Chapter 6 Do You Have The Authority To Drive Me Away

"Who is that girl? Which family does she hail from? She's absolutely breathtaking!"

Janice's arrival drew all eyes towards her. She radiated a presence that rendered her the center of attention with mere ease.

Back then, Janice had opted for simplicity, often avoiding makeup and dressing casually at major social events, allowing Delilah to bask in the limelight.

But those days were behind her. No longer did she feel the need to dim her own light for the sake of another. Now, she embraced her true self without reservation.

She was clad in an elegant black gown adorned with delicate silver accents that hugged her figure gracefully, while her expertly applied makeup accentuated her flawless features.

The pearl earrings and diamond necklace she wore did not outshine her. They merely added to the natural radiance that she possessed.

Her demeanor was composed, her gaze confident, and her posture regal, evoking the image of a modern princess gracing the crowd with her presence.

Meanwhile, Delilah's expression darkened. It had been merely a few days, yet the change in Janice was profound.

Despite her reluctance to acknowledge it, Delilah couldn't shake the feeling of being outshined and strikingly dull next to Janice.

Laurie continued to soak in the crowd's adoration, unaware of Janice's entrance.

"Mom, I think I just saw Janice. It's amazing that she's here for the competition. But with the way things are in the family right now, who can say what she's really after?" Delilah whispered in Laurie's ear.

"Janice is here?" Laurie turned sharply at the mention of the name. Her eyes soon landed on Janice.

Initially struck by Janice's striking presence, Laurie then frowned with disapproval. "Why would that girl bother to appear here? Does she expect me to be lenient with her just because I'm judging today? If she had made amends with you earlier, perhaps I might have been more forgiving. But now? Absolutely not!"

With a defiant tilt of her chin, Laurie strode towards Janice.

Janice's charm seemed to draw a crowd. Several young men and even guests unfamiliar with her backstory were drawn to her allure, though she gently rebuffed each advance, regardless of their status.

She hadn't initially planned on attending the event. However, the thought of Delilah competing with her design had lit a spark of mischief in her decision.

"Janice, how dare you come here?" Laurie's icy tone sliced through the chatter, snapping Janice back to the present.

Looking up, she saw both Laurie and Delilah approaching, their expressions a complex tapestry of emotions.

Janice's expression grew stormy, a stark departure from her usual warm smiles. Her patience had worn thin. "Get lost!" she snapped, her voice sharp as a blade.

Laurie, taken aback, froze in place. She had barely opened her mouth to speak when Janice cut her off, leaving her speechless.

"Janice, how can you speak to Mom like that?" Delilah interjected, her eyes brimming with a pitiful appeal. "Say sorry to Mom right now. Just apologize, and we can still be a family."

"How dare you, the adopted, lecture me? Mrs. Edwards, I've officially severed any association with the Edwards family. If you don't want to make a fool of yourself, then keep your distance from me. Otherwise..." Janice glanced around at the gathering crowd. "I have no qualms about giving them a show to see how the Edwards family disgraces themselves."

With each step she took forward, her icy presence seemed to push Delilah further back.

Laurie clenched her jaw, noticing the curious glances from many guests. The risk of public embarrassment hung heavy in the air, threatening to make them the subject of ridicule.

Janice seemed to have turned into someone utterly different, verging on madness. No one could predict her next move.

Laurie inhaled sharply, her breath a quiet effort to regain composure. "Janice, aren't you here to take part in the fashion design competition? If you believe that being my daughter will gain you any special treatment, you need to discard that thought immediately. As one of the event's judges, I won't show even a hint of favoritism toward you."

"Favoritism?" Janice's laughter was tinged with disbelief. "Oh, so now you know I might also need favoritism? I was under the impression that was reserved only for your adopted daughter!"

"Janice, Mom is only looking out for you," Delilah interrupted in a tone cloaked in concern. "You don't even have a design to present. If you insist on entering this competition, aren't you just setting yourself up for embarrassment?"

"Shut your mouth, you lying piece of shit! Keep pushing me and I might just reveal to everyone the true origin of your entry draft."

Laurie's and Delilah's expressions grew grim.

"Janice, how dare you!" Laurie exclaimed before Delilah could respond.

Seizing Janice's hand, she muttered fiercely, "I have provided for you, yet you've made it impossible for Delilah to concentrate on her design. You owe her; and it's only right for her to use your design."

Janice clicked her tongue in annoyance, utterly dumbfounded by the illogical reasoning she was confronted with. She gave up on trying to argue any further.

With a sudden movement, she shrugged off Laurie's grip and declared, "In the past, I respected you. But now, who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?"

Laurie's frustration surged. It was unimaginable for her that the daughter who had always been so agreeable could snap with such ferocity.

"Guards, remove this woman from the premises immediately!" Laurie commanded, her voice echoing through the competition hall.

"Oh? And you think you have the power to throw me out?" Janice couldn't help but laugh at the command, crossing her arms.

Laurie jabbed a finger toward Janice, seething with anger and feeling her head spin. "Don't I have the authority? As a judge of this competition, am I not allowed to dismiss someone causing a disturbance?"

Delilah let out a sigh. "Janice, what's the point of all this? I get that you want to catch Mom's attention, but this is only going to infuriate her more."

Without a word, Janice struck Delilah across the cheek with a sharp smack.

Delilah's face became a canvas of disbelief. How could Janice dare to hit her?

"Janice, this is unacceptable! Guards! I demand that you remove her immediately!" Laurie exclaimed, her voice echoing with authority as a judge of the event.

Quickly, several guards converged around them. Yet, upon realizing the person in question was Janice, they hesitated.

Unaware of Janice's true identity, they had nevertheless noted her possession of a diamond invitation-an emblem of high status. They didn't dare to intervene against someone so distinguished.

"What are you waiting for? Get this woman out of here!" Laurie's voice sharpened with impatience. "Do you seriously want me to fire every single one of you?"

"Mrs. Edwards, please understand..." one guard began, caught between duty and decorum. But before he could further clarify, several bodyguards joined the fray, encircling the guards.

"Mrs. Edwards, are you really ordering my wife's expulsion?"

A man's voice cut through the tension, as he navigated his wheelchair through the crowd towards them.