Chapter 212 Gathering of Big Shots
The date for the homecoming banquet was set for a week later.
That day arrived quickly.
As night fell, the banquet hall of Platinum Haven Hotel was brilliantly lit and dreamlike, with undercurrents running beneath clinking glasses.
"I heard her right hand is ruined and she can't do surgery anymore, that's why she's been hiding for the past five years."
"What I heard is that she's been kept by some powerful figure for these five years."
"That rumor is too ridiculous. Do you think Lucas is easy to fool?"
"Speaking of Lucas, I heard he was seriously injured and won't live much longer!"
I walked over to the four women who were chatting animatedly . They immediately shut up, but I had heard every word they just said.
I smiled slightly, "Lucas is doing fine, thank you for your concern. Hope you enjoy tonight."
"Okay, thank you." They also put on the fake smiles reserved for social occasions.
After I turned around, I could feel them still watching me. Only when I had walked far enough away did they exchange glances and smile, then continue discussing me in even lower voices.
Tonight, there were too many guests like them.
The banquet hadn't started yet. I'm not someone who loves socializing, so after showing my face, I returned to the lounge.
In the large lounge, Brian was lying lazily on the couch playing a mobile game. I leaned over to look and it was actually a match-three puzzle game.
"Where are Gale and Marcus?" I looked around and asked.
"In their own small lounges." Brian put down his phone, hands resting on his stomach, looking up at me. "Gale is with Julie, Marcus is with Jacqueline. Only I'm alone, feeling a bit lonely."
"Brian, don't be sad, I'll keep you company." Lucas was still recovering in the hospital and wouldn't come tonight.
Thinking of him, I took out my phone. I had sent Lucas a message half an hour ago, but he still hadn't replied. I wondered what he was doing.
Brian showed a touched expression, "I'd be even more touched if you weren't thinking about Lucas while saying that."
I put my arm around Brian's shoulder affectionately and asked, "Brian, when are you planning to end your single status?"
Brian looked at me with eyes that saw through everything, "Did Gale ask you to ask me? Is he planning to introduce me to a girl or does he want me to go for an arranged marriage?"
I explained, "We're just concerned about you, worried you're too lonely."
Brian snorted lightly.
"Brian, I'm really curious, what are your standards for choosing a partner?"
Marcus once complained to me that Brian might be different from normal people, like having a fetish or some psychological barrier preventing him from dating. Although I knew Marcus was joking, I also wanted to know what Brian really thought.
"Did you listen to Marcus's nonsense?" Brian rolled his eyes. "Don't overthink it. I'm just lazy."
"What?"
"You know, I've never had big ambitions since childhood. If Gale successfully inherits the family business, I just need to rely on Gale to support me." Others would definitely be surprised to see such a "unmotivated" Brian, but this version of Brian was the one I knew best.
Stripped of his elite shell and stable image, Brian was just someone who liked to quietly immerse himself in his own world.
"Work is already tiring enough. I don't want to share my precious personal space with another stranger. Bella, do you understand?" Brian rested his head on my shoulder, looking pitiful.
"I understand!" A surge of protective feeling for Brian rose in my heart. "Brian, don't worry. I'll definitely become stronger and stronger. In ten years at most, after ten years you can rest however you want and don't have to do anything you don't want to do."
"Bella, you're so good!" Brian smiled brightly, his eyes seeming full of stars.
At this moment, Adrian walked a couple steps closer and said, "Ms. Sorelli, Mr. Sorelli, the head of the Thorston family has arrived."
"If he's here, he's here. Tell the servers to treat him well." I said casually. "It's just an old noble family with some background. I don't need to go out to greet him."
Adrian nodded to show he understood.
After a while, Adrian heard a message through his earpiece from the hotel entrance and said to me again, "The Commander of the Knights of the Church of the Radiant Path has personally arrived!"
"Him?" Brian and I exchanged glances.
The banquet hall was already in shock. Although this knight commander wasn't a politician or businessman, there were very few private banquets in the entire country that he would personally attend.
"Should we receive him in person?" Brian felt enormous pressure.
I thought for more than ten seconds and shook my head. "Forget it. If we meet him, we'll have to meet everyone else too. I'm just one person, I can't handle that many people."
Brian naturally felt for me, but was a bit worried. "Is this appropriate? Will it offend him?"
"Then let Cole represent me and arrange a comfortable, undisturbed lounge for him to rest." I said.
Gale walked out of the small lounge. "Cole isn't qualified enough to represent you and the family. I'll go instead."
My eyes lit up. "Then thanks, Gale!"
Brian didn't say anything. Gale patted my head, then knocked on Brian's head, saying helplessly but affectionately, "You two lazy bums."
A few minutes later, a certain cabinet minister and two high-ranking officials from the national security and intelligence departments arrived discreetly one after another.
Although they were low-key, who among those present didn't recognize them?
Gale went out to talk with them. Although I wasn't in the banquet hall, I could feel the atmosphere becoming more and more subtle.
Gerald also came, then the advisor of the oldest bank, the chairman of a large international fashion company, the heir of a shipping group, the lifetime director of an art museum, the internationally renowned president of a certain university, and a princess from a foreign royal family.
They were almost all figures who usually only appeared in the news, textbooks, or documentaries, each one more important than the last.
Gale was handling these big shots alone. Brian felt bad about continuing to slack off, so he dragged Marcus out of the lounge to help receive the distinguished guests.
If I went out at this time, it would definitely cause a commotion. My brothers unanimously decided to let me continue staying in the lounge.
Adrian suddenly gasped, "The leaders of the three largest assassin organizations in the Northern Hemisphere are here!"
I quickly watched the situation in the banquet hall through the surveillance screen.
The representatives of the three major assassin organizations all wore masks covering their true faces, dressed mysteriously with unique temperaments, but the organization badges they wore couldn't be faked.
Many guests reacted the same way as Adrian. The women who had mocked me earlier all hid in corners.
My homecoming banquet hadn't sent out invitations. We only announced the time and place. I didn't expect so many distinguished people to show up at the same time.
The more important people there were, the deeper people's fear of me became.
It was about time. The banquet was about to officially begin.
I wore an evening gown that perfectly showed off my figure and walked slowly through the crowd. Facing the curious or probing gazes around me, I kept my back straight, maintaining composure and calm. As I walked among these famous and distinguished figures, the crowd unconsciously made way for me.
Walking to the stage built for the announcement ceremony, I stopped in surprise—I actually saw Lucas!
"When did you get here?" I asked with delight.
Lucas sat in a wheelchair with a blanket over his legs, his face still somewhat pale, but his beauty couldn't be concealed.
"Just arrived." Lucas's affectionate eyes reflected my image. "How could I miss such an important occasion."