Chapter 85 The Belle of the Bali
No one present doubted Duncan’s sincerity; it was well–known he was the kind of man who spoke from
the heart.
A week later, when the masquerade ball kicked off, Sylvia’s brothers and father were visibly excited about her participation. What was merely a small gathering of friends turned into an opportunity for the men in her family to shower her with extravagant gifts.
“Little sis, how about this mask? It cost a fortune,” Bark said, showcasing an ornate piece.
“And this dress? As the youngest daughter of the Ivan family, you must stand out. Your big brother had it custom–made just for you. Don’t worry about the cost; wear it once, and we’ll get you another. I’ve had a bunch made,” Bruce smiled, his pride obvious.
“Our father spared no expense to provide you with a unique car for tonight, a one–of–a–kind vehicle. Use it with confidence,” Stanford chimed in, handing her the keys.
Surrounded by these generous offerings, Sylvia wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, especially at Bark’s unexpected generosity. Not long ago, she had thought he would remain angry with her, but the mask he presented, adorned with diamonds and precious stones, was exquisite and expensive.
Unable to favor one gift over another, Sylvia graciously accepted all three, knowing that their intentions were to make her feel loved and special.
“Thank you, Dad, Bruce, Bark. I’ll go get ready now,” she said with sincere gratitude.
As Sylvia went to prepare, the three men beamed with pride, each secretly believing his gift outshone the
others.
“Weren’t you holding a grudge against our sister recently? How come you’ve changed your tune?” Stanford remarked, looking over at Bark.
“There’s nothing to be upset about. I see all the changes in her; I want our sister to have the best. Besides, those twins are back. I know Duncan’s got his eye on her, and if it’s right, it could be considered,” Bark said nonchalantly, completely unfazed by his superstar status.
Stanford’s eyes widened in shock. “What? That boy is interested in my daughter? No, no, I don’t approve. He’s immature and irresponsible!”
Stanford’s disapproval was expected, as Bruce and Bark shared his sentiment. Yet, there was no real urgency; things had not progressed to that point, and there was still room for negotiation. After all, there was no indication Sylvia had those kinds of feelings for Duncan. If she had, she wouldn’t have ended up
with Cyril in the first place.
As they continued their discussion, Sylvia descended the stairs, having changed into her outfit and revealing her stunning transformation. Her polish and elegance captivated them–she was indeed the Ivan family’s star, capable of shining even in the humblest garb.
“Little sis will surely be the most dazzling presence tonight!”
Chapter 33 The Belle of the Ball
The twins were excited about the party they had organized to celebrate their return home. Despite its intention as a welcome back celebration for them, they were accustomed to Sylvia stealing the limelight. It was just as well. After all, they knew even in rags, Sylvia had the power to command everyone’s
attention.
Sylvia, amused by the care put into the event preparations, was driven to the venue by a chauffeur. Upon her arrival, it was clear that Duncan and Miranda had invited a considerable crowd to the masquerade
ball.
Stepping out of the car, Sylvia recognized another vehicle parked nearby–it unmistakably belonged to Cyril. She knew no one would have invited Cyril intentionally; his appearance must have been a mischievous idea conjured up by the group. Feeling somewhat helpless and not expecting them to do such a thing, she decided to act as if she hadn’t seen the car and walked inside with Juliet.
The estate revealed the true scale of the event–with at least five to six hundred guests, the party was a massively organized affair.
“These two have really outdone themselves, inviting so many people. Who exactly have they invited?” Catherine mused, a little surprised at the crowd size even though she was accustomed to grand events. She initially thought the party was meant to conceal its patrons‘ true identities; however, the presence of so many familiar faces made her wonder what the point of that was.
Sylvia, alsó feeling uneasy, wished she had known about the throng of attendees beforehand. She might have reconsidered coming.
“By the way, I heard they invited Cyril and his brother Jonathan too,” Kelly whispered to Sylvia, lightly nudging her arm. “Do you think you’ll bump into them? With so many people, it’s probably unlikely.”
Sylvia didn’t mention seeing Cyril’s car earlier and continued the conversation, using Kelly’s words as a
segue.
Unbeknownst to Sylvia, as Cyril and Jonathan stepped into the venue, Cyril spotted her amidst the crowd almost immediately. He was astonished at himself for being able to identify Sylvia so quickly, especially considering the multitude of heavily adorned or masked faces, which should have made it impossible. But there she was; all other attendees dissolved around her, leaving only Sylvia in focus, as if all other voices had also been muted.
“What are you looking at?” Jonathan asked curiously, following Cyril’s gaze across the room. From his perspective, he saw only a regal gathering of guests in conversation–exactly the sort of scene expected at a masquerade ball, with all kinds of costumes and elaborate disguises.