On the Day I Was Kicked Out of the Wealthy Family, I Had a Flash Marriage with a Tycoon-Chapter 46: A Public Slap in the Face for the Sterling Family

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: A Public Slap in the Face for the Sterling Family

Phoebe Sinclair trailed behind Tristan Sinclair. She was furious when she saw him greet Chloe Sterling, but she didn’t dare say a word.

’What is she even doing at a hotel in broad daylight?’

Before she could ask anyone, she overheard two waitresses gossiping in hushed tones as she and Tristan made their rounds.

"The Sterlings are going way too far. They’re throwing a birthday party for their younger daughter, but when the older one shows up, they won’t even let her in the ballroom. Talk about playing favorites."

"I know, right? It’s sad enough that she was kidnapped and grew up in the countryside. But to finally come back to her birth parents only to be treated like this... That Miss Sterling has it rough. She would’ve been better off in a normal family. Any normal family that found their long-lost child would be over the moon."

"Who gave you permission to gossip about guests while you’re on the clock!" Phoebe Sinclair suddenly snapped.

The two cleaning staff finally noticed them and jumped in fright.

"P-President Sinclair... M-Miss Sinclair."

"President Sinclair! Miss Sinclair..."

’So the Sterlings were throwing a birthday party for their younger daughter today, and Chloe Sterling had the nerve to show up only to be turned away at the door.’ Phoebe’s mood instantly improved. But hearing the two defend Chloe displeased her, so she said coldly, "Neglecting your duties to gossip about guests? Don’t bother coming in tomorrow!"

"We’re sorry, Miss Sinclair! We were wrong!"

"We’re sorry, it won’t happen again."

"Since when are you the one calling the shots at this hotel?" Tristan Sinclair’s cold, heavy voice cut in, showing her no deference in front of everyone.

Phoebe Sinclair’s expression faltered. "They weren’t doing their jobs. They were here gossiping about guests. Don’t they deserve to be punished?"

"It’s not your place to punish them!" Tristan Sinclair said, then looked at the two staff members. "Get back to work." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Yes, President Sinclair."

The two scurried away.

Tristan Sinclair resumed his rounds.

Phoebe Sinclair stood frozen in place, her expression a contorted mask of red and white. It was quite the spectacle.

Tristan Sinclair walked ahead and called Jasper Lockwood. "Jasper, looks like your little beauty just got a raw deal."

Jasper immediately asked, "What happened?"

"I was doing my rounds at the hotel and heard the Sterlings are throwing a birthday party for their younger daughter. Your girl showed up, but they wouldn’t let her into the ballroom."

Tristan actually found the whole thing a bit strange. Given Chloe Sterling’s personality and her relationship with her family, she never would have come to Esther Sterling’s birthday party. ’He wondered what was really going on.’

"Which hotel?"

"The one on Jianshe Road, downtown."

After a few seconds of silence, Jasper said, "Kick the Sterlings out. I’ll cover all your losses, ten times over."

Tristan Sinclair raised an eyebrow. "Is that really a good idea?"

Jasper Lockwood: "That plot of land in the North District is yours next week."

Tristan Sinclair laughed. "You win. Alright, I’ll send my people to kick them out right now."

「Lockwood Group.」

Jasper Lockwood hung up, his eyes darkening. Tristan might not know what was going on, but Jasper did. He knew Silas Coldwell was staying at that very hotel.

’Of course, Chloe wasn’t there for the Sterlings’ party. She was there to see Silas Coldwell. She just had the bad luck of running into her family throwing a birthday bash for their younger daughter.’

’What would she be seeing Silas Coldwell for?’

Just as he was pondering this, Chloe Sterling suddenly called. He answered immediately. "Hello, Chloe."

"Jasper, are you still at the office?"

"Yes, I’m here."

"Don’t leave yet, then. Wait for me, I’m on my way."

Jasper Lockwood: "Alright. I’ll wait for you."

「The Hotel Ballroom.」

Esther Sterling elegantly finished a piece at the piano, and the room erupted in thunderous applause. She was the center of everyone’s adoration.

Esther Sterling rose and offered a small smile, which was met with a fresh wave of praise from the crowd.

"President Sterling, your daughter is so exceptional. You have a fortunate future ahead of you," Old Mr. Holt said with great flattery, having completely set aside their prior disagreements as he looked at the assembled guests.

Warren Sterling was delighted. He gazed dotingly at his younger daughter. "She’s still just a child, but it’s true that Esther has never given me a moment’s worry."

Watching the two men exchange empty pleasantries and seeing the unbearably hypocritical Esther Sterling, Miles Holt felt nothing but boredom.

If his father hadn’t forced him to be here, he wouldn’t have bothered showing up.

Everyone knew Chloe Sterling would rather leave her family than marry him. The whole affair had been a constant source of humiliation, and it made him want to see the Sterlings even less.

Esther Sterling suddenly approached him and whispered, "Chloe is here at the hotel. Do you want to go look for her?"

"Why is she here?" Miles Holt asked, surprised.

"I don’t know, but I definitely saw her. She’s probably in a bad mood. You could go and comfort her. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be so touched that she’ll finally say yes."

Miles Holt let out a short laugh. "Is that your birthday wish?"

Esther Sterling’s expression turned cold. "I’m just letting you know. Do what you want."

With that, she turned and walked over to Ruby Lynch.

After a moment’s thought, Miles Holt turned to head out. Just then, the doors to the ballroom were suddenly thrown open.

The general manager strode in, followed by several security guards.

At the sudden intrusion, everyone in the ballroom fell silent.

Warren Sterling was completely baffled. "Manager Grant, what’s going on?"

Manager Grant said, "Mr. Sterling, this ballroom is temporarily required for another purpose. We’ll have to ask you to end your party and leave immediately."

"What!" Warren Sterling was aghast. "Manager Grant, what is the meaning of this?"

Ruby Lynch quickly added, "Our party is only halfway through, and all our guests are here. Manager Grant, surely this is inappropriate?"

"Exactly," Mason Rivers said, stepping forward with a look of disdain for Manager Grant. "This isn’t just the Sterlings’ party. The Rivers Family is represented here as well. The Rivers and the Sinclairs have ties, as I’m sure you’re aware, Manager Grant?"

After speaking, he glanced at Esther Sterling, as if to reassure her.

Esther Sterling offered a perfunctory smile, though inwardly she held nothing but contempt for him.

Manager Grant chuckled. "Of course I’m aware of that. The Head of the Rivers Family does indeed have ties to the Sinclair Family." He deliberately stressed the words "Head of the Rivers Family," reminding Mason that he was merely from a branch family.

At those words, Mason Rivers’s face instantly chilled. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Do I really need to spell it out for you, Fourth Young Master Rivers?" Manager Grant’s tone was laced with ridicule, and he showed no one any deference. His orders had come directly from Eldest Young Master Sinclair himself, which gave him all the backbone he needed.

Warren Sterling demanded in a heavy voice, "Manager Grant, have I offended you in some way?"

’With so many guests watching, what Manager Grant was doing was a public slap in the face!’

Manager Grant replied, "Of course you haven’t offended me, Mr. Sterling. I’ll be frank. I don’t know who you’ve offended either. But these orders came from the top, and I can only do as I’m told."

"The top? Who’s at the top?" Mason Rivers demanded.

Manager Grant said, "That’s not for me to say. But I can tell you it’s someone none of you—not even all of you combined—can afford to offend. Perhaps you should think hard about who that might be, Mr. Sterling."

Warren Sterling had been riding high lately; he couldn’t think of a single person he might have offended.

’Manager Grant wouldn’t spout nonsense in public, nor would he have the guts to do something like this on his own.’

Instantly, a thousand different thoughts ran through the minds of the guests.

’If Warren Sterling had truly offended someone powerful—ending up like the Sutton family—then they would all have to seriously reconsider their association with him.’

People are pragmatic, after all. And in the world of business, self-interest reigns supreme.