At that moment, Theodore Grant’s gaze, dark and vicious, swept back and forth between Clara Langley and Vincent Lombard. He remained silent, making it impossible to tell if he believed Clara’s explanation or was simply suppressing his rage.
Clara Langley, on the other hand, was frantic. She had completely lost her composure. As the grating sound continued to echo through the hall, she stomped her foot in anger. "Hurry up and turn off the speakers! Why haven’t they been turned off yet?!"
The person in charge ran over, drenched in sweat. "Miss Langley, our people have already turned off all the audio equipment, but... but the recording isn’t coming from the sound system at all..."
"Then cut all the power!" Vincent Lombard roared.
"Right, right!" The manager knew today’s incident was a complete disaster and quickly wiped away his cold sweat before running off.
Watching everyone descend into chaos, I sat in my booth, enjoying the expressions on the faces of those on stage. ’I feel an unprecedented sense of satisfaction!’
But I also knew that ruining Clara Langley and Vincent Lombard’s perfect plan at their moment of greatest triumph was just the beginning!
—A debt of blood must be paid in blood!
By now, the recording had finished playing. It was ten minutes and eight seconds long.
The entire banquet hall was in an uproar. Everyone was pointing at the stage, their faces filled with excitement and gossip.
And Vincent Lombard’s earlier ’enthusiastic’ behavior now served as ’proof’ of the pair’s illicit affair...
Otherwise, why would Vincent Lombard be so attentive to Clara Langley?
He had even taken just a perfunctory sip of the tea offered by Theodore Grant, who was practically his son-in-law. It was clear he really wanted to drink the tea Clara Langley offered!
The reporters, faces alight with excitement, were snapping photos. After taking their pictures, they immediately called their colleagues outside, telling them to hurry up and publish the news about the engagement party to grab the headlines!
"Quick, stop them! Don’t let them spread the news!" Being in the entertainment industry, Clara Langley knew exactly what the reporters were about to do the moment she saw their reactions.
But the waiters just looked at each other, none daring to move. After all, the reporters present today were all well-known figures in Kington and couldn’t be easily offended.
If they offended them and the reporters wrote something bad, would the hotel even be able to stay in business?
Seeing this, Vincent Lombard roared, "What are you standing around for? Go now!"
"Ah, yes..."
Seeing that Vincent Lombard had given the order, the staff finally scrambled into action.
But just then, with a loud THUD, everything suddenly went black—the lights were out!
Instantly, the entire banquet hall erupted.
"What’s going on?"
"Why is the power out?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, an incessant clamor filling the air.
One by one, people turned on their phone flashlights, and the guests began to make their way out by the faint light.
Seeing that the show was over, I subconsciously started to get up, but Sebastian Forrest grabbed my arm. "Don’t move yet. Let them leave first."
Perhaps because of the surrounding darkness, Sebastian Forrest’s voice sent a tingling current through my ears. I could even feel his warm breath behind my ear. For some reason, the embrace from this morning’s wet dream flashed through my mind, and my face couldn’t help but flush.
"Okay," I quickly replied, turning my face away uncomfortably.
’I’m actually a little grateful the lights are out right now. Otherwise, someone would have definitely seen me blushing.’
As the noise in the banquet hall subsided, I felt the heat in my face recede.
But just as I was about to tell Sebastian Forrest that we should go, the room was suddenly flooded with light—the lights were back on!
Perhaps because I had been in the dark for a while, my eyes weren’t used to the bright light, and I instinctively raised a hand to shield them.
Once I finally adjusted to the light, I saw that most of the guests had left. The entire hall was a mess, with none of the romantic elegance it had at the beginning.
"Let’s go," Sebastian Forrest said.
I nodded. "Yeah, let’s go."
But we hadn’t taken more than a few steps when Clara Langley’s sharp cry rang out from behind us. "Chelsea Joyce!"
I turned around with a frown and saw Clara Langley storming toward me.
"Was this your doing? You doctored that recording, didn’t you? You just couldn’t stand seeing me and Theodore get engaged, so you pulled this kind of dirty trick!" Clara Langley was furious, her eyes wide and teeth bared, looking like she wanted to swallow me whole.
I couldn’t help but sneer. "You’re seriously delusional. If you’re sick, go see a doctor!"
"Stop making excuses! It was you!" Clara Langley pointed at me angrily. "I was wondering why you suddenly showed up at the engagement party today. It turns out you were just here to cause trouble! Are you happy now?!"
A small smile touched my lips as I nodded. "I am, in fact, quite happy."
"You—" Livid, Clara Langley raised her hand to slap me.
Seeing her approach, I was already prepared. I took a small step back, dodging her hand, and then swung my own, landing a harsh slap across her face!
A crisp SLAP echoed as my blow sent Clara Langley’s head snapping to the side.
Clutching her face in disbelief, Clara Langley looked up, her expression contorted with rage. "Chelsea Joyce, you... you dare hit me?!"
At that moment, seeing Clara get hit, Vincent Lombard strode over, his face twisted with murderous intent. Without a word, he raised his hand to slap me.
However, the expected slap never came. Sebastian Forrest had shot out a hand and grabbed Vincent Lombard’s wrist, stopping him.
"Well now, Mr. Lombard is certainly protective!" Sebastian Forrest said with a mocking smile. "It seems Miss Langley’s ’Daddy’ wasn’t said for nothing!"
At these words, everyone’s expression changed.
Vincent Lombard’s face turned shades of green and white, a chaotic display of fury.
"You were behind that recording, weren’t you?" Vincent Lombard said through gritted teeth.
Sebastian Forrest sneered. "I’d watch your words, Mr. Lombard. I can sue you for slander at any time!"
Vincent Lombard knew Sebastian Forrest’s temperament: wild, willful, and utterly lawless.
There was nothing in this world he wouldn’t do.
If they truly fell out with him, the Lombard and Grant Families combined would be no match for the Forrest Family!
At this thought, Vincent Lombard ground his teeth resentfully. He let out a heavy snort but ultimately said nothing more and stepped aside.
"Sebastian Forrest, was it you?"
Just then, Theodore Grant approached with a grim expression. His eyes burned into Sebastian Forrest, unwilling to miss the slightest change on his face. "Before the engagement party started, you told me you were here to watch a good show..."
My heart skipped a beat. ’It’s over!’
’Theodore Grant was really starting to suspect Sebastian Forrest!’