Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 968

In the evening, Sarah left work half an hour early to pick up Camila from the institute. Seeing Jarvis was there too, the three of them decided to head to the Adams Estate together. The birthday banquet was a grand and lavish affair held at the family's estate. The driveway was lined with luxury cars, and the inside was teeming with guests. The invitation list was a who's who of Cabinda's elite, a testament to the scale of the event. As they entered, they ran into Walter Wilson, Audrey Williams, Douglas Williams, Charlotte Kelly, and the elder Mr. Williams. Camila was quite surprised. What was the elder Mr. Williams doing at an event like this? The guest of honor was of a younger generation, and her reputation was hardly pristine. He shouldn't have been so easily persuaded to attend. Puzzled, Camila still stepped forward to greet them politely. "Grandpa Williams, Douglas, Aunt Charlotte." "Camila, you're here," Charlotte Kelly greeted her with a warm smile. Jarvis, ever blunt, voiced his thoughts aloud. "I didn't think you'd be interested in this kind of commotion, elder Mr. Williams." The old man snorted with disdain. "If it weren't for that boy Larry, I wouldn't bother setting foot in this god-awful party of theirs. The whole family's rotten to the core!" But despite his contempt, since he had come, he wasn't about to leave right away. Leaning on Douglas and Charlotte for support, he walked in with them. Just inside the banquet hall, they saw the hosts greeting guests at the door: Joseph Adams and his wife, Kimberly Howard, stood with the elder Mr. Adams, along with Brian Adams and his wife. Everyone was dressed to the nines, clearly placing great importance on the evening. Camila's eyes immediately fell on Larry's stepmother, Kimberly Howard. The woman was in her fifties but was so well-preserved she looked much younger. She had a delicate beauty, projecting a soft, pitiable air that could easily deceive an unknowing observer into thinking she was a harmless, innocent flower. In reality, she had the heart of a viper. As for Joseph Adams, the current patriarch, he naturally carried an imposing presence. It was clear from his features that he had been a handsome man in his youth, but his heart was just as black. As Camila was studying them, the Adams family noticed their party approaching. They immediately came forward to greet the elder Mr. Williams. "Mr. Williams, you've arrived! You should have sent word so we could have come out to welcome you." The greeting was laden with flattery. Joseph and Kimberly were effusively warm, as if their two families were the closest of friends. The elder Mr. Williams looked at them with a cool indifference, offering no pleasantries. He all but ignored Kimberly Howard. A woman who had clawed her way to the top through unscrupulous means deserved no respect. As for the elder Mr. Adams, the elder Mr. Williams gave him a cursory glance with equal coolness. In his youth, the old fool had been a formidable figure. Now, he was just a blind, senile old man who was an eyesore. The elder Mr. Williams never bothered to hide his feelings, and his open displeasure made the Adams family visibly uncomfortable.