Chapter 8
I couldn’t help but recall the day we got married.
Back then, she looked at me with those same sincere eyes–eyes that swore to love me for the rest of her life, to never betray me.
Twenty years later, Serena hadn’t changed in one regard: she still rushed headlong into love.
Only now… the person she was rushing to love wasn’t me.
I stared at her coldly and said, my voice calm but cutting.
“Serena, I just hope you won’t come to regret this.”
She let out a sneer.
*Regret?”
“Staying married to a man like you–someone who can’t even stand on his own–that’s the only thing I’ve ever regretted.”
Her words were met with a chorus of agreement from the surrounding elites.
“This worthless son–in–law is seriously overestimating himself.”
“Divorcing him is the best decision she could’ve made!”
“What use is a man like him besides empty words and false pride?”
“Frankly, having him as the Portman Family’s son–in–law for over a decade was already a gift
from the ancestors!”
“Now that he’s out of the picture, he’ll probably end up begging on the street.”
As the room echoed with laughter and scorn, Ricky stood beside Serena, his lips curled into a smug smile. He looked like he’d already claimed his prize.
Just then, a bodyguard stumbled through the entrance of the banquet hall, breathless.
“Mr. Portman! Miss Goffman from New York has arrived!”
“She says… she’s here to present you with a very special gift!”
A ripple of shock swept through the crowd.
“Miss Goffman from New York?! As in the eldest daughter of the Goffman Family?!”
“The Goffman Family is the number–one family in the capital!”
“Not only that–Miss Goffman is known as the ‘Queen of New York’s social circle‘!”
“They say she fears no one in the capital. Anyone who crosses her ends up ruined!”
“My God… Mr. Portman really is on another level. Even the Goffman Family’s heiress traveled all the way here to give her a personal gift!”
“Mr. Portman, you’re too modest! Your reach has already extended into the most elite circles in the country!”
“We all hope to follow you into prosperity–please don’t forget us!”
The entire room turned their attention to Serena, their eyes gleaming with admiration, envy and
awe.
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Some even began bowing and groveling, hoping she’d give them an introduction to Mis: Goffman.
Ricky gripped Serena’s hand tighter, as though she were the most precious gem in the world.
The Portman Family members lifted their chins high, swelling with pride.
Only Serena herself hesitated slightly, clearly confused for a moment.
But then, bathed in praise and flattery, she turned to look down at me with smug satisfaction.
“Did you see that?”
“Even the daughter of New York’s first family came to me bearing gifts.”
“This is what real power looks like.”
“And you think someone like me–who’s so far above you–would ever regret leaving you?”
Her tone dripped with arrogance, her eyes gleaming with condescension.
But to me… she looked like nothing more than a clown putting on her final act.
Under the weight of everyone’s attention, Jenny Goffman finally entered the banquet hall.
She wore a casual outfit–simple, understated, yet impossible to ignore. Several bodyguards followed at a respectful distance.
Her presence was calm, yet radiated a powerful, unshakable aura.
The room, once bustling with noise and laughter, fell into an instant, reverent silence.
Those same powerful elites who had just mocked me now stood at attention, their faces transformed by forced smiles and hopeful expressions–each one trying to catch Jenny G’s eye if only for a second.
Seeing her arrival, Serena immediately released Ricky’s hand and smoothed her clothes in haste
Then she stepped forward quickly, her face lit up with a flattering smile as she bowed respectfully.
‘Miss Goffman, your presence is a tremendous honor to the Portman Group!”
