Chapter 122
In front of the Holland family mansion.
Lucy and Vincent were busy greeting guests amid a constant stream of well-wishes.
"To everlasting youth..."
"Lucy, you're looking younger by the day."
"Vincent is so handsome! I envy you for having such an outstanding son."
Lucy, in an elegant dress, exuded a noble and lavish aura, with pride flickering across her features. "Aiden is truly exceptional. Right after graduating, he's already gearing up to intern at the Holland Group."
"Impressive! He has a limitless future ahead."
...
"Look, Samuel's arrived. And the woman with him isn't Miss Eilish."
"Didn't he call off his engagement in front of the media last time?"
"Who is this debutante? I've never seen her before?"
"She's pretty, a movie star maybe?"
"A star attending a Holland event? Old Man Holland would have a fit!"
"You never know, Samuel's always been rebellious, never playing by the rules. With tonight's banquet, looks like there's an undercurrent of tension. Bound to be some drama."
Whispers and murmurs filled the atmosphere.
Lucy's attention was completely captured by these undertones.
She frowned and glared towards an impressive figure in the crowd, tall and commanding, instantly becoming the center of attention.
Samuel, always stealing her thunder!
She hadn't wanted to invite him, but given the distinguished guests attending-key figures from elite circles-a snub would tarnish the Holland family's reputation. Her father insisted, to avoid gossip, and she had to swallow her pride.
He didn't come alone; he brought a date, and it wasn't Nora. Was he trying to embarrass her intentionally? If he caused a scene at her dinner party, she wouldn't let him get away with it.
Although Lucy seethed with rage internally, she knew that Samuel was a force to be reckoned with. She couldn't best him, only brace herself for whatever chaos he might incite.
Her gaze casually swept over Layla. At first, she mistook her for some minor celebrity and paid little attention, but something felt familiar.
Where had she seen her before? On TV?
Lucy wracked her brain...
"Layla?" Vincent hissed through clenched teeth.
Lucy's eyes widened in shock.
Layla? Vincent's ex-girlfriend? It hadn't crossed her mind-it would be her. No wonder she'd felt irritated with just one glance.
So, Samuel brought her to humiliate her deliberately? She always knew that bastard wouldn't make things easy, likely up to no good at the dinner party!
Lucy's face twisted in distaste, her fingers clenched, her body trembling.
Layla felt uneasy, as if she were heading into battle, but she kept her composure. She hadn't done anything wrong, so she had no reason to feel guilty. Instead, she stood tall.
"Happy Birthday," Samuel said coolly, stopping before Lucy with a half-smirk.
"Oh, is this my birthday present?" Lucy's gaze pierced through Layla. "You can't stand it when you're not causing me headaches, can you?"
"I've brought my partner to the dinner. Is there an issue?" Samuel retorted with a cold chuckle. "Since when is it your concern?"
"You know she's my ex," Vincent said, his face souring. "You're just trying to make my mother look bad, aren't you?"
"Why her, out of all the women? You just had to pick someone I've been with..."
Samuel's eyes turned icy. "One more word, and I'll make sure you don't leave here alive."
"Samuel," Lucy gritted her teeth, trembling with fury. He had the audacity to threaten her son's life.
"Sweetheart, let's go inside. No need to stoop to some people's level," Layla said with a slight smile.
"You..."
Only then did Samuel walk away with her.
Vincent felt Layla's disdain as if he were nothing more than discarded trash.
Lucy fumed, her face turning a shade of green. "Look at the type of woman you insisted on bringing home back then."
"Her innocent looks deceived me too. Who would have thought she'd end up flirting like this?" Vincent remarked, his tone laced with both bitterness and jealousy. As a wealthy family's heir, he had never imagined he'd be humiliated by a woman like this.
And to think, he had truly loved Layla once; it wasn't just for fun.
Lucy spat venomously, "That damn girl, she's forgotten how she groveled before me, pleading not to break you two up. Hah, thinks she's something special now that she's hooked up with Samuel, doesn't she? Just wait; I'll make her regret it soon enough."
...
In the ballroom, Holland was deep in conversation with a few old pals, puffing on cigars. The moment Samuel walked in with Layla, all their faces soured, nearly burning themselves with their cigars.
He's too arrogant, incredibly so!
Jovan, who was mingling nearby, turned visibly darker.
"Wow, Samuel's back. Is that his girlfriend with him?"
"She's young and pretty, must be the heiress of some wealthy family."
"Your son Samuel is quite the character, turning down a marriage proposal without a second thought and finding a new girlfriend so quickly. Fiery and impulsive, just like you were back in the day!"
Holland cursed internally. He never would have been so reckless and foolish.
That young man is intentionally trying to provoke me.
Holland scowled, trying to sound indifferent, "Girlfriend? She's just an acquaintance from outside our circles."
"Oh come on, with everyone here, he wouldn't just bring any regular acquaintance. It's definitely his girlfriend. Are wedding bells in the air? Guess we should start preparing our hefty gifts."
"This young lady looks unfamiliar, which family's heiress is she? She's outshining Nora already. We'll need to get properly introduced later!"
The more Holland heard, the angrier he got, thinking she's just a damned poor strong-willed brat.
Fuming inside, he managed to restrain himself, gulping down a glass of liquor. He strongly felt like throwing both of them out. This is humiliating!
Similar to the other guests, Layla had been with her date, but then Samuel took her hand, their fingers interlocked.
With that one gesture, it was clear that Layla's status was not just as any ordinary companion; she was unequivocally his publicly acknowledged girlfriend.
Even Nora had never been granted such treatment.
Some female guests shot envious glances at Layla, especially those who had dressed up hoping to stand a chance now that Nora was out of the picture.
Just an unsophisticated girl at the end of the day, decent-looking, perhaps, but no match for Nora. So what if she's a bit younger? Is it really true that all men, Mr. Holland included, prefer younger women?
Despite their reluctance to concede, everyone knew that Samuel could have his pick of younger, attractive women. Therefore, the one he kept by his side had to possess something extraordinary.
They preferred to believe she was just expendable, a pawn meant to irritate old man Holland-given the notorious discord between father and son in the Holland household, a fact tacitly understood by all.
Tonight was filled with mystery. Anything could happen.