Chapter 8
It was common knowledge that Joseph favored Queenie, but the extent of his indulgence utterly stunned everyone. It was a mere birthday party, yet Joseph had managed to bring in not only Queenie’s preferred International artists to serenade her, but also a dizzying array of socialites and influential figures.
The banquet hall was over–the–top, decorated with sparkling crystals and diamonds in every corner. Even the roses, flown in from Francocia, were covered in diamonds.
It was the climax of the party when Queenie, dressed in a custom–made blue gown, gracefully walked down the steps. Her dress had been cleverly tailored to hide her baby bump while still showing off her figure, making everyone turn to look at her the moment she walked in.
Queenie had a smug smile on her face as she confidently placed her hand in Joseph’s outstretched one.
Just as she was poised to descend the last step, a figure clad in a yellow uniform burst into the banquet hall. Derek Hall, the courier, was breathless from his frantic dash. His speech came in intermittent gasps. “I–I’m sorry, but are you perhaps Joseph Lowe? I have a package for you, Mr. Lowe.”
Joseph couldn’t help but furrow his brow as he looked at Derek. He then calmly replied, “I’m sorry, but I’m pretty occupied at the moment. If it’s urgent, you can find me shortly after this.”
Joseph then raised his hand, signaling the nearby butler to escort Derek out.
Derek hurriedly said, “It was Ms. Chapman who specifically instructed me to hand this to you personally, Mr. Lowe. She emphasized that you must open it yourself on the spot.”
At the mention of Winona, Joseph’s hand, which had been raised, finally lowered.
He then recalled the phone call with her from earlier that morning. He had simply assumed that she wouldn’t show up, based on the sheer placidity of her voice during the call. Having been married for five years, he knew her well enough to recognize that her calm tone was a clear sign of disinterest in attending the party.
In the past, he would have patiently humored her, but his patience had worn thin now that she had inflicted so much harm upon Queenie. If Winona had truly come as she promised over the phone, bringing a gift to apologize, Joseph would have let the matter go for Queenie’s sake. If she were merely making excuses, he would have kept ignoring her until she apologized sincerely.
Her gift had indeed arrived punctually at that very moment, yet she herself was notably absent.
“Where is she, then?” Joseph asked, eventually taking the package. His eyes were fixed on the grand doorway behind Derek. However, the archway, which was lavishly adorned with flowers, stood conspicuously empty, with no one in sight.
Derek briefly faltered, his thoughts scrambling to retrieve any instructions Winona might have given him. He was vexed to find that she had said nothing about her whereabouts.
He had another delivery waiting and couldn’t waste any more time, so he had no choice but to brazenly come up with an explanation, saying, “You’ll understand everything once you open the box, Mr. Lowe. That’s what Ms. Chapman said earlier.”
Joseph’s gaze snapped back to the package when he heard that. He was just about to tear it open when Queenie’s delicate, fair hand suddenly settled upon his own as she called out. “Joseph…”
He then turned his concerned gaze toward Queenie, his voice sounding remarkably gentle as he asked, “What’s the matter, Queenie?”
Queenie bit her lip, casting him a troubled look. “I just wanted to remind you that all the guests are waiting for us to cut the birthday cake. Isn’t it a bit… ill–timed to open the gift now?”
She couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread rising within her as she said that. All the other guests‘ birthday gifts had been set aside in a corner before the party began, ready for her to open whenever she wanted.
Yet, the gift from Winona, of all things, had been delivered right at the peak of the celebration. It had not only been handed directly to Joseph, but it also came with the explicit instruction that he had to open it himself.
Under all these strange circumstances, Queenie couldn’t help but be wary of the contents of the gift box. She had a strong sense that its opening would lead to her utter downfall.
That was precisely why Queenie interrupted Joseph, urging him to proceed quickly with the cake–cutting. Once the cake was cut, Joseph would publicly declare her unborn child as his one and only legitimate heir and formalize it by signing the legal documents. Then, all of the Lowe family’s vast fortune would belong to her child and, by extension, to her.
Only then would nothing in the gift box pose a threat to her.
