Brianna panicked instantly. "Honey... I heard Ella say she liked it, so I thought she wanted it. That’s why I bid on it... She has always loved these kinds of things..."
"Mom! How can you blame me? I never said I wanted to bid on it because it’s too expensive. Daddy works so hard to earn money; how could I spend it so recklessly? I used to be thoughtless, but seeing Daddy’s gray hair, I can’t bear to do that anymore... With Daddy working so hard, how could I keep buying luxury items? I also want Mommy to return Hannah’s half-million-dollar evening gown to the store..."
Ella pouted pitifully. "But I was afraid Mommy would scold me..."
Brianna’s face turned deathly pale, and Hannah was stunned, looking at Ella in disbelief.
This bitch, how could she say such things?
"Daddy, Mommy just spoils Ella too much; that’s why she did it. Please don’t blame her!" Hannah quickly tried to defend Brianna.
"Daddy, I’ve grown up now and don’t need you to protect me so excessively! Mommy, please stop buying me luxury items from now on!" Ella whispered, walking over to gently shake Robert’s arm, her eyes full of sorrow.
Robert angrily shook off Brianna’s hand and patted Ella’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, Daddy doesn’t blame you..."
He then looked up, coldly glaring at Brianna and Hannah. "Ella never said she wanted it, but you bid it up to twenty million. You’ve really made me proud!"
Brianna’s face crumpled. "I’m sorry, Honey, I..."
"And this dress cost half-million-dollar? Do you think money falls from the sky?"
Furious, Robert slapped Brianna across the face!
He allowed his daughters to dress elegantly, but a twenty-million-dollar crown was outrageous! A half-million-dollar dress was sheer extravagance!
To Robert, these things had no real value!
Brianna was knocked back onto the sofa, and Hannah rushed to support her, terrified. "Mom, are you okay? Daddy, how could you hit Mommy? It’s all because of that bitch..."
"Hannah!" Brianna snapped, cutting off her daughter’s words.
Though Hannah was usually shrewd, her anger got the best of her in this moment, causing her to lose her usual composure.
"How dare you! What did you just say?" Robert roared. His eldest daughter still held ten percent of Davis Group’s shares. If she became dissatisfied with him, he risked losing the chance to secure those shares.
So, in Robert’s mind, Brianna and Hannah couldn’t compete with Ella’s importance right now.
On top of Brianna’s extravagant bid for the Aurora Diadem, Robert was already resentful. Now, with his younger daughter’s insolence, his fury knew no bounds!
"Daddy, I’m sorry... I didn’t mean it. It’s our fault!" Hannah sobbed, tears streaming down her face.
Daddy’s growing disdain for her and Mommy was entirely because of this bitch...
Ella gently tugged on Robert’s sleeve and spoke softly, "Daddy, please don’t be angry. It was my fault. If I had been more firm in saying no to the crown... I did try to stop it, but Mommy insisted on bidding for it. She did it for my sake. Please, don’t be mad, okay?"
Robert looked at his obedient and understanding daughter and sighed, "Ella, you’ve really grown up. I’m relieved. You two should reflect on yourselves—how could you be outdone by a child?"
Robert’s anger simmered as Ella quickly smiled and said, "Daddy, don’t be upset. You just got back from a business trip and must be tired. Let’s have dinner first."
In her past life, Robert had returned at this exact time, so Ella had planned everything perfectly.
Brianna, Hannah, you won’t get the chance to slander me in front of Daddy!
Ella glanced pityingly at Brianna and Hannah before taking Robert’s arm and leading him to the dining room.
Brianna silently wiped away her tears, her hands trembling with hatred. Hannah clutched her hand tightly and whispered, "Mom, what do we do now?"
Brianna’s eyes were filled with resentment and madness. "That bitch dares to speak like that!"
"I think... she’s gotten smarter," Hannah murmured.
That bitch used to demand anything she liked and never heeded Robert’s lectures. Now, she seemed so sensible, no longer pursuing luxury items.
"Hmph, what change? It’s just a coincidence. She probably didn’t ask for the crown to avoid being scolded by your dad!" Brianna couldn’t believe that the stepdaughter she had raised for over ten years had suddenly become smart.
"Mom, should we be more careful?" Hannah whispered.
At that moment, the servants were attending to Ella and Robert in the dining room, so no one heard the mother-daughter conversation.
"Don’t forget, we still have your brother. He’s your grandmother’s favorite, and we still have that ace up our sleeve!" Brianna sneered. Her youngest son was ten years old and spending the summer at his grandmother’s place.
Because the grandmother adored this grandson, Brianna was happy to let her son stay there to strengthen her position in the grandmother’s heart.
Hannah’s eyes lit up, and her mood instantly brightened. Mom was right; they still had her little brother. The youngest brother was the precious heir of the Davis family!
No matter how clever Ella was, in the end, the Davis family’s wealth would still fall into her brother’s hands.
Meanwhile, Ella was dining with Robert.
"Daddy, I heard that Mrs. Lisa from Country W is coming to discuss business with you next week?" Ella asked with a smile.
"How did you know that?" Robert looked at his daughter curiously.
"It was in the newspaper. It said Davis Group was collaborating with Mrs. Lisa. Daddy, you might not know, but Mrs. Lisa loves crowns. The Aurora Diadem was designed by a famous designer from Country Q. His works will become even more valuable in the future, and Mrs. Lisa would surely love it."
Ella smiled, revealing her plan.
Robert wasn’t foolish. Hearing his daughter, his eyes lit up. "You mean, give the Aurora Diadem to Mrs. Lisa?"
"Yes, their family has a tradition of exchanging gifts. The Aurora Diadem would be perfect." Ella smiled.
In her past life, three days after Brianna bought the crown, the designer died in a car accident, causing the price of his works to skyrocket. If Mrs. Lisa received this gift, she would be delighted.