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The cheers echoed in the room, and Liana’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The situation was becoming unbearable. No matter what she did, Catherine seemed to be in the spotlight, and there was nothing she could do to diminish it.
Liana’s jealousy flared as she watched the boys crowd around Catherine, hanging on her every word. Catherine’s effortless charm, combined with her mysterious aura as Sugar, had completely captivated them. Even the girls, who had previously been chatting amongst themselves, now whispered excitedly about her.
Liana’s mind raced, trying to come up with a way to regain her status. She had worked so hard to create an image of perfection, yet all of it seemed to crumble in the face of Catherine’s understated brilliance. Her thoughts grew darker as she watched Catherine, who remained calm and composed, enjoying the attention she had earned.
Catherine, on the other hand, was completely unfazed by the situation. She was used to being the center of attention, but this moment felt different. She had never intended to overshadow anyone—especially not Liana. She had just wanted to give Bryan a meaningful gift, but somehow, everything had spiraled into a battle for recognition.
Bryan, still bubbling with excitement, looked at Catherine with admiration. “Boss, you really are something else. I mean, who else could have pulled off something like this? You’ve turned my birthday into an unforgettable event.”
Catherine smiled slightly, a hint of warmth in her eyes as she nodded in acknowledgment. “I’m glad you like it.”
But her thoughts were elsewhere, drifting toward the mystery of Sugar’s identity. She had a feeling that her own actions were drawing unwanted attention, and with Paxton’s report about the IP address, the situation was starting to feel more complex than she had anticipated.
Liana, unable to tolerate the scene any longer, stepped forward, trying to regain some control over the situation. She forced a smile and said, “Catherine, you really know how to steal the show, don’t you? But you can’t win everyone’s admiration with just a USB drive.”
Her voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that betrayed her frustration. Catherine’s gaze flickered over to her, and she raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t mean to steal anyone’s spotlight, Liana.”
Liana, not backing down, smirked. “No, of course not. It’s just that… sometimes people forget who the real stars are.” She made sure to glance pointedly at the group of boys around Catherine.
But before Catherine could respond, Bryan suddenly interrupted, his voice loud and cheerful, “Hey! Let’s stop with the talking and play the game! I can’t wait to see how this turns out!”
The boys eagerly agreed, and soon the conversation shifted to the game. As the group moved towards the gaming setup, Liana felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She had tried to make her mark, to show Catherine that she wouldn’t be overshadowed, but once again, Catherine had come out on top, and there was nothing Liana could do about it.
Meanwhile, as the birthday party raged on, a sense of unease lingered in the background. Catherine’s casual presence in the midst of the celebration felt like a harbinger of something larger at play, and her connection to Sugar was bound to have consequences.
As the night continued, the shadows of intrigue and rivalry loomed, with the true nature of Catherine’s power and influence yet to be fully revealed.