Chapter 5

"Mr. Donald! Mr. Harrison! Please say something!"

Marcus's aunt, Brenda, practically lunged at the two moguls like a stray cat.

"What she’s saying... it's a lie, right? Don't let this crazy girl fool you!"

Mr. Donald and Mr. Harrison exchanged a look, both looking slightly awkward.

After all, this was someone else's family drama.

Eventually, Mr. Harrison put down his glass and spoke in a calm, authoritative voice.

"Miss Chloe Vance did indeed identify us correctly."

He paused, studying me with a look of curiosity.

"However, while we know the Chairman of Vance Group has a daughter, he keeps his private life extremely guarded. We... have never had the honor of meeting her in person."

His response was politically perfect.

He didn't confirm my identity, but he didn't deny it either.

Yet, it was enough to spark the whispers of doubt again.

"I knew it! How could she be..."

"Just because she knows who the local CEOs are doesn't make her a billionaire's daughter. She has some nerve."

The last bit of worry in Marcus's eyes vanished, replaced by deep disgust and mockery.

"Chloe, how much longer are you going to keep up this act?"

Nora whimpered on cue, tugging at Marcus's sleeve with a fragile look.

"Marcus, don't blame Chloe. She’s probably just... in shock. That’s why she’s talking nonsense."

What a textbook green-tea bitch.

Watching them play their roles, the smirk on my face only grew colder.

"An act?"

I chuckled, my gaze bypassing them and landing on the two moguls again.

"Then I have a question for you gentlemen."

"Mr. Donald. Mr. Harrison."

"Why did you two bother to show up at a low-end engagement party like this?"

That one question silenced the entire room.

The moguls froze.

The guests were stunned.

True.

EastGroup and Apex Realty were massive names in the business world.

Meanwhile, Marcus's family was barely lower-middle class.

How on earth did they manage to invite these high-profile figures?

Mr. Harrison and Mr. Donald exchanged another look, a sudden realization dawning on them.

Mr. Harrison cleared his throat, an apologetic smile on his face.

"Well, Chairman Vance booked a meeting room on the third floor of this hotel to discuss a bidding partnership with us this afternoon."

"On the phone, he casually mentioned that there was an engagement party on the first floor at noon. He suggested that if we were free, we could drop by to liven up the place."

"We figured anyone who could get Chairman Vance to speak up for them must be a close relative. So, we came."

His explanation plunged the hall into a suffocating silence.

All eyes locked onto me once more.

But a second later, the crowd erupted again.

"Wait! If she’s really the Vance heiress, why would the engagement party be in a basic four-star hotel? That makes zero sense!"

"Exactly! And she hid her identity for six years? For what? Because she liked how poor and messy he was?"

"But why would Chairman Vance mention this party then? And if it's his own daughter's engagement, why isn't he here? The math isn't mathing!"

The waves of doubt crashed over me.

This time, the look Marcus gave me was pure, unfiltered disgust.

He took a step forward, pointing a finger directly at my face.

"Chloe, I really misjudged you."

"I thought you were just a bit stubborn, but you’re actually a vain, pathological liar!"

"Just to save your pathetic pride, you played everyone in this room!"

He took a deep breath.

"You ruined this engagement party."

"You are paying for every single cent of the bill!"

"From today on, I, Marcus Miller, never want to see your disgusting face again!"

With that dramatic declaration, he turned around, holding Nora protectively as he made a move to leave.

I watched his retreating back, coldness radiating from me. I was about to speak.

Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the banquet hall were slammed open from the outside.

A loud, booming voice echoed through the room.

"Chairman Arthur Vance of the Vance Group has arrived!"

"Make way for our distinguished guest!"