Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Aron's granddaughter-in-law, Wren Hill, often got invites to these fancy parties. When Aron told her about my situation, she was cool with bringing me along.

That evening, I threw on a loose dress, hoping to hide my belly. Wren picked me up. She was around my age, stunning, and super composed.

On the way, I was a bundle of nerves. She noticed and smiled, "Don't stress. When we get there, just take it easy. Some things take time. Just soak in the high society vibe. There'll be plenty more chances like this." Wren, a government official from a politically powerful family in Seabreeze Harbor, shared how her family initially didn't approve of her relationship with Alex Hill, a fresh med school grad.

Alex went abroad for four years to further his studies. Despite being introduced to many wealthy suitors, Wren waited for her true love. When Alex came back as a top-notch doctor, her family finally gave their blessing. Wren and Alex's story hit me hard. Perfect matches were rare, and true love needed constant effort and strong hearts to overcome obstacles.

The Sunset Haven Club, in the city's swankiest area, was packed with the rich and famous. I followed Wren inside, trying to be low-key. The grand hall was bustling but not loud, with soft music and the occasional clink of glasses. After Wren introduced me around, she went off to chat with friends, leaving me feeling awkward and out of place. The luxurious setting and wealthy vibe made me feel like I didn't belong. My nervousness and insecurity seemed to reflect off the shiny floor.

Rich folks often looked down on the poor, like Victor did with me. I used to think I had dignity despite being poor, but now I needed to navigate this world to give my kid a better life. Dignity alone couldn't feed us or ensure a good living. Opportunities were rare, and I couldn't back down. Taking a deep breath, I approached a group of women chatting in small clusters.

"Hey, ladies. Can I have a few minutes of your time?" I tried to hide my nerves and asked politely.

The women gave me sharp looks. In their world, connections were all about money and status, not friendships. Without brand-name clothes or jewelry, it felt like I had a big "poor" sign on my face, and no one was friendly.

I thickened my skin and continued. "I want to introduce you to medical aesthetics. Interested?"

One young lady in a black evening dress with exposed shoulders and perfect makeup snorted, "This is a high-end club. Don't bring your low-class stuff here."

Another lady looked me up and down, her gaze stopping at my belly.

"You look unfamiliar and not like club staff. How did you get in?"

"Yeah, I've never seen you before."

Facing their doubts and aggressive questioning, I started to panic. I didn't dare to tell them that Wren brought me in, fearing it would cause her trouble. Suddenly, a waiter hurried over to me.

"Miss, our boss wants to see you."

"Me?" I pointed at myself, shocked.

The waiter nodded. "Yes."

I followed the waiter upstairs, feeling anxious. Would the club owner blame me for sneaking into his party? Would it implicate Wren?

The waiter pointed to a VIP booth near the railing on the second floor.

"Miss, please wait here. Our boss will be here shortly."

I nodded and sat down, my palms sweaty. I could see the whole first floor but was too anxious to look for marketing targets.

After ten minutes, a man in a suit walked over and stopped in front of me. I stood up, staring at his shiny black shoes.

I blurted out my prepared speech, "Sir, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to sneak into the party without an invitation. Please don't be mad. But please believe me, I'm not here to cause trouble. If you mind, I can leave right away. Please don't implicate innocent people."

The man in front of me gave a light cough. "I'm not the boss; I'm just the boss's assistant."

I was taken aback and looked up.

The man awkwardly placed his fist to his lips.

"Ms., since you've already admitted you don't have an invitation, let's cut to the chase. Why are you here?"

The guy's words were polite, not accusatory at all. But my guilty conscience made me feel like he was grilling me.

"I..." I clutched my handbag tightly, my mind racing.

The boss must be pretty sharp to run such a big club. Since he called me over alone, he probably already knew why I was here. Making up an excuse would be disrespectful and might tick him off.

So, I came clean. "I'm here to promote medical aesthetics. I'm sorry for not getting your boss's permission first. If he minds, I can apologize in person and leave right away."

He noticed my nervousness and smiled. "Ms., don't worry. Our boss is tied up with something and can't come over right now. But he said you could use our stage for ten minutes to do your thing." So, the boss already knew my purpose. Good thing I didn't lie earlier.

"How much is the advertising fee?" I started calculating. Such a high-end party, directly targeting so many high-spending individuals, would likely have a hefty advertising fee for just ten minutes. He smiled and shook his head. "No advertising fee."

I could hardly believe my ears. I firmly believed there was no such thing as a free lunch.

The assistant seemed to see my concern and smiled. "Ms., rest assured, our boss keeps his word. You have ten minutes to do as you please, and we won't charge any advertising fee."

Could there be some other hidden rules?

But I had no money, power, or looks. Besides, anyone could see I was pregnant.

No matter what, since the opportunity was presented, I had to seize it.

"Can I use the big screen?" I asked.

The assistant smiled and nodded. "Of course."

He reminded me. "Ms., don't forget; you only have ten minutes."

I nodded to the assistant, handed my USB drive to the control room, and clenched my hands repeatedly.

Finally, I stepped onto the stage, spotlights on me. The crowd looked up. I paused at the microphone, recalling the cases I had studied.

"Hello, everyone. It's an honor to speak to such distinguished leaders and elites. Your efforts have made Seabreeze Harbor thrive, contributing to our nation's strength. Many aspects of our cultural heritage captivate people worldwide. Today, I'd like to share insights into traditional medicine."

Before the party, I didn't know I'd get a chance to go on stage, but my marketing pitch wasn't last-minute.

I learned from successful people that opportunities favored the prepared. I was not particularly smart, but definitely hardworking.

Through my PPT, I gave the audience a clear understanding of medical aesthetics, using case studies to showcase its advantages and build their confidence.

Initially nervous, I gradually became calm because I was discussing something I knew inside out.

After my presentation, the boss's assistant led the applause, and others followed. I guessed I had probably exceeded the ten minutes.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I quickly got off the stage. Some people expressed interest and inquired further.

I mentioned a grand opening promotion, offering VIP memberships with gifts for those who signed up.

Suddenly, a woman mocked. "Do you think anyone here would care about your gifts? Your tricks are just for fooling lower-class people. Since you haven't opened yet, where did those cases come from? Isn't that just deception?" It was the same young woman in the black evening dress who had previously said my stuff was low-class.

I looked at her calmly and smiled faintly. "I believe you've heard of the famous doctor Aron Hill from Seabreeze Harbor, right? You can ask around if you don't believe me."

Aron had told me that I could mention his name at the right time. He believed he still had some prestige in Seabreeze Harbor.

Sure enough, as soon as I mentioned Aron, the people present immediately showed respect.

The woman, seemingly intent on opposing me, sarcastically said, "Since you're in the beauty business, your own image is the biggest persuasion. Do you think you are persuasive?"

I hadn't used any cosmetics because of my pregnancy. Compared to these women with exquisite makeup, I indeed lacked persuasiveness.

The scene became vaguely noisy, and those who had initially believed me began to waver.

"I'll take three hundred VIP memberships." A familiar voice behind me suddenly shocked everyone present.