Chapter 29: Show-Stopper

Beatrice turned back, but the armed men raised their guns. They weren’t joking. Winnie tugged at her sleeve. “Mom, let’s go inside.”

Reluctant, but knowing her daughter was right, Beatrice retreated into the house. She burned to confront her husband again, but thought better of it. Grinding her teeth, she swore under her breath, “That little bitch Catherine will regret what she did to me today.”

By dusk, guests began to arrive. As the lady of the house, Beatrice made her way to the event hall to welcome them and ensure their gifts were logged.

While she was still busy, Winnie entered with her plus-one. She went straight to her mother. “Mom, have you seen Catherine around?”

“Not yet,” Beatrice grumbled, irritation pinching her features.

She’d been ready to curse Alicia out loud, but with her daughter’s companion beside her, she pasted on a smile instead. “Is he your boyfriend?”

Winnie beamed, curling her fingers around the young man’s arm. “Mom, meet Eden Gate.”

At the name, Beatrice’s expression brightened. The Gate family was wealthy, and she knew it. “You’re very welcome,” she said warmly. “Winnie, make sure he’s well taken care of. And don’t let anyone disturb him. Keep an eye on him.”

“Sure, Mom,” Winnie said, nodding.

Before they moved on, Winnie and Eden made a round of greetings—executives from her father’s company, cousins, a few family friends—until they crossed paths with Andy, who entered the hall alone, his face blank.

Eden’s expression darkened at once. He’d lost more than a few deals to Andy and, after learning Winnie had rejected Andy as a fiancé, Eden had liked Winnie all the more.

“Well, who do we have here? Mr. Arnold,” Eden said with a tight grin.

Winnie’s reaction was even icier. Hatred and disdain hardened her features. Andy remained calm.

“Mr. Gate,” he replied evenly.

Winnie wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries after the morning’s events. “Where is my sister? She didn’t come in with you. Why?”

Andy lifted an eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips. “She’ll be here any minute. You can’t wait to see her, can you?”

Winnie sneered. “Look around you, Andy. Everyone came in with their plus-one—except you. My sister is probably ashamed of you. She’s realized her mistake, walking around with a crippled, impotent man. If I were you, I’d be in a corner crying. But you’re so thick-skinned you’ve gotten used to being rejected.”

Andy rested his palms on his knees, listening without interruption. When she finished, he said mildly, “Your dad didn’t come in with your mother. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

Winnie choked on her retort, eyes bulging, cheeks flushed. She jabbed a finger at him. “You—you—you—”

Andy’s face didn’t change. Eden slipped in, voice low and cutting. “Babe, let him be. He’s excellent with his mouth, but can’t use his legs. Don’t waste your breath on someone who’ll never be on his feet.”

Winnie’s shoulders relaxed at that. She snorted and swept away with Eden.

Andy didn’t care much; he rolled his wheelchair over to the table where he planned to sit.

Just then, Ethan and Emily arrived—Alicia’s ex-husband and his new wife. After they passed through the routine checks, Emily began lecturing Ethan, whose face looked exhausted. Though impatience flashed in his eyes, he didn’t dare lose his temper. He kept nodding, pretending to listen to her incessant instructions.

“This is one of the wealthiest families in the country. You should be mindful of the people you meet here, and don’t talk to anyone casually. I’m going to introduce you to many people—don’t speak unless I ask you to. Always watch for my signals. And many ladies here will be attracted by your looks and try to start a conversation. Make sure your ring is visible at all times…” Emily went on and on, while Ethan nodded attentively.

Dissatisfied with his silence, she snapped, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I’ll do as you say, my wife,” Ethan replied, forcing a smile. His eyes were bloodshot; he was clearly furious and unhappy.

Still not satisfied, Emily nagged, “Why are you just calling me ‘your wife’? Can’t you be a bit more romantic? Does that sound nice to you?”

Ethan drew a deep breath. He could feel eyes on them as they moved to their designated table. Uncomfortable and exasperated, he placated her: “Thank you, my love—love of my life, queen of my heart.”

Only then did Emily seem satisfied. She adjusted his tie and said, “You need to shave. I don’t fancy this look.”

“I’ll do that when I get back today,” Ethan agreed with a nod.

The murmurs swelled until the whole hall buzzed, drawing Emily and Ethan’s eyes to the entrance.

“She’s so beautiful.”

“Whose daughter is that? Oh my God—is she even human?”

“How can anyone be that gorgeous?”

All eyes were on Alicia as she stepped inside. Under the lights, her skin and gown seemed to glow; she was so breathtaking the spotlight found her and held fast. Step by step, she glided down the red carpet, and as her face came into view, Ethan’s breath hitched.

He rose without realizing it, shock and disbelief written across his face. “Alicia,” he blurted.

Envy flashed through Emily’s gaze, but what truly unsettled her was that Ethan was the only one standing. She yanked him back into his seat, hissing, “What’s wrong with you?”

She wasn’t the only one who noticed his reaction. Andy did, too. His thumb tapped the armrest of his wheelchair, his eyelids lowering as he sent a quick message on his phone.