Memories Drifted Like Paper Boats by Zyra Cole 21

Chapter 21 

When Felix’s announcement of the final result faded, no one standing on the right side of the hall could force a smile anymore. 

Desmond, especially after adding another 700 thousand dollars resentment and frustration, the look of someone furious at her 

his bet, stared at Abby on stage with eyes full of hire. 

700 thousand dollars meant little to the Cole family, but the humiliation cut deep. 

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Worse still, if not for his remarks before the match, others would never have raised their bets so aggressively. Once the money was lost, Desmond naturally became the target of every he’s anger. 

Feeling Desmond’s disdain, Abby looked terrible. She couldn’t accept the outcome at all. She and Edwina had grown up by side, and she knew exactly how the Lennox family had treate Edwina 

vide 

To keep Edwina obedient and useful, and to avoid wasting money, the Lennox family never allowed her to attend college. Even middle school and high school had been random free public schools. Edwina was supposed to be a country nobody. There was no way she could understand wine. 

With such a huge scene unfolding on stage, Benedict and Beatrice had already come to watch. Like their daughter, their faces were filled with disbelief. 

Peter quietly moved from the right side back to the left, stopping again in front of Desmond. 

He lowered his head, looking dejected and worried. “Mr. Gibson, did you already know Edwina understood wine?” 

Kelvin slowly shook his head. “No.” 

Peter was stunned. “Then how did you dare to place such a huge bet?” 

A faint smile appeared on Kelvin’s lips. He replied with just three words. “I wanted to.” 

Peter muttered inwardly, ‘What a you wanted to. Just like that, two months of salary gone. 

Still, this incident taught Peter one hard truth. No matter when or where, following Kelvin was always the right call. 

Edwina set down her glass and gave a cool smile. “Abby, don’t forget what you said. You promised you would never drink again for the rest of your life. 

“From now on, I doubt you will have a place at any high society wine party in Grindel City.” 

Abby clenched her fists, shaking with rage. She blurted out, “That’s impossible. This is fake. It’s rigged” 

She pointed straight at Felix. “Mr. Hoffman, this whole thing was set up by you and Edwina. You gave her the answers ahead of time so you could take everyone’s money, didn’t you?” 

An uproar broke out at once. All suspicious eyes turned toward Felix. 

“A fake betting game?” 

“Looks like they were trying to curry favor with Kelvin. In Grind City, who wouldn’t want his backing?” 

“If the Hoffman family wants to get close to Kelvin, they should drag the rest of us down with them.” 

Beatrice and Benedict quickly joined in from the crowd, backing Abby while trying to please their future son–in–law. 

Beatrice said, “Desmond, it must be Edwina pulling tricks. Abby so smart. She’s studied wine with the Hoffmans since 

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Chapter 21 

childhood. How could she lose to someone who knows nothing 

People were getting more and more worked up, their voices rising in anger. 

Felix was completely at a loss. Before tonight, he had never ever heard of Edwina. 

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Watching her identify five premium wines in a row was already beyond Felix’s own ability. Cheating was impossible. 

Meanwhile, Willa frowned deeply. Hearing so many people accuse her father filled her with rage. 

Willa rushed forward, her princess dress swaying as she moved. Abby, how can you say something like that? 

“You decided on the tasting on a whim, and my dad only opened the betting on the spot. What proof do you have?” 

Abby snapped back without hesitation, tearing all ties with the Hoffmans, “On a whim? From the moment Farrived, you kept talking to me about the tasting stage. Wasn’t that hinting at me and pushing things along?” 

“When did I ever talk about the tasting stage?” Willa shouted, stamping her foot in anger. Everyone knew the Hoffman family had an unambitious daughter who neither understood nor studied wine. 

Felix had always taught outsiders instead. Willa dreamed of becoming a designer. There was no way she would bore someone to talk about wine tasting. 

Willa yelled, “Abby. Everything you told me about Edwina before was a lie 100, wasn’t it? You liar. You just make things up 

Willa was so furious she nearly rushed the stage to hit Abby, only to be pulled back by Beatrice. 

Edwina’s patience had reached its limit. She murmured. “Being undered myself is one thing. Now, dragging the Hoffmans 

into it?” 

Just as emotions reached the breaking point, a deep and weathered yet powerful voice came from backstage. “Felix, enough. I heard her voice.” 

Then the hall fell silent. Even Kelvin’s gaze flickered slightly. 

A sommelier pushed a wheelchair out from the back. 

Everyone stared in shock. 

It’s him. He’s still alive?” 

“Didn’t they say he passed away years ago!” 

Kameron Hoffman, nearly a hundred years old, founder of Hollan Winery, had gone blind in his early years and faded from public attention. 

Later, by some twist of fate, his winemaking skill soared as if guided by destiny, earning him global recognition as a master Vintner. Yet Kameron hadn’t appeared in public for many years. The Hoffman family never spoke of him, as if he had vanished entirely. 

Felix immediately bowed when he saw him. “Dad, why did you me in person?” 

youne 

“Grandpa,” Willa said softly. Even she hadn’t seen him in a long time. 

Kameron ignored everyone else. He waved the sommelier awayd pushed the wheelchar himself, heading straight toward Edwina 

pretend he didn’t know him. 

Edwina didn’t expect Kameron to appear. 

She meant to pret 

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But seeing how he relied only on sound to find his way, the wheelchair wobbling as if it might tip over at Edwina instinctively reached out to steady him 

Kameron spoke with emotion. “My Muse, thank you. We finally thert again” 

In front of a young woman barely in her twenties, Kameron look more like 

any moment 

He grabbed Edwina’s hand. tears streaming down his face, his white hair trembling as he shook with emotion. 

Muse! The crowd was stunned by the title. 

Edwina answered calmly. “Mr. Hoffman, you may have the wrong person. That’s not me.” 

Kameron said firmly, “No, there’s no mistake. The tenth wine on that tasting table was brewed by my own hand. Its formula is unique. 

Her 

“Other than you, no one in this world could have identified it. Though I have never seen you, your voice sounds just like it did back then. It has to be you.” 

With that, Kameron turned his wheelchair to face the crowd. Though blind, his presence was overwhelming. 

Kameron spoke up. “Anyone who says Muse doesn’t understand wine is saying that I don’t understand wine. 

The Hoffman Winery became what it is today thanks to her guidance back then. She shared with me a rare and brilliant brewing technique. 

“It’s a pity I can’t see. I never got to behold her face. I only knew she was deeply connected to the Lennox family. That’s why I formed ties with them in the first place.” 

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