Evelyn held an invitation of black and gold.

Its appearance immediately caught Amelia Sterling's attention.

"What is this?" Amelia's voice was tight.

A flicker of fear showed in her eyes.

She wondered if Evelyn was someone important after all.

Then, a thought occurred to her.

She smirked, her expression turning scornful.

"Now I understand. You must have stolen this. Or it's definitely a forgery!"

Evelyn was bewildered by the accusations.

Was she serious? Since when were invitations categorized as real or fake?

"This invitation is legitimate," Evelyn stated firmly.

Her brows furrowed in frustration.

Alexander had given it to her. It had to be valid.

Amelia remained unconvinced.

She stepped forward quickly and snatched the invitation from Evelyn's hand.

"You—" Evelyn was shocked by the rudeness.

It was hard to believe a member of the prestigious Sterling family could be so ill-mannered.

Despite her anger, Evelyn maintained her composure.

She watched silently as Amelia inspected the card.

Amelia's scornful look soon changed to one of surprise.

"You are actually—" she stammered.

Her eyes were fixed on the words "Aethelgard Industries".

She realized Evelyn was indeed the wife of the founder of the renowned global company.

It made perfect sense that Evelyn possessed the exclusive black-and-gold invitation.

Evelyn, perplexed, raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem, Miss Sterling?"

She noticed Amelia's finger pressing down on the company's name.

But she didn't think much of it.

Memories of Alexander ignoring her earlier flooded Amelia's mind.

A wave of jealousy towards Evelyn washed over her.

How was this woman any better? Amelia wondered silently.

The founder of Aethelgard Industries wouldn't even glance at her because of this woman.

Just as Evelyn braced for more unreasonable behavior, Amelia's expression softened.

She smiled. "I apologize. It was all a misunderstanding. Please, don't be upset."

This sudden shift put Evelyn even more on edge.

What was Miss Sterling really planning?

Evelyn kept her expression neutral, not revealing her suspicion. "May I go in now?" she asked calmly.

"Of course," Amelia Sterling replied, returning the invitation. She gestured to a nearby waiter. "To apologize for the inconvenience, let this gentleman escort you inside." Amelia gave the waiter a slight, almost imperceptible nod.

The waiter understood the signal immediately. A knowing look passed between them.

He stepped forward eagerly. "Right this way, Ma'am."

Evelyn, remembering past traps, was instantly wary. "That won't be necessary. I can find my own way," she declined quickly.

She took her invitation back and walked past them, heading straight into the banquet hall.

As Evelyn disappeared inside, her plan thwarted, Amelia's face darkened with frustration.

She stood rigidly, her eyes fixed on the spot where Evelyn had vanished. A bitter hatred churned within her.

Just you wait, she thought. Your time will come.