Chapter 490

After suffering a defeat at Ariana's hands, Madelyn finally took her leave. Though she delivered a graceful farewell, it couldn't mask the frustration simmering beneath her composed facade. Her retreating figure might have looked poised, but the stiffness in her posture betrayed her true state. This round had undeniably been hers to lose. But it didn’t matter. The next encounter could go either way. Once Irene returned, she’d see how long Ariana could keep that smug look on her face. Let her enjoy her little victory for now—time was one thing Madelyn had plenty of. Meanwhile, on the other side of the room... Fanny watched as Madelyn and her entourage finally disappeared from sight, exhaling in relief. "What a waste of a perfectly good meal," she grumbled, plopping back onto the sofa with a scowl. "Just had to run into that kind of nuisance. Unbelievable." Ariana couldn’t help but chuckle at her friend’s irritation. Just then, Gwen returned. The moment she stepped back in, she sensed th