The originally lively banquet instantly fell silent. All eyes turned to my father and brother, awaiting their reaction.
My father stood frozen in place while the secretary was still waiting for him to respond. Yet at this moment, he couldn't remember anything.
Next to him, Aidan abruptly picked up the phone from the ground and yelled into it, "What nonsense are you spouting? How could Susan's room possibly catch fire? Who permitted you to curse her? Billy, have you lost your mind? Are you tired of living?"
Billy, the butler, on the other end instantly grew trembling with fear, his voice laced with terror.
"Sir, how could I dare deceive you and your father? Miss Susan's room truly caught fire. Because you and your father instructed us to guard the door, by the time we discovered the flames, it was already too late. We've called the firefighters, but they said the blaze was so intense that it completely gutted Miss Susan's room. If she hadn't escaped at the start, I'm afraid ... "
Then, as if worried my father and brother might fly into a rage, Billy hastily added. "Sir, you and your father can rest assured. Miss Susan is blessed by heaven and will surely be fine. Even if something happened, it would only serve your and your father's wishes. Haven't you both long considered her a stain on the family?"
Billy's fawning voice rang out on the other end of the line and Aidan's expression instantly turned furious.
"What the hell are you talking about? Are you crazy? Do you think you have any right to interfere in my sister's and my father's affairs? I think you're truly mad!"
As if to cover up the panic rising inside him, my brother suddenly smashed the phone onto the floor. He stared at the phone, his mind buzzing, his blood freezing.
How could Billy's words possibly be true?
How could I be dead? I should be quietly recuperating at home, waiting for them to return. How could I, his beloved sister, be burned to death in the villa?
But Billy's reaction and his words somehow felt undeniably real.
Aidan's chest ached more and more. Meanwhile, my father, witnessing everything that was happening, simply couldn't believe that in just a few short hours, he would lose his own daughter.
How absurd this news was.
Those around them began whispering among themselves. They were still at the scene and with such a big incident at the Sherman Family, they hadn't paid any attention to the online news. Their impression of me naturally remained frozen in time from just days prior.
"Isn't Susan's death a blessing for the Sherman Corporation? Someone like her only tarnishes the Shermans' name while alive, right?"
"Exactly. I don't get why Mr. Sherman is so upset. If it were me, I'd be overjoyed. Imagine having a slut like that in the family, who actually played those videos at her own sister's wedding! If those videos hadn't surfaced, or if she hadn't taken things so far that night, I remember the groom was actually supposed to marry Susan, wasn't he?"
Aidan and my father heard every word the bystanders exchanged and a bitter taste instantly rose in both their hearts.
Still, Aidan wasn't as composed as our father. He shouted furiously at the crowd, "What happens in my family is none of your business! How dare you speak about my sister like that?"
"All of you, get out now! My family does not welcome you!"
As he spoke, he ordered the bodyguards forward to drive out those who had just spoken.
Though the guests attending Sally's birthday party might not individually match the Shermans' influence, their combined clout was certainly formidable.
Now, with Aidan acting like a madman, trying to throw them out over that so-called Sherman Family slut who'd just become famous a few days ago, they suddenly felt they couldn't stand it anymore.
Anger clouded their judgment and words they'd never have uttered before poured out now.
"What are you pretending? Don't think we're all like Susan, clueless about everything. Now you're suddenly putting on this act of caring for her? Doesn't that seem utterly hypocritical? Let's be honest, her becoming a slut probably has something to do with you, doesn't it?"
The guests' eyes turned to my father and brother, filled with scorn.
"One treats his illegitimate daughter better than his own flesh and blood. The other, despite having a full-blooded sister, shows her no affection and instead sides with the illegitimate child. Do you think no one knows what you've done? You gave shares to the illegitimate daughter and you, her own brother, didn't even try to stop it. Your own full-blooded sister got nothing. Now that she's dead, you pretend to be outraged. It's disgusting!"
As they spoke, the guests' gazes toward my father and brother grew even more scornful.
My father and brother swiftly froze in place. The pain spreading in their hearts became increasingly hard to ignore. All they wanted now was to see me.
Just then, Connor stepped forward. Accompanied by bodyguards, he escorted everyone out of the venue, smiling as he apologized to each guest individually.
"My deepest apologies. My father-in-law and the others reacted this way upon receiving unfortunate news. I ask for your understanding. In a few days, once things settle, I will personally host another gathering for everyone to celebrate properly."
Later, Connor promptly ushered everyone out without hesitation. Now, the guests' gazes toward him carried a hint of admiration.
After everyone had left, Connor gave Sally a meaningful glance. Of course, that girl immediately understood.
