Chapter 10

"Oh, this is Mr. Bagaskara's daughter. She's truly beautiful and elegant," one of the socialite guests praised, admiring the silver-beaded chiffon gown that fit Vivian perfectly.

"Vivian certainly looks intelligent and refined. No wonder Mr. Bagaskara chose her over his own biological daughter, who's rumored to be nothing but trouble," a senior journalist remarked while continuously snapping photos.

Bagaskara wore a broad smile, feeling as though he were on top of the world. He stepped onto the stage, adjusted the microphone, and began speaking in his authoritative baritone voice.

"Thank you all very much to our business associates and members of the media for taking the time to attend tonight's engagement celebration!"

After the opening remarks, Vivian took the microphone. She gazed at Morgan with eyes filled with satisfaction and absolute possessiveness.

"I, Vivian, promise to remain faithful to Morgan and love him until my very last breath," she declared softly, drawing thunderous applause throughout the grand ballroom.

Morgan simply stood beside her, expressionless. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd with an icy gaze. When it was finally his turn to speak, he leaned toward the microphone.

"As proof of my love for Vivian, I will become the principal investor in her father's company and inject substantial capital into it starting tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing that Erlangga Holding would be investing in his company, Bagaskara's smile widened even further. He immediately signaled to a servant carrying a medium-sized black velvet box.

"As an expression of my happiness and gratitude as a father," Bagaskara announced proudly as he opened the box, revealing a magnificent diamond necklace with a large sapphire at its center that sparkled brilliantly under the lights. "I present this ancestral heirloom to my beloved daughter, Vivian!"

"My goodness, that's the Star of Life necklace! It's an incredibly rare piece worth trillions of rupiah at international auctions!" one of the business associates exclaimed, his eyes widening in astonishment. "Mr. Bagaskara truly adores Vivian."

Whispers soon spread through the crowd once again.

"I told you Vivian and Morgan are the perfect match. Too bad Camelia—that shameless, unlucky woman—keeps chasing after Morgan and practically begging him to marry her."

Bang!

The grand double doors of the ballroom suddenly burst open, silencing the chatter and interrupting the endless flashes of cameras.

Camelia stood gracefully in the doorway.

She wore a simple black evening gown that contrasted sharply with the lavish decorations surrounding the celebration. Her hair was elegantly pinned up, and her eyes radiated an overwhelming aura of intimidation. The bruise left by the IV she had forcibly removed only hours earlier was still visible on the back of her hand, yet her stride toward the stage never faltered.

Vivian froze, her victorious smile disappearing instantly.

"C-Camelia? How did you get in here?!" she stammered, hurriedly hiding the jewelry box behind her back.

Camelia stopped at the foot of the stage steps and looked up at her stepsister with a deadly, sarcastic smile.

"You're only a fiancée... so what makes you think you're entitled to inherit my late mother's jewelry?" Camelia asked coldly, her voice echoing clearly throughout the suddenly silent ballroom.

Bagaskara's face flushed crimson with anger and humiliation beneath the gaze of hundreds of guests. He stepped forward to block Camelia's path.

"Camelia! Your mother is dead! Don't you dare cause trouble here! Get out!" he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Oh? So I'm supposed to stay silent?" Camelia challenged, raising her voice just enough for the journalists to immediately turn their cameras toward them. "I'm supposed to watch my mother's heirloom be illegally handed over to your illegitimate daughter without saying a word?"

"Camelia, enough!" Vivian cried, forcing tears into her eyes as though she were the victim on the happiest day of her life. "Stop ruining my engagement party!"

Camelia climbed another step, closing the distance between them.

"Why, Vivian?" she asked coolly. "Are you suddenly embarrassed that I'm disrupting your grand engagement celebration? Afraid your true colors might finally be exposed?"

Vivian clenched her fists tightly. Desperate to regain control, she glanced at the guests before pointing an accusing look at Camelia.

"Camelia... you're acting like this because you're jealous, aren't you?" Vivian accused. "You came here today because you're trying to steal Morgan away from me!"