The True Carter Heiress

Following Helen's pointed gaze, Vivienne navigated her way toward the far end of the sprawling, handwoven Kasmira red carpet. The material beneath her heels felt impossibly soft, a testament to the staggering wealth of the Kensington estate. At the center of the cavernous hall, a massive crowd had tightly surrounded the guest of honor, Eleanor Kensington.

Despite celebrating her seventieth birthday today, Eleanor radiated a vibrant, strikingly youthful energy. She dressed simply in a traditional tunic and loose pants, looking as though she had just returned from a brisk morning stroll in the park. Her eyes remained bright and piercing as she politely greeted the endless line of well-wishers, only faint crinkles at their corners hinting at her true age. Behind her, a literal mountain of beautifully wrapped, exorbitantly expensive presents continued to grow at an alarming rate.

Stepping forward from the crowd with an air of immense superiority, Bianca Carter proudly presented an oversized, velvet box. She dramatically popped the lid open to reveal a custom, dazzling jewelry set from the elite brand CROWN.

"Mrs. Eleanor Kensington," Bianca announced, puffing her chest out and deliberately projecting her voice to ensure the surrounding guests heard every syllable. "This is a birthday gift from the Carter family of Kaeloria. A complete custom jewelry set, worth three million dollars."

Bianca smiled widely, desperately eager to impress the Kensington matriarch. CROWN was an internationally acclaimed luxury brand that had taken high society by storm, and Bianca felt certain this offering would secure her a place in Eleanor's good graces.

However, Eleanor merely offered a polite, perfectly practiced smile. She barely cast a passing glance at the glittering jewels resting in the velvet. "Thank you, Ms. Carter."

"I am so glad you like it!" Bianca pushed forward, unwilling to let the moment pass. "CROWN only makes custom pieces. Each one is unique. It took a lot of effort to get this necklace because I thought only a prestigious brand like CROWN would suit you."

Eleanor did not indulge the flattery. She simply raised her hand, signaling a nearby server. Before Bianca could utter another word, the server swiftly whisked the expensive box away, casually tossing it onto the ever-growing pile of discarded gifts behind the matriarch.

Stepping back into the crowd, a flush of deep frustration washed over Bianca. Why had Eleanor seemed so indifferent? Why hadn't anyone gasped at the price tag? As she looked around, the harsh realization painfully set in. The truly elite families hailing from Valerius were presenting ancient, priceless ceramics, stunning sphene sculptures, and historical paintings. Every single piece carried a valuation of tens of millions. Next to those treasures, her multi-million dollar offering paled in comparison, feeling like a cheap trinket.

"Now presenting the next gift from the Winslow family," announced the elderly butler, Morris, his voice cutting through the ambient chatter of the banquet hall.

Vivienne and Damon stepped up to the stage, officially representing the struggling Winslow family. Damon stood rigidly beside his wife, his face tense and pale. He had caught a cold from the air conditioning the previous night and had been battling dizziness all morning, forcing him to hand the critical task of selecting a gift over to Vivienne. Now, standing under the bright lights, his entire body tensed in sheer terror.

With smooth, elegant movements, Vivienne opened her modest wooden box. Inside lay a neatly arranged, simple set of homemade incense sticks, carefully wrapped in deep red velvet.

"This is a birthday gift from the Winslow family. I hope you like it, Mrs. Eleanor Kensington," Vivienne said, her voice steady and melodious.

Watching from the sidelines, Bianca's eyes shifted toward her rival, and an amused sneer crept onto her lips. Did Vivienne truly believe her little habit of making incense sticks would stand out at such a high-profile gathering?

Eleanor leaned in and gently sniffed the offering. A genuine, pleased smile graced her features. "Thank you, Mrs. Winslow."

But before Eleanor could hand the box off to her waiting staff, Bianca seized what she believed was the perfect opportunity to publicly humiliate her long-time rival. She stepped out from the crowd, her voice ringing out with a harsh, cutting sneer.

"Mrs. Winslow, I heard you like making incense. Did you make this yourself?" Bianca deliberately projected her words, ensuring all eyes in the vicinity snapped toward the Winslow couple.

Vivienne did not flinch under the collective stares of the elite crowd. She turned to face Bianca, maintaining her polite composure. "Yes, it is just a little hobby of mine. This scent is a modified Laron Floral Essence."

Bianca's eyes lit up with a toxic mix of triumph and scorn. "Do you truly believe a cheap, homemade craft is an appropriate gift for someone of Mrs. Eleanor Kensington's monumental stature? How much do you think that box of sticks is worth? A thousand dollars? Maybe ten thousand?"

Whispers erupted among the guests. Damon's stomach plummeted into a dark abyss. His mind raced with the dread that this seemingly lackluster, humiliating gift was going to destroy their one, vital chance at securing the Eden Resort project. He had explicitly told Vivienne there was no budget limit for this gift, and she had brought homemade sticks.

Bianca crossed her arms, shooting Damon a mocking glance. "Has the Winslow family fallen into such financial ruin that you cannot even afford to offer a decent, respectable present?"

Damon opened his mouth, desperate to scold his wife and salvage whatever dignity they had left, but Vivienne beat him to the punch. She remained perfectly, unshakably composed. Vivienne did not raise her voice, nor did she let Bianca's petty mockery break her stride.

"I did my research," Vivienne explained, her calm tone effortlessly slicing through Bianca's shrill accusations. "I discovered Mrs. Eleanor moved to Kaeloria three years prior specifically to seek a cure for her severe insomnia. So, I took the traditional formula and meticulously modified it. I infused it with rare, potent herbs like calamus and passionflower. It is scientifically formulated to provide genuine health benefits and help you achieve deep, restful sleep."

Bianca rolled her eyes dramatically, scoffing loud enough to draw more attention. "It is just incense. Please do not make it sound like some miracle cure. If basic aromatherapy acted as a legitimate medical cure, we wouldn't need hospitals, would we?"

Before Bianca could continue her tirade, a stylishly dressed young woman with bright red hair stepped out from behind the matriarch. It was Gemma, Eleanor's granddaughter, who had flown in from abroad for the occasion.

Gemma leaned close to the modest wooden box, her eyes widening in pleasant surprise. "She is right. This isn't your typical Laron Floral Essence. It smells rich and incredibly soothing. Grandma, I love this scent. If you do not want it, I would be happy to take it off your hands."

Hearing this, Eleanor shot a kindly but sharp look at her granddaughter. "Who says I don't like it?"

Eleanor turned her bright gaze back to Vivienne, her smile warm. "I never said I did not want it. Just catching a single whiff of this bespoke blend has already made me feel noticeably refreshed."

Bypassing the massive mountain of discarded jewels and priceless ceramics, Eleanor immediately signaled her personal butler. "Morris, take this box of incense directly up to my private bedroom. Ensure that no one else—not even Gemma—can grab it."

Morris nodded respectfully, carefully taking the wooden box from the table and heading straight for the upper floors.

The crowd watched the entire exchange in stunned silence.

Bianca stood frozen, her mouth slightly ajar. A wave of utter humiliation crashed over her. Her face burned hot with shame as the harsh realization set in. Her extravagant, three-million-dollar jewelry offering was cast aside, vastly outshined by a modest box of homemade sticks.

Desperate to escape the suffocating, judgmental atmosphere, Bianca turned on her heel to make a hasty exit. But as she slinks away from the main stage, her humiliation is painfully compounded. She overheard the nearby elite guests aggressively whispering about her.

"That must be the biological daughter the Carter family found three years ago. I heard she grew up in an impoverished area."

"No wonder she has that countryside-bumpkin vibe," another socialite sneered. "Trying to aggressively flaunt what is essentially an entry-level necklace. Did she honestly have to announce the price tag? Can't she see the subtle sphene bracelet Eleanor is currently wearing is worth over sixty million dollars? I felt embarrassed just listening to her brag about three million."

"Actually, the woman who just gave the incense used to be the daughter of the Carter family."

"Well, that makes sense. It was incredibly tacky for her to publicly bully Mrs. Winslow like that. Mrs. Winslow handled it with such composed, elegant grace under pressure."

"Speaking of, that bespoke scent smelled amazing from here. Taking the time to craft something personal and health-conscious? That is true, thoughtful luxury. Much better than those who just throw around numbers."

The hushed words felt like physical slaps. Bianca's fists clenched tightly at her sides. Her fingernails bit deep into her palms as a toxic, boiling anger brewed fiercely inside her chest. Everyone effortlessly adored Vivienne. Everyone praised her elegance and grace. But to Bianca, that elegance, confidence, and respect were stolen directly from her. Vivienne was parading around in a life that rightfully belonged to Bianca from the very beginning.

As she retreated into the shadows of the grand hall, Bianca glared at Vivienne's back. One day, she vowed, she would definitely tear down Vivienne's glamorous, perfect façade and reveal her true colors to everyone in high society.