Everyone froze, turning to look in the direction of the voice. A tall, handsome man with an imposing presence strode in-Eric Wilson.
Dressed in a black suit, his sapphire-blue eyes emitted a chilling sharpness.
Eric approached slowly, exuding an oppressive aura. Standing beside Miranda, he swept his gaze over Broad and Vivienne, his tone icy:
“She is my most treasured guest. How dare you treat her this way?”
The crowd was stunned into silence by Eric’s commanding presence.
Vivienne immediately recognized him and sneered, “How much did Miranda pay you so you are doing this for her? Do you seriously think you’re some kind of heir to the Wilson family?”
She laughed, and her mocking tone spurred the surrounding guests into low chuckles of derision.
Eric answered calmly, his voice steady, “Yes, I am. I am Eric Wilson, the heir to the Wilson family.”
His declaration provoked another wave of laughter. Vivienne laughed even louder, mocking, “You? The heir to the Wilson family? Then I must be Warren Buffett’s daughter!”
Her words drew yet more laughter from the crowd.
At that moment, Broad stepped forward, his expression cold as he addressed Miranda, “Miranda, it’s time to end this farce. You’d better leave with this man before Mr. Wilson arrives.”
Miranda took a deep breath, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes as she turned to Eric.
“How dare you impersonate Mr. Wilson in front of so many people? Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’ve caused?”
She couldn’t believe Eric would be so bold. Though she had never met the infamous Mr. Wilson, his reputation preceded him. He was said to be an intensely private man who despised slander. Rumor had it that he once dealt harshly with someone who spread gossip about his personal life.
And now, this man dared to claim he was Eric Wilson himself. Miranda couldn’t imagine the consequences if the real Mr. Wilson found out.
Grabbing Eric’s arm, Miranda tried to pull him away from the venue. But Eric stood firm, unmoving.
Frowning, she urged him, “Eric, we need to leave now!”
“Do you not believe me either?” Eric asked her with a faint smile.
Miranda shook off his arm, clearly frustrated. “How long are you planning to keep this up?”
Their argument drew Vivienne’s mocking laughter. “Miranda, are you trying to ditch your ‘trophy boyfriend’ and leave him behind now?”
Before Miranda could respond, the host of the charity dinner finally appeared. It was Thompson Parker, CEO of Houghton Group, and the man responsible for organizing the event on behalf of Mr. Wilson. He was the only person who had met the real Eric Wilson in person.
The crowd watched eagerly, especially Vivienne, who was dying to see how Miranda would handle the situation.
Broad, on the other hand, grew anxious. If Miranda offended Eric Wilson, it could jeopardize his chances of networking with the powerful family.
“Miranda, take him and leave through the back door,” Broad whispered urgently. But it was too late.
Thompson walked directly toward Eric. Miranda and Broad both looked worried, while Eric remained calm and composed, showing no signs of panic.
“Mr. Wilson, you’ve come in person? I didn’t think you’d attend tonight’s dinner party,” Thompson said with a warm smile as he greeted Eric.
He really was Eric Wilson?
Gasps erupted from the crowd, followed by a murmur of whispers.
Miranda’s breath caught in her throat. She turned to Eric, her voice trembling slightly, “You… you’re really the heir to the Wilson family?”
Though her voice was soft, everyone nearby heard her clearly.
Eric smiled gently, his gaze steady and reassuring. “Yes, Miranda. I am the heir to the Wilson family.”
His words landed like a stone thrown into a still pond, rippling through the crowd.
Vivienne and Broad’s faces turned pale, as if they had been doused with cold water.
Miranda stood frozen, unable to reconcile the man she’d met at the bar with someone of such immense status.
Vivienne was the first to recover. Forcing a smile, she stammered, “Mr. Wilson, we… we didn’t know who you were. If we’ve offended you, please forgive us.”
Broad, too, abandoned his arrogance, his tone now laced with regret. “I deeply apologize for what happened earlier.”
But Eric’s expression remained cold. He glanced at them briefly before turning his attention to Miranda.
“You should apologize to Miranda,” he said firmly.
Broad’s brow furrowed. In his mind, he was no less capable than Eric. The only thing Eric had over him was the Wilson family name.
Still, he knew he couldn’t afford to offend the Wilson heir, especially not here at the family’s event. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to apologize, “Miranda, I’m sorry for what happened earlier. Please accept my apology.”
Vivienne bit her lip, reluctant but resigned. “Miranda, I apologize,” she said stiffly.
Miranda regarded them coolly, feeling no satisfaction from their apologies. She gave a curt nod, acknowledging their words without enthusiasm.
But Broad wasn’t ready to let things end there.
He fixed Eric with a sharp gaze and asked pointedly, “Mr. Wilson, I’d like to clarify something. Is Miranda… your girlfriend?”
His tone was challenging, his eyes locked on Eric.
Without hesitation, Eric nodded. “Yes, Miranda is my girlfriend.”
Broad’s face darkened, his anger barely contained. His fists clenched, his voice trembling with rage. “Miranda is still my wife. Don’t you think this is crossing a line?”
Eric’s expression didn’t falter. He let out a cold laugh. “And what about you and this woman? Don’t you think your behavior is crossing a line?”
Broad was momentarily at a loss for words. He couldn’t argue against Eric’s point and could only glare at him in frustration.
Eric didn’t give him a chance to respond. Turning to the security team nearby, he gestured toward Broad and Vivienne. “Escort these two out,” he ordered icily.
The security guards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Broad and Vivienne to remove them from the venue.
Broad shook off the guard’s hand angrily, shouting as he was dragged away. “Eric Wilson, don’t think you’ve won! Miranda is still my wife!”
Miranda watched them go, her heart as calm as still water. She stood silently, as though the entire scene had nothing to do with her.
Eric approached her, gently taking her hand. His voice was soft, filled with concern. “Are you okay?”