Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Being Looked Down Upon?

Lucian glanced at her sideways, a hint of teasing in his eyes.

“I thought Ms. Lana loved compensation. Why are you so eager to deal with the person behind this?”

Lana sighed softly.

“To get compensation,” she replied calmly, “I need to stay alive first.”

Lucian’s teasing expression faded. For a moment, his gaze sharpened. Then he laughed, low, cold, and confident.

“Even if the world turns against you,” he said quietly, “you’ll still survive.”

Lana’s heart skipped.

Those words.

They were exactly what Lucian had once told her in her previous life. Words that made her trust him completely. Words he had proven with his life, protecting her until his final breath.

After his death… everything had fallen apart.

Her mood dipped sharply. Lana shifted in her seat, forcing herself to breathe evenly.

’Don’t think about it. Not now.’

When the car arrived at the venue, attendants immediately approached. Invitations were checked, and both Lana and Lucian were allowed entry.

Lana glanced at him in surprise.

“You were invited too?”

Lucian smiled faintly.

“I’m here as a potential business partner.”

Realization dawned on her instantly. That explained why he accepted the invitation without hesitation. Still, confusion lingered.

Compared to Betty’s family, Lucian’s background and connections were far superior. His influence alone surpassed theirs easily.

So why would he attend such a party?

Before she could ask, Lucian gestured for her to follow and politely offered his elbow.

Lana took it naturally.

Perched on Lana’s shoulder, Mr. Crow nearly felt his feathers being plucked out one by one from sheer stress as he watched them walk together, side by side, looking far too compatible for his peace of mind.

These two behaved as if they were already a couple, even though neither of them had ever confessed their feelings aloud.

Their movements were natural and unforced, as if habit had long since replaced hesitation.

Lucian led Lana into Betty’s residence. With the invitation in hand, things were supposed to be simple… at least for him.

However, the moment Lana presented her invitation, the guard’s expression hardened.

“This invitation isn’t valid,” he said bluntly. “You can’t enter.”

The words were sharp enough to draw immediate attention. Lana arched an eyebrow slowly, her gaze turning cold.

“Are you acting on your owner’s instructions,” she asked calmly, “or did some random person suddenly appear and order you to embarrass me?”

Her tone was light, but there was a dangerous edge beneath it.

She initially suspected this was the work of the Almond family trying to assert dominance, but the guard’s next words made her reassess.

“It was ordered by one of the most prominent masters here,” the guard replied stiffly.

He didn’t take offense at the word owner. As a guard serving a powerful family, he was long accustomed to being scolded, insulted, or blamed from any direction.

Lana narrowed her eyes.

’Betty wouldn’t do something this crude herself,’ she thought. ’Then it must be…’

Her mind quickly landed on two possibilities.

’The stepmother. Or the stepsister.’

Just then, she noticed the guard discreetly pulling out his phone and sending a message.

Lucian, who had been silent until now, glanced at the guard and smirked faintly.

Slowly, he withdrew his arm from Lana’s grip. Before anyone could react, his hand slid naturally to her waist, holding her close.

His voice was calm, almost indifferent.

“If this place is too noble for us to step into,” he said coolly, “then we won’t enter.”

With that, he turned around as if truly intending to leave.

The guard panicked instantly.

The moment he had checked Lucian’s invitation earlier, he already knew Lucian was no ordinary guest.

A true big shot. Who would have thought he had arrived with the very person Sophia wanted to humiliate?

Cold sweat broke out across the guard’s back.

“Wait… please wait,” he said hurriedly, bowing slightly. “There’s been a misunderstanding. Miss Lana may enter.”

This time, however, Lana didn’t move.

Instead, she looked straight at him, her expression unreadable.

“I want to meet your owner,” she said calmly. “Otherwise, I won’t step inside.”

The guard’s heart nearly stopped.

Lucy, standing nearby, didn’t show the slightest hint of embarrassment.

He had no intention of stopping Lana. In fact, he calmly looked at the guard, clearly waiting to see how he would explain himself.

Under their combined pressure, the guard began sweating profusely. His hands trembled as he stammered.

“I… I made a mistake. This is all my fault. Please forgive me…”

He repeated the words over and over, desperation leaking into his voice.

Before the situation could deteriorate further, hurried footsteps echoed from inside.

Sebastian arrived.

The moment he saw Lucian standing outside, his vision almost went black. Blood rushed to his head.

Other matters aside, this was disastrous.

If Lucian were offended here, their family would forget about ever entering real wealthy circle.

Sebastian immediately rushed forward, forcing a polite smile onto his face.

“Mr. Lucian,” he said carefully, “did something upset you?”

As he spoke, he desperately prayed Lucian would give him some face.

Lucian, however, was not in the mood.

Perhaps he might have overlooked it if he had been alone. But the one who had been disrespected was Lana.

He smiled faintly, his expression cool and distant.

“I was told,” he said evenly, “that someone declined to let my partner enter the party.”

Sebastian’s expression changed instantly.

He shot a sharp glare at the guard, his eyes blazing with fury.

The guard’s legs went weak.

’I’m done,’ he thought miserably. ’I’m definitely getting fired.’

Usually, Lana would have felt a trace of pity by now for people like this.

After all, most of them were merely struggling to survive, clinging to small schemes to make their lives a little better, not truly irredeemable villains.

However, she had recently come to understand something very clearly.

Once a person made a decision of their own free will, they had to bear the consequences themselves, just like this guard.

Because of that realization, she remained silent.

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