Chapter 198 Unexpected Protection
Everyone at the scene was completely stunned.
Especially the security guards, who never imagined Harrison would handle the situation this way.
The reporters who had hoped to capture some juicy news were equally surprised by Harrison's approach. When they saw him wrap his arm around Elena's shoulders, they sensed another potential headline and began frantically photographing the pair.
During her time living in the Reed household, Elena had endured the most mistreatment, with her father Robert never once standing up for her. When she went abroad to study, she was pregnant, and after giving birth, she had suffered countless hardships to reach her current position.
She had always protected herself, wearing heavy emotional armor. All her life, Elena knew she could only rely on herself.
But today, Harrison had stood up for her. He hadn't even given Elena a questioning glance before immediately taking her side.
His handling of the situation gave Elena an unprecedented feeling of warmth and security. Her hostility toward him weakened slightly in that moment.
She lifted her expertly made-up face and gave Harrison a small smile. "Thank you for what you did back there."
Harrison returned a gentle look.
"Do we really need to say thank you between us?" he asked.
Elena thought his words sounded kind of intimate. Then again, they'd already hooked up, so it wasn't just friendship anymore.
"Why didn't you ask if I pushed that security guard?" she questioned.
Harrison looked down, scanning her figure in the form-fitting evening gown, before replying, "I've never seen a woman in an evening dress push someone."
Simply put, he believed Elena would never do such a thing.
Hearing his words, Elena felt a warmth spreading in her heart.
Harrison's arm remained firmly around her shoulders. As they were about to enter the anniversary celebration hall, he suddenly leaned down close to her ear.
"I've missed you these past few days," he whispered.
Hearing such intimate words, Elena couldn't help but blush.
Harrison was being too forward—this was his company's anniversary celebration. How could he say such things here?
To deflate his boldness, Elena deliberately challenged him.
"Have you paid for the hotel door yet?" she asked.
Upon hearing Elena mention that incident, Harrison felt embarrassed enough to want to flee.
The story of him kicking down a hotel conference room door while trying to catch someone in the act had somehow gotten out, causing him considerable embarrassment in their social circle.
Elena bringing it up now showed her lack of tact.
Fortunately, they were entering the anniversary venue, where guests were mingling and exchanging pleasantries.
Victoria had been chatting with Charlotte continuously, and despite Charlotte's attempts to maintain some distance, Victoria's enthusiasm was overwhelming.
Charlotte wondered if she had become so popular that even the elderly Victoria was being this friendly to her.
After offering a few polite responses to Victoria, Charlotte remembered the invitation in her purse. Realizing her oversight, she picked up her bag, intending to go outside to meet Elena.
She had only taken a few steps when she spotted Harrison standing beside Elena like a protective knight.
The tall man and beautiful woman made a perfect couple.
Charlotte had already taken out the invitation but quietly returned it to her purse.
Meanwhile, hiding in the shadows, Christine and Mandy were changing clothes, planning to appear at the anniversary celebration as guests.
Just as Mandy finished changing and reached a corner of the venue, she caught sight of Harrison standing attentively beside Elena.
Mandy instantly became furious.
Indeed, Christine had been right—Elena was trying to take her position as Mrs. Frost!
No wonder she had tried every possible way to get close to Harrison since returning to Pinewood City. That Elena was truly despicable.
Christine also spotted Harrison standing beside Elena. The pair were smiling and exchanging pleasantries with familiar faces, seemingly making no effort to conceal their relationship.
Christine spat in their direction with contempt.
"That bitch Elena is just like her father Robert—neither of them are worth a damn," she cursed.
"That old bastard Robert was seeing other women before our divorce was even finalized, and had the nerve to bring them to events like this."
"And that wretched Elena is even worse, daring to steal Mandy's man. With all the filthy things she's done, she deserves to die."
"Don't be angry, Mandy. Tonight we won't let them get away with this."
Christine comforted Mandy just as Mandy had comforted her earlier.
Mandy was no longer the person she once was. To infiltrate Frost Industries' anniversary celebration, she had endured much, and she needed to continue enduring.
The attendees of the Frost anniversary celebration were all either wealthy or prestigious. Robert, escorting his new girlfriend Wendy, mingled among the crowd to make his presence known.
When Robert looked up and saw Harrison introducing Elena to the elite crowd, his eyes lit up.
Until now, under Christine's influence, he had placed all his hopes on Mandy, believing she would certainly become Mrs. Frost.
But later, when that disappointing girl was pushed out of the picture, he had felt dejected for quite some time.
Now things were looking up—his eldest daughter Elena seemed very close to Harrison. If Elena could become Mrs. Frost, it would bring enormous benefits to him.
Lately, Robert felt Elena had become increasingly considerate toward him. When Christine had humiliated him, Elena had firmly stood by his side. If he could seize this opportunity to repair his relationship with his daughter, it would be wonderful.
With this in mind, Robert led Wendy toward Elena and Harrison.
As they walked, Robert introduced Elena to Wendy. "Wendy, do you see that woman in the evening gown? That's my eldest daughter. She works with the Ella Johnson Medical Team."
When Wendy looked up and saw Elena shining in the crowd, her eyes suddenly filled with an unmistakable gleam.