She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 847

By the time Melanie and the others reached the dessert table, Shawn was already gone.

Elina was the only one standing there.

She was still eating cake; the mango cheesecake was long gone, and now she was happily devouring a slice of chocolate cake.

"Elina, you're eating way too much!"

Bryant couldn't help but scold her.

Elina immediately hid behind Melanie, poking her head out just to stick her tongue out at Bryant.

Melanie gently rubbed Elina's head.

"Elina, if you eat too many sweets, you'll turn into a little balloon and lose that radiant smile. What would we do then?"

Elina seemed sufficiently frightened by the prospect and shook her head vehemently.

"No, no! I don't want to turn into a balloon! I want to be radiant and gorgeous like Auntie Melanie."

With that, she placed her half-eaten chocolate cake down, though her eyes lingered on it with deep reluctance.

Both Melanie and Bryant were thoroughly amused by her dramatic reaction.

Preston silently surveyed their surroundings.

Shawn was nowhere to be seen in the grand hall.

It seemed Shawn had left early.

Melanie was busy catching up with Bryant.

"Are you heading back to Averin after this?"

"I was just waiting for you to ask me that!"

Bryant offered a warm smile.

"Yes... I have a flight tomorrow."

"So soon?"

The moment Melanie asked, Bryant furrowed his brow.

"Are you saying you want me to leave, or do you want me to stay?"

"Of course I want you to come back! I'd welcome you back with open arms."

Although Melanie sounded utterly sincere and even threw her hands up in enthusiasm, Bryant still looked skeptical.

"What promotion! I'm just being transferred to the Averin Center for Disease Control as the director."

"The director of the CDC... Doesn't that count as a tiny promotion?"

Melanie made a pinching gesture with her fingers.

The two of them laughed and chatted, and soon enough, the birthday gala drew to a close.

Leila undoubtedly became the biggest talking point and the ultimate laughingstock of the night.

She had stumbled painfully through her Ten-Thousand-Word Penance. Not only had she thoroughly humiliated herself, but many jewelry designers and socialites who had worked with her in the past felt second-hand embarrassment, their disdain for Leila skyrocketing.

Melanie and Vanessa had established a foundational intent to collaborate, leaving the more granular details to be hashed out once they were back in Averin.

While it was completely unexpected for Melanie to run into Shawn at the party.

Shawn hadn't actually caused her any trouble.

Especially with Preston standing right there; Shawn wouldn't have been able to pull any fast ones anyway.

Equally unexpected was reuniting with Bryant and Elina.

Melanie felt her attendance tonight had been highly rewarding. She accomplished her primary goal and got to catch up with old friends.