She’s Back, and Hell’s Coming with Her novel Chapter 256

She wondered if Sommer knew what she was doing—or if she was truly oblivious.

It was infuriating.

Octavia seethed inwardly, torn between anger and helplessness at Sommer’s actions.

But no matter how furious she felt, she kept her face composed for her granddaughter’s sake.

“Sabrina, darling, let me have someone pick up a new dress for you right away.”

“No need, Grandma—I already have a dress, I promise.”

Sabrina wasn’t lying. Before the party, Jocelyn had arranged for a designer to custom-make a gown for her. Jocelyn had said that since she couldn’t attend the celebration in person, the dress would be her way of making amends.

As soon as Sabrina left Octavia’s side, Octavia’s restraint snapped. She slammed her hand on the table, over and over.

She had half a mind to shatter a couple of glasses to vent her anger, but when she saw the fine crystal goblets on the table, she held back. Breaking them would be like smashing money for no reason—even if the Sutton family didn’t lack for it. Waste like that still pained her.

“Outrageous! Do they really think just because I’m old, they can bully my granddaughter like this?”

Octavia’s anger refused to subside. Normally, if Sommer’s behavior wasn’t too egregious, Octavia could turn a blind eye. But tonight was different. At such an important event, Sommer had let her own daughter be humiliated. Was she really Sabrina’s mother?

“Ma’am, please don’t work yourself up. It’s not worth harming your health.” Marina approached quietly, steadying Octavia by the arm.

“Marina, do you think Sommer is doing this just to spite me? She knows how much I dote on Sabrina, and yet she treats her like this.”

Octavia sighed, full of resignation. The household was slowly slipping from her grasp, falling under Sommer’s control. Who knew what Sabrina might have to endure in the future?

“You mean Hector? He hardly calls the shots for the Watsons. Word is, the Harper family’s suffered a serious setback. There’s a new up-and-coming firm that’s been poaching their clients.”

“That’s right, I heard the same. They say the new company’s got a prodigy investor. The Harpers tried to buy them out, offered a fortune, but the guy wouldn’t budge.”

Everyone nodded knowingly. News about the Harpers spread fast in their circles—most people were already aware.

“Oh, you’re exaggerating. The Harpers are a powerhouse. No upstart company is going to unseat them. It’s just a temporary setback.”

The others agreed. They might not know much about the new firm, but they knew the Harper Group all too well.

Someone else remarked that the Harpers had begun cozying up to the York family—who, as it happened, were developing the Goldcrest District.

And the reason everyone felt so free to gossip about the Harpers tonight? Not a single member of the Harper family had shown up at the party.