onwards, you won’t have to do this. I’ll be with you."

I gave a grateful smile, "Thank you, but this year’s work is already arranged and it’s hard to cancel."

As for next year, maybe by then we would have broken up, and it wouldn’t matter anymore.

All these years, I’ve learned to strive for the life I want, but without excessive unrealistic fantasies.

Going to the Carter Family for New Year’s, I’m not qualified.

Unless one day, I can gain the approval of the entire Carter Family and truly be with Daniel Carter.

Otherwise, these moments of reunion and laughter would only make countless New Year’s Eves and Spring Festivals even lonelier.

Never experienced, so it’s less painful when lost.

When we arrived at the gathering place, I realized tonight’s event was even more lively than the New Year’s Eve party before, with even more people attending.

Melissa Chandler saw me and immediately came over.

"Lily Miller!" She linked her arm with mine and boasted to her girlfriends, "The pleated apron skirt that made such a splash online last time was designed by Chief Designer Miller, isn’t it amazing!"

She then whispered, "She’s my brother’s girlfriend, future sister-in-law."

"Melissa!" I quickly pulled on her, "Don’t joke around like that."

Melissa giggled, "In my heart, that’s what you are! And you’re the only one!"

I smiled politely, feeling a mix of happiness and anxiety.

Natalie Yates was also there, just like at the New Year’s Eve party. As soon as Daniel Carter appeared, Young Master Yates pulled him away to chat with a group of young gentlemen.

They were all respectful towards him, each vying for his attention.

It seemed unlikely for him to leave anytime soon.

"Lily Miller, come on, I’ll accompany you, don’t be shy. Every year during the Little New Year, we gather to celebrate New Year in advance, since during the actual New Year, everyone’s either traveling globally or visiting relatives, making it hard to gather, so it’s become a tradition." Melissa Chandler explained, reminding me of what Wennie Lane had mentioned before.

There are many social gatherings among the elite, and the Miller Family isn’t quite eligible. Moreover, I’m the overlooked child of the family, so I’ve never attended such gatherings.

But Wennie Lane is a genuine heiress.

I wondered if she came today...

I looked around, and Melissa Chandler misunderstood, teasing, "My brother won’t escape, he’ll come looking for you later."

"No, I was looking to see if Wennie came."

"Did she come too?" Melissa Chandler joined me in searching.

But we couldn’t find her after looking around.

I messaged Wennie Lane on WeChat and found out she was attending her company’s year-end party tonight and couldn’t come.

Melissa Chandler pulled me inside, "Let’s have fun first, we’ll arrange to meet Ms. Wennie another day."

Upon entering, I realized this gathering wasn’t just for fun; they had even invited a popular band to perform live.

I was enjoying the beautiful music, completely unaware of the commotion rising on the other side of the banquet hall.

By the time I noticed it and curiously turned with the crowd to watch, my gaze had already caught the source of the growing disturbance that wasn’t friendly.

She actually came too!

If I’m not mistaken, she should be recovering from an abortion surgery now, why would she come to the party?

We made eye contact, and I could sense her sharp and hateful glare from afar. I secretly felt that was not good and slowly turned my head away.

I thought, if I can’t afford to offend her, I should avoid her. In such a crowded place, I definitely shouldn’t cause a scene.

However, what is meant to come, cannot be avoided.

Amanda Gordon walked straight towards me and initiated the confrontation: "Lily Miller, what are you hiding from? You almost became my sister-in-law, and now you don’t even greet me when we meet?"

Her tone was aggressive, and her voice was loud, clearly intending to cause trouble.

Just as the band finished a song, the scene was quiet, and her words were clearly heard by everyone.

The crowd around us was drawn to the commotion and all turned to look.

"Who are you? Where do you come from to..." Even Melissa was not someone to back down and was about to retort.

"Melissa, let me handle this." I turned and said to her in a low voice, shielding her behind me.

Amanda Gordon obviously came for revenge, and I was afraid Melissa might get caught in the crossfire.

"Lily Miller, don’t be afraid of her, we have your back!" Melissa stood behind me and purposely emphasized loudly.

I responded with a grateful smile.

I turned to look at Amanda Gordon and calmly and gently said, "Weren’t you resting for your health recently? Have you fully recovered?" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel fire.net

I was kindly reminding her that she was still in a special period and shouldn’t cause trouble that could ultimately hurt herself.

But she evidently misunderstood, and responded with mockery: "Lily Miller, what do you mean by bringing that up? Trying to tell everyone I had an abortion?"

The surrounding crowd immediately stirred, whispering among themselves.

"Looks like the rumors are true, she was indeed pregnant, and I heard it was..."

"I thought it wouldn’t be that unlucky."

I frowned, looking at Amanda Gordon, not understanding why she would destroy herself in this way.

"Lily Miller, my life was ruined by you, how are you going to compensate me?" Amanda Gordon ignored the surrounding talks and directly aimed her accusation at me.

I felt somber inside, thinking today was truly unlucky.

Fighting with the Miller Family by day, and now with the Gordon Family by night.

Both families were haunting me relentlessly like a nightmare.

If I had known, I shouldn’t have agreed to join in the fun with Daniel Carter here.

"Amanda Gordon, your life was ruined by yourself. Don’t irresponsibly assign blame to others."

I solemnly reminded her, glanced around, and said, "Everyone here tonight is of some stature; even if you do not care about your own reputation, you should consider the name of the Gordon Family and think carefully."

"Oh, now you’re pretending to care! Aren’t you just hoping our Gordon Family loses all face?" Amanda Gordon again misconstrued my goodwill as spite.

I sighed helplessly, unwilling to respond.

But she gradually became more intense, yelling like a shrew: "Do you all know who this woman is? She is Lily Miller, who sent her own father to jail, fought with my brother for divorce, drove my brother to a relapse, and framed me, causing me to get raped, ruining my whole life!"

"Now my brother is in the hospital, I had an abortion, her father is out on medical parole from jail, and she isn’t even willing to give money for treatment — we’re in such a miserable state because of her, while she climbed up to the powerful Carter Family, living it up here! Tell me, doesn’t this woman deserve to die?"

I coldly watched without interrupting.

Because these events had already been circulated several times online, well-known by now, it didn’t matter to "report" them once more.

To my surprise, someone’s voice in the crowd actually spoke up for me: "So why don’t you mention, your brother cheated first, you drugged someone first, and the entire Miller Family bullied her?"

"Besides, if President Miller is in jail, it’s because he broke the law, not that Lily Miller had the power to put him in there!"

"Miss Gordon, why don’t you stop spreading rumors here? Young Master Carter isn’t stupid, if Lily Miller were really as bad as you say, would he be interested in her? You all team up to bully one person, and yet have the nerve to cry injustice!"

Amanda Gordon probably never imagined that so many people would support me.

She was stunned, her face flushed, her eyes flustered and at a loss, "What do you know! My brother is kind-hearted! He didn’t mean to abandon Lily Miller, it was just a temporary measure!"

"And I didn’t mean to harm her! She was with my brother for so many years, and nothing happened. I was just thinking they should be a real couple, then naturally she wouldn’t divorce! It’s said it’s better to demolish ten temples than ruin a marriage, where am I wrong in this?" Amanda Gordon was still making excuses for herself.

I held my forehead, momentarily unable to tell whether this Miss Gordon was friend or enemy.

Wasn’t she inadvertently raising my value?

Sure enough, no sooner had she finished speaking, the crowd began discussing again.

"Oh my... Over six years, Lily Miller remained chaste? No wonder Young Master Carter..."

"Young Master Carter really hit the jackpot!"

I was extremely embarrassed, unable to stand such private matters being discussed on the spot, so I had to interrupt the commotion around me.

"Amanda Gordon, what exactly do you want to do? Just say it!"

Having heard the earlier discussions, she realized her words not only failed to smear me but unintentionally helped establish me as virtuous, becoming more incensed and humiliated.

Upon my inquiry, she turned back to me in panic, her eyes trembling fiercely, her expression exceedingly sinister with her molars grinding: "Lily Miller—I want to ruin you! Ruin your life!"

She suddenly roared, pulling a bottle from her clothes, removing the cap, and tossing its contents at me!