Twisted Ties of Love

For the first time, Casey saw Izabella glammed up in a mermaid dress. He had suspected something was up when Bunny had called earlier; her tone was off. Now, he understood.

The sight of Izabella's long legs and her bare back was enough to make him want to stitch the dress up, covering every inch of her skin.

She was doing her hair, planning to put it up to highlight her elegant neckline. Izabella didn't like complicated hairstyles. She simply took a hairpin and twisted her waist-length hair into a bun at the back of her head. Strands of her hair fell loosely from her temples, adding a touch of softness to her radiant face.

Red was a difficult color to pull off, but it suited Izabella perfectly. She reminded Casey of a red rose blooming in the early morning, or a warm flame in a cold, snowy night.

This was the Izabella everyone in R City admired - the once wilted rose, now miraculously revived, as radiant as ever.

Casey walked up to her and gently removed the hairpin. Izabella's hair cascaded down her back, covering her bare skin.

"I think you should leave your hair down."

Izabella was startled by his sudden action, but when she saw the hint of jealousy in his reflection in the mirror, she instantly understood.

"Don't you like me in this dress?" Izabella teased.

"It's beautiful," he stammered. It was too beautiful that he wanted to keep her all to himself.

Casey felt like a kid who got his hands on a precious treasure. He wanted to hide it, yet he also wanted to show it off to everyone. His Bella was the most precious treasure in the world. "You look great with your hair down, too."

Izabella gave him a knowing look. Seeing him blush, she decided not to call him out.

"Okay, I'll leave it down." But she didn't want her back fully exposed either. She took a hair clip and Casey, catching on, skillfully clipped it to her hair.

Her back was now partially hidden by her hair, still looking sexy yet less exposed. Izabella was slim; her slender waist was even more pronounced.

"It's a bit chilly outside, you should take a shawl," Casey suggested.

"Alright, if you insist," Izabella teased.

The dress was picked out by Bunny, Wendy had a set of jewelry delivered, and Casey had prepared a pair of high heels for Izabella. He handed her the invitation card from Beck. The invitation was addressed to Izabella, the CEO of the Maple Group.

Outside the luxury hotel, a red carpet was laid out and reporters were eagerly waiting. The charity gala hosted by the Dempsey Group was attended by many high-profile figures including influential figures in the entertainment industry.

Izabella was Casey's publicly acknowledged fiancée, would she be attending too?

It was no exaggeration to say that ninety percent of the reporters were there for Izabella.

The last time she made a public appearance was at the award ceremony. After receiving her award, she announced her retirement from the entertainment industry and was quickly whisked away by Casey. She hadn't appeared in the public eye since.

The reporters had so many

questions. When did she start dating

Mr. Dempsey? How did she feel

about winning the big award? What was her real reason for leaving the entertainment industry? Now that she's Mr. Dempsey's fiancée, when will they announce their wedding? And what about the woman who looked like her in the video that surfaced online recently?

Some reporters had inside information that Izabella and Casey would be arriving together.

They sold the news to a marketing account, and it quickly spread online, causing a stir.

[Who isn't a big shot at this event? What is Izabella doing there? Can she afford to make a donation?]

[Those who attend are truly wealthy, big names in the business world. Even if they're not from the industry, the big stars who are invited all have strong backgrounds. All are seasoned actors.]

[Izabella wouldn't even qualify to be there if she hadn't retired. She's only there because of Casey. I wonder what he sees in her.]Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

[It's difficult for an artist to break into the upper echelons of society. Izabella has gone from being a sparrow to a phoenix since getting together with Casey. No wonder she chose to leave the industry.]

[There's so much sourness up there.

Is it so hard to admit that Izabella is exceptional? The youngest actress in history to sweep all the major acting awards, the record-breaking ratings of Blood Ties, Izabella is more than a match for Casey. They're a perfect pair, an invincible pair, a divine pair.]

[Mr. Dempsey finally likes someone, and his fans are sour about it. Do you want to drive the sister-in-law away and make him become a monk?]

Online, people fell into three categories: supporters, detractors, and spectators. In the chaos, fights broke out.

However, the biggest point of contention was that Izabella had leapfrogged into high society because of Casey, not because of her own merits.

On the way to the event, Izabella leaned against Casey's shoulder in the car, not glancing at her phone. When they arrived, Casey got out first and extended his hand to her.

Their eyes met in the dim light of the car. After sharing a smile, Izabella gently placed her hand in Casey's and stepped out of the car, linking her arm through his.

Casey leaned in close and whispered to Izabella, "Tonight, I'm your date."

"You better be on your best behavior, then," Izabella teased, walking alongside Casey on the red carpet under the bright lights.

As soon as they appeared, the paparazzi who were busy snapping pictures of other guests instantly redirected their cameras. "Izabella and Casey are here!"

Someone shouted, and immediately, the flashes of the cameras converged on them.

The hotel lobby was decked out in all its splendor, attracting a crowd of influential figures for the evening. Izabella stepped inside, her invitation in hand.

The doorman examined her invitation, his demeanor shifting to one of utmost respect as he welcomed Izabella inside.

The journalists nearby observed this scene with surprise. Typically, it was Casey who escorted Izabella to these lavish dinners. But based on the doorman's reaction, it seemed Izabella commanded more respect?

As Izabella made her way into the crowd, she was aware of the curious glances thrown her way. She had attended countless dinners like this.

On the surface, these events were

marketed as@harity galas. But in reality, they served as networking events for the elite. Business moguls never considered their circle of collaborators too big. An invitation to one of these dinners was essentially a stamp verifying your status among the upper echelons.

Mutual flattery and one-upmanship were the name of the game. To put it bluntly, these dinners were a spectacle for the average folk, showcasing the powerful's ability to rule the roost.