Ella stepped into the hall, the white gown flowing around her like liquid moonlight.
Every pleat, every shimmer caught the golden chandeliers above, making her seem almost ethereal.
The pristine white of her dress, the shimmering pearls, her soft curves, they added to her a swan-like beauty.
Ji Yan walked one step behind her, his stance professional.
But the crowd was no longer calm.
Whispers rippled through the guests:
"Why is Mr. King’s secretary escorting her?"
"I feel like she looks familiar!"
"I think... I think I remember... Isn’t she that ex-model who has been the talk of the town in the recent months?!"
A few people who were intricately linked to the entertainment industry started recognizing Ella.
But the rest of the elites were still clueless. However, that did not stop them from being intrigued.
Especially the young men, the eligible bachelors... they could barely take their gaze off Ella.
And that caused some of the young ladies to be envious...
Heads turned, some craning, some daring a double take, yet none could look away from Ella.
But before any of them could get to the bottom of the situation or Ella’s identity, someone moved.
Adrian, who had retreated to a dark corner upon his arrival, strode out of the place.
The room seemed to freeze.
The man who was known by the world to be a ruthless tyrant took decisive and deliberate strides towards Ella.
His white suit shimmered subtly under the chandelier lights, and every step drew the eyes of everyone in the room.
He stopped in front of her.
The guests held their breath, unsure of what was happening.
And it was at this moment that Adrian offered a hand towards Ella.
Ji Yan immediately took a small step to the side, his head slightly bowed.
Ella placed her hand on Adrian’s and within a split-second, his long fingers wrapped around her delicate palm, holding her firmly.
The last thread of composure in the hall shattered.
Whispers surged into gasps, the crowd’s attention entirely captured. Every single person present in the vicinity was drawn to the pair.
Lilith’s gaze sharpened, "She’s... with him?" She whispered to herself at first.
And then, she turned to Eli, "You knew...?"
"Then, why didn’t you tell me just now?"
"Did you give me a chance?" The man’s voice was composed, "Moreover, I caught a glimpse of a woman in his car. I couldn’t tell that it was her."
"Don’t you think she has changed a lot? She looks quite pleasing, doesn’t she?" Eli gazed at the white figure in the center.
Lilith’s fingers curled around a golden railing, "You..." Her eyes lingered on Ella.
The girl seemed to have lost some weight, her features looked sharper and more prominent and that only seemed to enunciate her beauty.
Her hair was pinned up in an elegant hairdo and a few loose strands cascaded down, trailing her neck.
She radiated a youthful and fresh glow. And at one glance, she looked pristine, untouched and pure. Like one who walked elegantly above the clouds, barely grazing the mud on the ground.
Lilith took a small step back, "She is an unpleasant eyesore..."
Eli turned and glanced at Lilith’s retreating back, the corner of his lips slowly tugging up.
In the grand hall downstairs, a group of men stood in the corner.
"Say, Third Young Master... Dr. Knight, who is that lady with Ace?"
The man who spoke seemed to be in his mid 20s, he had a playful but gentle disposition at first glance, and quite a delicately handsome appearance to back it up.
Even as he stood there, unbothered by his surroundings, countless ladies were glancing at his way.
Hearing his question, both Ronan and Kade exchanged a quick glance. Their expressions were unreadable.
"It’s better if you don’t ask such questions, Luca," Ronan said with a weary sigh.
’’Hmm, that means this lady is off-limits, huh? Well, I understand then," The man named Luca straightened up, adjusting his tie.
"What do you understand?" Kade inquired.
"As far as I know, you don’t have a sister, Third Young Master. Then there are two possibilities... Either this lady is your long-lost sister who has recently been found or she is a cherished relative, a cousin or something?" Luca raised a brow.
"Did you ever think of a third possibility?" Kade asked softly, twirling the glass of wine in his hand.
"Had it been you in Ace’s place, I would have thought that she is your woman. But him... and women are two parallel lines..." Luca gently drifted both his index fingers apart, "that are never meant to intersect."
Kade smiled bitterly.
Ronan smiled more bitterly.
Somebody who is even more delusional than them. Haha... Hahaha... Hahahahahahahaha...
"So I will take it as my good luck for being present at the right place at the right time, hmm?" Luca grabbed a wine glass and walked off in the opposite direction.
Kade looked at Ronan, "You want to bet?"
Ronan frowned, "I am a doctor."
"One bet won’t turn you into a gambler," Kade blinked, "I bet he would get on brother’s last nerve."
"No opposition. So, no bet needed," Ronan deadpanned.
On the other side, the moment Adrian led her inside, Ella looked at him.
Right on cue, the man bent his head slightly to his left.
Ella quickly whispered, "Baby, I asked you to enter first so nobody would notice me... How come I feel... um... still very noticed?"
"I mean, I get it... It must be my magnificent beauty and this stunning gown..."
"It’s you, in entirety, that is the most magnificent."
A small gasp escaped Ella’s mouth. Her lips opened and closed, opened and closed again but no words made it out of her mouth.
Before she could come back to her senses, someone blocked their path.
"Ace, long time no see."