Chapter 515
When Percival arrived, he took one look at the ballroom''s opulent decor—streamers of gold and silver,
crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the sparkling crowd—and his face gradually darkened.
He stepped into the fray, and a crowd of well-dressed socialites immediately swarmed him.
"Mr. Ellington, what a surprise to see you gracing Sea City with your presence! Why didn’t you tell me
you wereing? I would''ve loved to treat you to dinner."
"Mr. Ellington, you really should''ve given me a heads-up about your visit. After the sess of ourst
coboration, I would have rolled out the red carpet for you!"
"And if anyone''s going to roll out the red carpet, it should be me first. Mr. Ellington, Are you free
tomorrow night?"
The crowd pressing around him represented the crème de crème of Sea City''s various industries, all
of whom had previous dealings with the Ellington Group.
Percival handled the greetings with a practiced grace until Hayden made his way through the crowd.
"Excuse me,dies and gentlemen, I must borrow Percival for a moment. After the festivities, we''ll find
time to gather. My treat, agreed?"
Everyone understood that Percival was the man of the hour that evening, and naturally, no one
objected.
After all, with Percival there, who would dare to interfere?
Hayden led Percival away to a private lounge in the back.
Wendy sat in a wheelchair, having missed her window for optimal treatment, resigned to a life bound to
her chair.
"Percival, I assume you know what tonight is all about. If you y your cards right and get engaged to
Gillian, we can all live peacefully. But if you refuse, well, don''t say I did not warn you."
Percival chuckled at Wendy''s threat. "And what are you going to do?"
Wendy smirked and waved her hand dismissively. Theodore produced a tablet; on it were scandalous
photos of Cecilia and Vivienne.
Percival''s eyes narrowed, a chill radiating from him. "Threatening me?"
Was it that his hands had been too clean for too long? Did the Boyd family really think they could use
doctored photos to threaten him?
Wendy chuckled, "I know my daughter better than anyone. I''m aware of every mole on her body, so
what if the photos are fake? I have plenty of ways to prove that it''s Cecilia. As for Vivienne, it''s enough
that her face is recognizable. Even if you clear things upter, the damage will have been done. Are
you willing to gamble with your mother and Vivienne''s reputations?"
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Percival looked at her, his gaze dispassionate.
After a moment, he straightened his cufflink with an air of indifference, his expression unreadable.
"Percival, have you thought it through?" Wendy pressed, seeing his silence.
Percival stopped fidgeting with his sleeves, hands in his pockets, his tailored suit entuating his lean
figure. He spoke slowly, "I''ll attend the engagement party."
He paused, then added with a hint of a slow drawl, "I hope you can handle the consequences."
With that, he left the lounge.
As Wendy watched Percival''s retreating figure, an inexplicable panic settled in her heart.
The others did not think much of it, simply impressed by Wendy''s power to make Percival concede.
Hayden exhaled in relief. "Mom, that was... pretty cutthroat."
Defaming his daughter and a twenty-year-old girl was something he could never do.
Wendy scoffed, unconcerned. "What does it matter? Once Percival and Gillian are engaged, the
Ashford family will be locked into a partnership with us. And Vivienne will be too ashamed to stay once
she sees her fiancé engaged to another. Without Percival, what is she worth? She''ll be at my mercy!"
She would never forgive Vivienne for making her wheelchair-bound for life!
Teresa muttered under her breath, "Gillian knew Percival was engaged and still chased after him.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just pair Yannick with Gillian?"
"Shut your mouth!" Wendy snapped, throwing a furious hand in Teresa''s direction.
On the sidelines, Nancy could not help but revel in the drama.
In the dressing room, Gillian had touched up her makeup and sped Mara''s hand affectionately.
"Mara, Mr. Ellington will surely agree to get engaged tonight, right? I can''t have any more
Maraforted her, "Don''t worry, Grandma has everything under control. After tonight, we''ll be family,
and I could not be happier."
"Me too."
Outside the ballroom, Vivienne listened to the excited voices through her earpiece, her lips curling into
a smile.
Yes, she, too, was thrilled beyond words.
Dressed in a simple gown, she handed her invitation to the attendant at the door.
Not recognizing Vivienne but seeing the invitation, the attendant let her in.
After Vivienne went it, Margot finally returned from having her fill of fun and reced the attendant,
knowing that she would be reprimanded if her family found out she had been missing from her post.
Vivienne found a seat in the ballroom and looked at the screen disying photos of Percival and
Gillian, her lips twitching into a smirk.
When the time came, the engagement party officially began.
Eliza pushed Wendy onto the stage, delivering a string of pious blessings and thanks, then announced
the arrival of the main attractions.
To prevent any sabotage from Percival, they had cunningly separated him from Gillian, cing them on
opposite sides of the stage to avoid suspicion.
The spotlight shone on the front door, and melodious background music began to y. The doors
opened slowly.
Guided by the light, Percival stepped forward, making his way to the stage.
His profile was as sharply defined as a sculpture, reminiscent of the sun god Apollo, a mysterious and
radiant presence descended among mortals.
The youngdies in the audience sighed in secret disappointment. Such a dashing gentleman, and yet,
taken in the prime of his youth!
Perhaps Percival''s extraordinary presence made everyone momentarily forget that the leadingdy,
Gillian, had yet to make her appearance.
Only when Percival stood alone on the stage did the realization dawn upon the crowd.
Where was the bride-to-be? Read at NovelDrama.Org
Wendy could never have imagined that the issue would lie with Gillian.
She cast a questioning nce at Patrick, who looked equally perplexed.
Despite her coaxing, there was still no sign of Gillian, and even Mara, who had been by her side, was
nowhere to be found.
A ripple of confusion spread through the crowd. Could it be that Gillian had gotten cold feet?
At that moment, Percival took the microphone from Eliza''s hand and called out to the assembly, "My
bride-to-be, no more ying hide and seek."
His voice, maic and alluring, echoed through the hall, sending a flutter through the hearts of the
women present.