Banquet hall.
Anna moved through the guests, holding Alex's hand while also guiding Noah and Liam. The young maid had already been hidden away by Alex in a safe place.
After locating Samantha, Suzy sat back in the hall, taking a glass of red wine from a waiter and following quietly behind Anna.
Seeing her, Anna couldn't help but ask, "Where did you go just now?"
Suzy smiled, "I had a bit of a stomachache and went to the restroom."
Anna didn't doubt her and continued socializing with Liam.
Suzy squatted down, looking at Alex and Noah, trying to please them, "Alex, Noah, is it boring here? Do you want me to take you somewhere fun?"
Noah looked at her without expression, not responding.
Alex sweetly smiled at her, "Is what you said true?"
Suzy instantly felt a chill crawling up her body. For some reason, she always felt an evil intention hidden beneath Alex's sweet smile. Like the time at Chelsea Creek, she was deceived by his sweet smile and thoroughly embarrassed.
"Yes, of course, it's true," she stammered.
Alex's eyes flickered with a hint of wickedness, and he forcefully tugged on Anna's arm, loudly saying, "Grandma, Suzy said it's boring and she wants to leave. She's afraid you won't agree, so she encouraged me to speak for her."
The volume was enough for the people around to hear.
Those who were lively and cheerful a moment ago were now slightly stunned, looking at Suzy in surprise.
Suzy's fake smile froze, and she nervously denied, "No, it's not like that. I just wanted to take them..."
Before she could finish the phrase 'out to play', Alex interrupted maliciously, "What's not like that? You're saying my understanding is flawed! Even though I'm only four years old, I can understand what adults are saying."
"I didn't mean that..." Suzy had no chance to explain herself. Under Alex's malicious gaze, she unknowingly raised her voice.
This wild child, he was doing it on purpose. Deliberately making her look bad in front of everyone.
Alex's small body trembled violently, and he hid behind Anna, eyes reddening, pretending to be on the verge of tears. "Grandma, I'm scared. She's so fierce... like a female devil. I'm afraid she'll eat me."
Anna's heart ached at the sight of him, shielding him and sternly slapped Suzy across the face. "He's just a four-year-old child. How dare you treat him like this? I've seen it happen, and I can't imagine how you'd mistreat him when I'm not around."
Suzy was dumbfounded.
Covering her slapped cheek, she couldn't believe that the usually elegant and noble Anna would publicly lay hands on her. Especially in front of so many sympathetic eyes, she felt ashamed.
Seeing her being slapped, Alex peeked out from behind Anna's back, making a face at her as if saying, "You deserve it, you brought this upon yourself."
Suzy shook with anger but had no recourse.
Noah wanted to laugh, but considering the occasion, he tried to contain himself. However, his shoulders twitched involuntarily, looking comical.
Fearing that Alex might be wronged, and also to give Suzy a warning, Anna didn't care about the onlookers and warned, "Alex is your son. No matter if you have feelings for him or not, you must treat him well. If I find out you mistreat him again, don't blame me for not considering our past relationship. Do you understand?"
Suzy covered her face, lowered her head, and replied in a low voice, "Alexander is my biological son, the flesh and blood that fell from my body. How could I bear to mistreat him?"
In her mind, she couldn't help but add: only to directly kill him.
Anna, not aware of her inner thoughts, nodded in satisfaction.
Alex's disturbance immediately let everyone know Suzy's position in the Steele family. Without these two children, she was nothing in the Steele family. Now, being able to freely enter and leave the Steele family was all thanks to the two children.
Samantha was different.
Samantha relied on Ethan's love. In this comparison, it was clear who had a higher and lower status.
At this moment, a servant hurriedly ran over, looking anxious. "Something's wrong; there's a thief in our house."
Upon hearing this, everyone reacted, asking, "Who's so bold as to dare to steal here?"
The servant shook his head desperately. "I don't know. I saw him enter the southern building. I wanted to chase him, but I was afraid I might not be his match, so I let him get away."
Liam's displeasure grew, and sparks of anger flickered in his eyes. He blamed Anna with a glance.
Anna, equally displeased, didn't show it but couldn't help giving the servant a second look.
The Steele family's servants were well aware of the family rules. A well-behaved servant wouldn't make a commotion in such an important situation. Especially with a theft, they should quietly inform the housekeeper and handle it discreetly, not loudly announce it for everyone to hear.
Who could be so ignorant of the rules?
As if afraid Anna would see, the servant kept his head down and whispered, "Madam, please go and check! Otherwise, the thief might escape."
At this point, someone beside Anna said, "Yes! Quickly gather the servants and go catch the thief. Anyone daring to steal here must be captured."
Suzy chimed in, "Auntie, what they said is right. Let's catch the thief first, and we can deal with the rest later."
Unable to back down now, Anna reluctantly agreed.
However, since the guests were all valuable, Anna didn't bring them along. She only took a few household servants to catch the thief.
Seeing everyone staying behind, Suzy bit her lip, her eyes swirling with thoughts.
If everyone stayed behind, how would the later part of the plan unfold?
Considering Anna's personality, even if she did catch Samantha and another man in bed, she would likely keep it a secret. All the servants who went with her were from the Steele family and would most likely keep quiet.
If that happened, wouldn't everything she did be in vain?
No, she absolutely couldn't let the plan fail.
Thinking of this, she quickly grabbed a familiar young lady, trying to persuade her, "Yolanda, why don't we secretly follow them? Don't you want to know who's so bold to steal here?"
Yolanda, a typical spoiled young lady with a curious nature, was the best target to persuade.
As expected, Yolanda's eyes lit up after hearing her words. She nodded in agreement and invited a few close friends, sneaking away to the southern building.
After they left, Suzy found their mothers, pretending to be anxious. "Something's not right. Yolanda and the others went to the southern building. I don't know if it's safe. What if the thief harms them?"
The wealthy ladies, fearing for their daughters' safety, immediately pulled their husbands along to catch up.
With this move, another ten or so people went to the southern building.
Seeing everyone gradually leaving, Suzy's eyes revealed a triumphant satisfaction. She quickly followed them—her plan was succeeding.
***