Chapter 2: Celebration Banquet
The next day at 5 PM, Silvermoon City, Platinum Haven Hotel.
As the most luxurious hotel in all of Silvermoon City, today the Platinum Haven Hotel had been completely booked out by the Harris family.
The reason was simple: news had come from abroad that James had been taken care of!
Trevor Anderson's biggest worry was completely gone!
And this time, it was people sent by the Harris family who had dealt with James.
This meant that the Harris family could use this opportunity to completely win over Trevor, achieving a class leap in Silvermoon City.
No other power would have the resources to compete with the Harris family anymore.
Inside the hotel, guests filled the space with laughter and cheerful voices.
As today's main figure, the Harris family head Victor Harris wore an indescribable look of pride and satisfaction on his face.
"Everyone, please enjoy yourselves today and have a great time. All expenses are on the Harris family!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the room erupted in agreement.
"Congratulations, Mr. Harris!"
"Congratulations, Mr. Harris. We hope you'll look after us in Silvermoon City from now on!"
"Mr. Harris, you've raised such a great grandson. Edward handled this matter beautifully!"
"Exactly! From now on, the Harris family will truly be the Anderson family's representative in Silvermoon City. Let's see who dares to go against the Harris family now!"
Such flattery made Victor's pride even more obvious.
He then took his wine glass and walked over to his grandson Edward.
"Edward, well done. Once the Harris family gets help from the Anderson family, you'll get your share of the benefits!"
"The Harris family's future will eventually be in you young people's hands. Keep up the good work. Haven't you always liked Caroline Collins?"
"Today, I'm giving you a surprise!"
As he finished speaking, Victor pointed toward the entrance, and a stunning figure slowly walked in.
Caroline was about five foot seven, with a graceful figure, delicate features, smooth skin, and a gentle, dignified manner.
However, her beautiful face now carried an indescribable complexity, as if entering this place was not what she wanted.
Seeing this figure, Edward's expression instantly changed, his eyes filled with greed and desire.
"Grandpa, what's this about?"
Edward unconsciously swallowed, then looked to Victor for confirmation.
Victor didn't rush to respond. Instead, he watched Caroline enter with interest and gestured for Edward to pay attention to her movements.
At this moment, Caroline slowly walked toward the center of the stage.
But her hands were clenched into fists, her nails digging into her skin.
Several wounds appeared on her originally delicate hands.
Yet she seemed to feel no pain at all, moving toward center stage like a walking corpse.
Not long ago, she had just received news from her grandfather: James, the one she had been thinking about, had been killed abroad!
At that moment, Caroline felt like the sky had fallen.
Ten years ago, when she learned that James's family had been killed abroad, Caroline had always believed James wouldn't die.
Because he was James. He had promised to protect her for life—he couldn't just die like that!
Back then, the lack of confirmed news about James's death was the best news for Caroline.
She had been waiting for a miracle. But instead of a miracle, she received confirmation of James's death!
At the same time, her grandfather Landon Collins, who had always doted on her, forced her today to make a decision she didn't like—in fact, one she hated.
That was to marry Edward and become his wife!
"Why?"
"Grandpa, don't you love me the most?"
Caroline's mind involuntarily recalled the conversation from earlier.
"Caroline, I've failed you, but I have no choice!"
"Now that the Harris family is in power, the only way for the Collins family to survive is through marriage!"
"Of course, I won't force you. If you really don't want to marry Edward, I'll find a way to send you away!"
"What about the Collins family then?"
Caroline, who had been somewhat tempted, felt inexplicably hurt seeing Landon's evasive eyes.
"Grandpa, I agree to the marriage!"
At that moment, Caroline's heart felt like it was being cut by knives.
But after learning of James's death, she was no different from a walking corpse anyway.
She thought she could accept all of this calmly.
But when she actually stepped into the Platinum Haven Hotel and saw this banquet held specifically to celebrate James's death, Caroline found herself feeling an indescribable pain.
"Everyone, today I have something I want to announce!"
"Actually, I've always admired Edward and hope to be able to..."
Halfway through, Caroline's voice was already choked with emotion.
She could only forcefully dig her nails into her palm, using this almost self-harming method to numb her thoughts and nerves.
"Able to what?"
"Yeah, able to what?"
"Don't tell me you're hoping Edward will be gentle with you in bed!"
Edward's followers below the stage started jeering.
The others, hearing this, also stared at Caroline with interest.
Silvermoon City was only so big—almost everyone present knew that Edward liked Caroline.
What they didn't expect was that Caroline, who would rather die than submit before, would now become so willing.
It seemed the Harris family really had gained power this time.
Naturally, they wouldn't miss this chance to flatter them and would do everything possible to please Edward!
"Caroline, are you shy? Don't be afraid, your father and I are here!"
Seeing Caroline hesitate, Caroline's mother Bronte Langley below the stage became somewhat anxious and quickly added.
"That's right, your mother and I are here. Didn't you say you've always admired Edward and kept begging us to help you pursue him? Now that the marriage is about to happen, are you too excited to speak?"
Doyle Collins beside her also chimed in, afraid that Caroline's reaction would anger the Harris family.
"I hope to be able to..."
Caroline readjusted her breathing, her expression carrying an indescribable determination.
Just as she was about to continue, two consecutive screams disrupted the previously calm atmosphere.
Then, two security guards from the entrance were thrown in like sandbags.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the entrance.
A shockingly unexpected figure appeared before everyone without warning.
Edward, who had been following James's life and death closely, recognized the man before him at once and looked at him in disbelief.
"James!"
"You... you're not dead?"