Emily paused, switching her attention from Olivia to Ava then back to Olivia. "Wait? Does Ava know about the bells?"

Before Olivia could open her mouth, Ava cut her off, stepping in front of Olivia to block her view. "No, I don't know. What about it?"

"Because Fiona is dehydrated. That's why she was ringing her bells on Maxen so he would quench her thirst," Emily explained before she and Olivia broke out in another fit of laughter.

Holding the door open for the ladies, Maxen shook his head when Olivia and Emily's chortling seemed to have no end to it.

"Okay, ladies. Enough making fun of me," Maxen said, splitting Olivia and Emily apart before they pee their pants from too much snickering.

"Wait, Maxen. But I want to know the story." Ava hooked her arm with Emily's. If she wanted to get a piece of information, Emily sure was the easiest person to extract it from.

"I caaan't tell you because you'll tell Ollie and Ollie might kill Maxen," Emily said with an apologetic pout.

"I won't tell him. I promise," Ava said, holding her palm up.

"I don't think you can keep secrets from Ollie though," Emily whispered in Ava's ears, biting her bottom lip to suppress a smile as they walked back to their table. 

Sometimes she wanted to pinch herself whenever Ava's innocence showed itself. 

Up until that second, Emily was under the impression that Ava might be the same as the girls whom Ollie dated given his penchant for s.e.x.u.a.l adventures.

"Well… Unless he asks me, then he won't know anything."

"Ask you what?" Oliver appeared out of nowhere, startling Ava and Emily.

"About Fiona's bells, sweetie," Ava blurted, her eyes widened into saucers at the slip of her tongue. Ava screamed in her head. What was with Ollie easily extracting words from her mouth?

Emily giggled, giving Ava a side hug. "You're riiiiight! You really will snitch if Ollie interrogates you."

"What's wrong about that, Emily? Stop teaching my wife to hide things from me. And what's with those bells?"

"Why are you ganging up on me? Go ask Maxen. I wasn't there when it happened." Emily washed her hands over the matter. 

Lucky for her, Oliver didn't press on although the way his head shook and the smirk on his face told the ladies that he'd dig up the story in the near future.

Looking over her shoulder, Emily was about to tag Olivia with her but Queen Isla ambushed her friend, dragging Olivia to the Sui's table.

In the Sui's table, Olivia craned her neck left and right looking for her nameplate.

"Mom?"

"Yes, darling?" Queen Isla shifted in her seat, facing Olivia with a motherly smile on her face.

"I can't find my name… anywhere."

"Heol. Are you serious? How could that be?"

"I don't know. I was looking for it all night."

Queen Isla turned to her side where the Lin's were and c.o.c.ked her head. "Not with Grandma?" she asked.

Shaking Olivia's head, she responded, "Yes. Not in Emily's table too."

"Omo. How can that happen?" Queen Isla tutted, moving her attention from Olivia to the stage where an organizer was standing.

Olivia caught on to what Queen Isla was up to, so she clasped the queen's hand with her. "Don't bother, Mom. I don't mind at all."

"Are you sure? We can ask someone to check it for you."

"Yes. It's just that my name is under my chosen charity. I'm afraid that my representative wasn't given a seat as well, but… oh," Olivia's voice died down upon seeing her plus one for tonight walking with the organizer. 

"Oh? What oh?" Queen Isla's eyebrows furrowed, her face painted with concern.

"We have nothing to worry about," Olivia reassured Queen Isla. "I just saw her hanging around so we're all good."

Queen Isla's hand flew to her c.h.e.s.t, relief sn.a.k.e.d through her veins at the sight of the charity's organizer walking towards their table who was towing who could be Olivia's charity representative.

"Your Majesty." The two ladies curtsied. "This is Inca Moqueda from Go Share Organization."

"Omo," Queen's Isla gasped. Her eyes so wide with surprise darted to Olivia. "Congratulations in advance."

"P.l.e.a.s.u.r.e is all mine, Your Majesty," Inca Moqueda responded, slightly bowing her head to hide her elation when Queen Isla winked at her.

The organizer then pulled out the chair for Inca to sit upon, giving her the VIP seat reserved for that year's Hope Gala awardee.

A few minutes later, the lights inside the hall dimmed, and everyone went back to their respective seats.

Even with Queen Isla's protests, Olivia explained to her mother-in-law that she didn't want to steal the spotlight of the event just by sitting with the Suis.

The simple act of staying at the same table as the royal family would raise eyebrows, which would end up with Olivia unexpectedly getting on the hot seat.

"I know everyone's excited to see who would bring home tonight's most prestigious award," Fiona trailed off. 

"But before that, the Hope Foundation would like to recognize a member of our society who never forgot to give back to the community who are in need.

"For years, he helped fund the House of Kori, a shelter for girls and women who were victims of abuse. He covered free post-traumatic care, subsidized education, and even went as far as welcoming them to the Lin empire.

"Everyone, let's give a round of applause to the big man with a big heart, the head honcho of Lin Prime Holdings, Mr. Henry Lin!"

The hall erupted with a thunderous reception of hand-clapping, and the spotlight moved along Henry Lin. 

It followed him from his seat and as he walked towards the center stage where Fiona stood with a golden trophy in hand.

Standing side by side, Fiona presented the trophy to Henry Lin before passing the mic to him. Soon the deafening claps died down as everyone's ears perked up to listen.

"Wow, I suppose the rumors are true. This trophy is quite on the heavy side of the scale," Henry Lin quipped, earning him a cheer from his audience.

"I honestly wasn't expecting to receive an award tonight, so thank you so much Hope Foundation. It might be my name on the door, but I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the CSR team's efforts as well.

Another round of applause echoed and bounced on the walls, and Henry Lin basked in the triumph and glory of seeing and hearing people's recognition on his name.

Fiona spoke, following the script in her hands, "But Mr. Lin, I heard the House of Kori had a special place in your heart. Would you mind sharing the background story with the rest of us?" 

"Yes, yes. It felt like it just happened yesterday. But it was the birth of my fraternal twin girls which pushed me to protect the lives of those who needed shelter to keep them safe from predators. So to my princesses Alexa and Olivia, daddy's award is for you."

Henry Lin raised the golden trophy in the air and everyone applauded. When noise subsided, Henry Lin's eyes shifted from the award to the Lin Family's table. 

Everyone followed his gaze like lambs being hoarded in the hill, and everyone saw the almighty Henry Lin's eyes turned glassy.

Some felt it was genuine tears, yet those who were keen to the loathsome man's true nature just hid their smirks behind their cups.