Chapter 5: She was still an outsider

When Suzie arrived, the banquet had officially started. The people had their backs on her, so they could not see her coming.

Suzie hasn't been informed anything about the party except the starting time. The Thomson family only told her to be herself and depend on them. Suzie was not a person to depend on others. One thing she learned in the streets was to be more informed than others.

So even though the people who were working in the Thomson mansion doesn't want to tell her anything, Suzie searched about formal parties of aristocratic families on the internet. She only learned the theory and some basic etiquette.

And one of them was the celebrant was supposed to seat at the front, or where the spotlight was.

Suzie did not know about the details of this party or the seating arrangement. So she looked for George and Venice. She found the three at the front.

When she saw the three of them wearing matching outfits, she halted.

Although she was not knowledgeable in this area, she understood that the three matched their outfits deliberately as a family. Except for her.

At that moment, Suzie felt a bit of disappointment. Not even one of them told her that they were going to wear matching light-colored outfits.

Looking down at her black gown, Suzie felt ridiculous.

She was no longer a child who would be envious of other families being in the same space, wearing matching outfits. However, she still could not help but feel a bit hurt.

What did she expect? She was an outsider after all.

While she remained standing, she heard a family not far from her gossiping.

"George and Venice are still romantic as ever. They are so lucky to have a lovely daughter who caters to their wishes. Look at them, they look so harmonious and lovely. I really wish our family has that chemistry like theirs." The mother commented with an envious sigh.

"They might look harmonious now. But with the appearance of this eldest daughter that came out of nowhere, the Thomson family would not be peaceful this year." The father said with a bit of schadenfreude in his voice. 

"Is it really true that the eldest daughter is a bastard child of Mr. Thomson?" The son asked.

"What else she could be if not a bastard?" The daughter replied.

The son continued to ask, "If she is the bastard then why the Thomson family is giving her such a welcoming party?"

"You are too focused on dating and did not even know the recent news in our society. How are you going to inherit our family's business?"

"Stop nagging at me. If you know the reason then tell me."

Suzie was curious too. So she stopped in her steps and listen closely.

"Who else could it be but for the Albrecht family?"

Suzie was stunned.

Albrecht family?

Why another family was involved in her welcoming party?

"Shh. Don't talk now. The Albrecht family has many eyes and ears." The father warned his children.

Suzie wanted to know more, but the host had finally seen her.

Before she could react, the host pointed in her direction.

"Please welcome, the eldest daughter of the Thomson family. Ms. Suzie Bei!"

Suzie was startled as all the guests turned to her. Their scrutinizing eyes were overwhelming Suzie. She felt a lot in their stares.

Suzie had been in countless unexpected situations. So she quickly gathered herself and smiled at them in return.

But she cursed inside. 

The host did not even give her a warning but turned the spotlight into her face, almost making her eyes squint. If she squint like that, would she make an ugly face in front of these esteemed guests?

Fortunately, she was someone who could work under pressure. If it was another person who was not exposed to this kind of pressure from people in upper society, she might have made a mistake.

Not only that, the host deliberately called her Suzie 'Bei', not Suzie Thomson. 

Suzie hadn't changed her name. But in this kind of event where she was welcome as the eldest daughter of the Thomson family, wasn't it common sense to temporarily introduced her as a Thomson?

By introducing her with another surname, the host was telling everyone that she was indeed a bastard child.

But Suzie just remained her smile. She could not afford to make a mistake and made them blame her for tarnishing the Thomson family because of her poor background.

Suzie walked to the front and went to the table where her family was.

"You look so beautiful." Venice complimented her. There was nothing on Venice's face except gentleness towards her eldest daughter.

Suzie stared at her. Trying to figure out if she knows anything about the locking-up incident earlier. But she could not see anything amiss in Venice's expression.

'Could it be it's not her?'

Suze doubted her thoughts and pushed them aside for a moment. She returned Venice's compliment. "Mother is beautiful too. You look much younger in a peach-colored gown. As well as Bianca and father."

Suzie's hidden meaning: You guys are all wearing matching outfits as a family, yet no one told me. Am I your family?

Venice's smile turned stiff. As someone mingling in high society since young where words are weapons, she understood Suzie's meaning instantly. 

Venice felt that this Suzie who came from the countryside was not simple at all. It could be seen by how she came here unscathed and refined despite the scheme she had put in advance.

On the other hand, Bianca did not read Suzie's meaning and even boasted about the matching outfits.

"Sister has a good eye. Mother put a request to a famous designer to customize father's suits and my gown a month ago. It came out so well."

"Oh." Suzie's eyes become sharper. "So it turned out Mother could prepare the outfits a month ago with the help of a famous designer. While mine can be bought simply at a boutique that made gowns for plays. Such a huge difference in treatment. I wonder if it is because Mother has not truly accepted me in her heart?"

Bianca's eyes turned wide. While Venice's smile became even stiffer. 

But Venice quickly collected herself and smiled helplessly at Suzie, "Don't take it the wrong way, Suzie. It's just that I don't know yet your preference and your little sister wanted to help you in your dress."

Suzie felt a massive disappointment this time. She was not a fool. She now understood her place in this family.

She was an outsider. A bastard. 

Although these people said that they treated her like a daughter, they didn't actually do so in their hearts.

Then what was she doing here?

If they don't like her- if they don't want her, why they accepted her in the family and even throw a welcoming banquet for her? They could just turn a blind eye to her existence. 

Why do they have to look for her and give her false hope of gaining a family?

That was the part that Suzie could not understand.

George also chimed in, "Now. Don't be like that. Venice cares about you and even prepared this party for you. Since you like matching outfits with us, then next time we will make sure you have the same designed gown."

Suzie wanted to laugh. Who cared about a matching gown?

But Bianca cares. "Why? This thing is only for the three of us!"

Venice glared at Bianca to shut up. "Stop now. People are looking."

Their voices were not that loud. But since everyone's eyes were on the eldest daughter, at their table, they might see that something was going on.