Beyond the Divorce by Third Blossom
Chapter 1448 The Spiritual Water Lily

Atlas immediately said "Kenny, we need to go now. Take care of yourself. I'll get you out of here."

Then he pulled me with him back into the flower house, briskly crossing it until we stopped by the edge of the pool.

I glanced back at Kenny. He was trembling, and quickly disappeared into the cottage. He was reluctant to see us leave.

The butler came over when Tris arrived, glanced at the flower house, and smiled. "Mr. Atlas, Miss, please come over. The guests have arrived."

Atlas gave him a cold glance and asked indifferently, "What guests?"

"Miss Celine invited some distinguished guests here to celebrate Mr. Atlas's return. After all, it's been a long time since the mansion had a lively event like this," The butler responded obsequiously. I ignored him and asked while pointing to the pool, "Where are the water lilies?"

The butler immediately respectfully replied, "Madam, the water lilies we used to have were all precious varieties that no one could care for properly, so... they all withered!"

I looked at the koi in the pool with a sad expression and said, "It seems these water lilies have spirits. They know who their true master is and they refuse to thrive for wicked and filthy people."

My words came from the heart. I was convinced that the water lilies in this pool had been grown by my mother and all had spiritual qualities. How could they bloom for malicious and impure individuals after their owner passed away? "Don't be sad. I'll plant a pool of thriving water lilies for you," Atlas said tenderly in my ear. "Let's go!"

He took my hand and led me out of the flower house.

I saw the butler glance at the corner of the flower house again.

Kenny had disappeared long ago, but he was still cautious.

The people here seemed vigilant, especially the butler. He probably wasn't a good person, since he served Celine and devoted himself to her wholeheartedly.

Atlas calmly led me out of the flower house and back to the hall.

I realized then that Celine had extended an impressive invitation.

In just a short while, the hall was crowded with people who were not simple characters.

I was taken aback. How could these people have appeared silently and unexpectedly, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain? The hall was filled with bustling activity, and

people mingled and chatte i ne

QUMS

The hall went silent when we entered, and everyone turned to stare at us.

I realised that most of them were staring at me with an odd expression in their eyes.

It seemed that Celine's invitation today was not just about dinner.

Atlas tightened his grip around my waist and forcefully whispered, "Don't be nervous. I'm here."

I smiled back at him tenderly and whispered, "Do you think so little of me?"

But even though I said that, I was feeling nervous. After all, I had been utterly mentally unprepared, since I thought it was just a dinner.

This was not just a dinner, as I had thought; it was more like a party that had been planned expressly to put me to the test. Everyone here was all dressed up and appeared to be very grand. Luckily, Atlas had prepared a very simple and elegant evening gown with diamonds for me before I arrived.

After the greeting ceremony, people gathered around us to greet Atlas and exchanged insincere words.

Atlas merely gave them a tiny nod. He was not enthusiastic about the exchange. He didn't even consider it a conversation, just a superficial, gesture of politeness. He seemed as though he was rejecting everyone from a thousand miles away with his indifference, and was absolutely unwelcoming.

However, Celine was by our side, enthusiastically playing the role of a kind aunt.

They hadn't held a family gathering like this for a long time, but everyone was gathered here because Atlas had returned today.

Celine 'kindly' introduced me to

everyone, and told us that the

guests who were here at the Pierce Mansion today were all old friends who had half a lifetime of friendship with the Pierce family. Many of them were also business partners of the Pierce family.

I understood that they were just the old shareholders of the Pierce family.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd called out, "Cousin!"

That voice immediately shook me because I knew it all too well...