"Is he busy today?" Raegan pressed.

With Matteo's forehead glistening with sweat, he answered, "Yes, Mr. Dixon is quite occupied."

Just then, the door to that chamber swung open, and a waiter wheeled out a dining cart.

A woman's voice floated out. Raegan's ears pricked up at once. She knew the voice all too well. It was Lauren's.

Before Matteo could intervene, Raegan pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The chamber she entered was the most luxurious one in South River Club.

It was awash in opulence, from the floor blooming with rare flowers to the SWAROVSKI crystal chandeliers that graced the ceiling. Even the pillars were sheathed in gold leaf.

A large LCD screen blinked, "Celebrating the Little Princess Lauren's Birthday."

Center stage was the birthday girl herself, bedecked in a diamond- studded gown. Gone was yesterday's glum face, replaced by a smirk of sheer self-satisfaction.

As Raegan absorbed the scene, her complexion went ashen, as though her strength had been drained.

The chamber was so bustling that nobody noticed her existence.

Raegan's eyes landed on Lauren, who was arm-in-arm with Mitchel. She watched as Lauren spooned up a piece of cake and guided it toward Mitchel's lips.

"Come on, just feeding him a cake like that is so boring,” a man beside them suddenly hooted.

"Mitchel threw this grand birthday party for you. Show some gratitude! Feed him mouth-to-mouth!"

“Mouth-to-mouth! Mouth-to-mouth!" the guests echoed.

Lauren cast a coy glance at Mitchel. As he was not objecting, she picked up a piece of cake between her teeth, clearly intending to transfer it to Mitchel's mouth.

The air was thick with cheers and whistles.

As that piece of cake inched ever closer to Mitchel's mouth, Nicole uttered in annoyance, "Seriously? She's the shameless home wrecker, and she's so proud of it? Ugh. This is disgusting."

Nicole grabbed Raegan's hand, urging her to leave. But Raegan had other plans.

"Mitchel," Raegan called.