Chapter 4: The Deal between two families

The day of the welcoming party finally arrived.

The Thomson family gave importance to this banquet thus all arrangements were flawless and extravagant. They made sure that the guests would be comfortable and satisfied. 

The invited guests were people from high society so it was important for the Thomson family to show off their wealth. 

The hired musicians played a classic song in the background as guests arrived one after another.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were wearing cream-colored matching outfits. The couple looked refined and romantic. Bianca also wore a cream-colored gown showing off her slender back. The three members of the Thomson family were greeting guests with a smile on their faces.

They looked harmonious and happy.

"Is the Albrecht family going to attend today?" Venice asked her husband. 

George checked his phone. "My assistant did not receive a reply. But they accepted the invitation. Since this concern both families, I am sure they will come too." Then he asked, "Is Suzie already done preparing?"

Venice gave out a smile, "She is the center of this party. The celebrant should arrive late. Let us give her more time to doll up herself." Although Venice was smiling, she had a scheme in mind.

George appreciated Venice's kindness. He kissed his wife's cheek. "I can't thank you enough for accepting Suzie in the family warmly."

Venice's smile turned cold. "What has been done is done. Don't forget why we have to accept that bastard of yours in this family. Make sure she is worth it."

George coughed. He momentarily forgot the reason for all of this, "Don't worry, the Albrecht family will attend today's banquet. Suzie could take Bianca's place."

"Hmph. If only the eldest son of the Albrecht family did not get into an accident a year ago Bianca would have married into the Albrecht family smoothly. But since it happened, we can't let Bianca marry a disabled man."

Bianca heard her parent's conversation. She hugged her mother's arm. "Mom, you don't have to worry too much. The Albrecht family still has their second son. I am already acquainted with him. I will make sure I will enter the Albrecht family and be their future Madame. I'll be the official heir of our family."

Venice finally let out a sincere smile.

Right. It was better if her daughter married the favored second son. After all, she heard somewhere that the eldest son was not favored by the current Madame of the Albrecht family.

Venice doesn't know the whole story, but as someone with ears everywhere, she had some inside news that the second son was more favored than the eldest.

Perhaps the accident was a blessing in disguise for her daughter to marry the second son, not the eldest.

The Albrecht family was a family friend close to the Thomson family. George's father, the former head of the Thomson family was the best friend of the former head of the Albrecht family.

According to their family history, the Thomson family was not that wealthy before but ever since George's father met the head of the Albrecht family in his twenties, their family's status and business rose higher and higher. Until they reached their current standing.

When both heads of the family died, they both left a strange will.

George's father stated in his will that to become the official heir of their family, they need to marry a kin of the Albrecht family.

While the former head of the Albrecht family stated that one of his grandchildren should marry a descendant of the Thomson family.

It was not unexpected since the two families were indeed close. There was even a deal from both families to let their eldest marry each other. 

So Bianca was engaged to the eldest son of the Albrecht family before the eldest got into an accident.

It was said that the eldest son become disabled and comatose. But despite the accident, the Albrecht family still wanted to pursue the marriage.

Venice and George could not accept that their daughter would marry a man that was not different from the dead. Coupled with the news that the eldest son was not favored, Venice and George felt that their daughter would be bullied if she married into the Albrecht family.

They could not risk their daughter's future but they also don't want to let the inheritance go to the second branch.

That was when George remembered the woman he had slept with before. Before that woman left, she left a letter to George saying she was pregnant and that she would come to him later.

George forgot about the matter since he doesn't have the heart to be responsible or take those words seriously. Only now that he investigated that matter. After looking for that woman and that child for a few months, he found Suzie.

Since Suzie carried his blood, she had become a perfect substitute for Bianca.

Thus, even though Venice had malicious thoughts about this bastard child, she had to keep her malice in. Until Suzie married successfully into the Albrecht family.

While the guests were arriving, Suzie was having a hard time on her own.

She was a person who never attended such a glamorous party before. So she was not knowledgeable in this area. She thought she could depend on the makeup artist and the maids. But an hour had passed already, and the makeup artist that excused herself for a pee break did not come back.

Suzie checked the time on her phone. There were only ten minutes left before the banquet officially started. The time was not enough. She hasn't changed yet. Her makeup was not fully done and her hair was still a mess.

She had tried to look for that make-up artist or any maid who could help her. But the whole floor was empty aside from herself. The elevators were not working and the door to the staircase was locked.

At first, Suzie waited patiently. But when an hour passed by, she started to get suspicious and looked for them. Seeing that she was locked on this floor with no way out, Suzie was now sure.

This was deliberate. She was being bullied.

But who planned this?

Whoever did this was childish. That person clearly wanted to embarrass her at this party. They wanted her to show up in a mess.

Suzie sighed. She could investigate later. As the celebrant of this banquet, people would come to look for her later when the time comes. So she wasn't worried that she would be locked here to death. 

The most important matter was to attend the banquet with a decent appearance.

Suzie started putting on makeup. She doesn't have experience in attending social gatherings but that doesn't mean she doesn't know how to use makeup. 

She had done a hundred jobs and one of them was being a part-timer in a salon. It was not a high-end salon, but she learned the basics there. She did not use complicated makeup but simple one. 

Perhaps it was the blood of this wealthy family but Suzie has excellent features. Bianca was pretty and delicate, but Suzie has aggressive beauty. If she put on heavier makeup, she would be mistaken as a seductress. Since it was her first debut in the social gathering, Suzie doesn't want to create misunderstandings like that. So she chose lighter makeup that would emphasize her nice features.

Her skin was a little duller compared to Bianca's. That was because Suzie had been working since she was a child. She was already thankful that her skin did not become rough and looked normal.

Compared to Bianca's fair and smooth skin, Suzie was a bit darker. Thus, her overall beauty with her plain face looked dull compared to Bianca who was always dolled up.

Suzie then took out her gown- a sleeveless black one. 

It has a simple design. But this was perfect for Suzie's preference. 

Suzie put her curled hair in a loose bun. She had arranged a woman's hair like this before in the salon. So her craft was good. 

Suzie looked for any jewelry. But nothing was left here. The makeup artist must have taken it.

Sigh.

Fortunately, Suzie brought a set when she bought this black gown. She had brought it here just in case. And it was proven useful.

Thankfully, the heels were not taken away.

After she put on her heels, the door suddenly opened.

Suzie's brow rose. The staff who came in did not even knock.

The staff looked surprised when she saw the decent-looking Suzie.

Suzie could see the shock on the staff's face. This made her guess grew stronger.

"What are you surprised about? You did not expect that I could take care of myself after locking me up here without any helper around?"

The staff's eyes went wide. She then looked down to hide her expression, "I...I d-don't know what Miss is talking about. " She then stepped back as if avoiding Suzie. "The M-madame is looking for you. The party has started."

Suzie wanted to interrogate this woman. She had learned in the streets that in order to survive and not to be bullied, she have to show them how tough she was. That she was not easy to bully and was willing to bite their flesh when she was targeted.

However, there was no time and there was an urgent matter to attend to. Suzie controlled her anger.

She stood up. When she passed by the staff, she stopped. "I'll remember your face. Make sure you got your story straight when I come looking for you later."