Chapter 321

Zelda's voice was ice-cold as she retorted, "Who said I'm here for Esme's birthday party?" Julia fixed her piercing gaze on Zelda, her eyes glinting with hostility. "Then why are you at the Grand Daprein Hotel?" Elsa scoffed and chimed in, "It's also Zelda's birthday, and we're obviously here to celebrate that. You've all been jumping to conclusions." Esme laughed as if she had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. She gave Zelda a scornful glance. "Her? Who is she to host a birthday party at the Grand Daprein Hotel? "Do you know that a single evening event here costs at least a million dollars? Can she even afford that?" While they were arguing, Gordon and Warren walked over. Julia's face lit up when she spotted Gordon and Warren. She stepped forward warmly. "Grandpa, Warren, what brings you here? I thought you said you had other commitments and couldn't make it to Esme's birthday party?" Esme's face brightened with joy as well. She had invited everyone from the four prominent Daprein families, and although Gordon and Warren had declined, claiming they were busy, they had shown up anyway. "Mr. Frazier Senior, Warren, you're here! Please come inside," Esme said, her smile widening. If Gordon came to her party, that had to mean she was important to him. Yet Gordon merely glanced at Esme and waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not here for your birthday party, as I clearly stated before." Esme's smile froze, and she awkwardly asked, "If you're not here for my birthday party, Mr. Frazier Senior, then why are you at the Grand Daprein Hotel?" "Not for you," Gordon replied, his gaze softening as it landed on Zelda. "It's Zelda's birthday, and I'm here for her party." Gordon's words struck Esme like lightning, and she stared at Zelda in disbelief. The fact that Gordon had declined her invitation to attend Zelda's birthday party instead was overwhelming. She bit her lip slightly, her hands clenching at her sides until her nails dug into her palms. It was not until she felt the sting of her nails digging into her palms that she snapped back to reality. Gordon continued, "Besides, Julia is your friend. Her attendance already represents the Frazier family's." Just then, Zelda said to Gordon, "Mr. Frazier Senior, please go ahead upstairs. I'm still waiting for a few friends to arrive." Gordon nodded. "Alright. Warren, let's head up." After Gordon went upstairs, Ainsley arrived with Simon and a group of medical experts. They were all prominent figures in the medical field, and while some might not recognize them, every medical student at the institute knew who they were. Someone gasped in surprise, "Is that... Mr. Ainsley Brown? And that's the deputy director of Mercy Hospital Daprein! Are these distinguished guests... all here for Esme's birthday party?" Just as the person commented, Ainsley walked straight to Zelda and introduced her to the group behind him with a smile, "You've all been asking to meet my protégé, haven't you? Well, here she is! I brought you to her birthday party today, so don't be cheap with your gifts!" After Ainsley's introduction, the crowd fell into stunned silence. All eyes turned to Zelda as they realized she was Ainsley's protégé, the medical prodigy, Sheila Wade.