Chapter 41
The moment the Hawke family heard the ticket price was a hundred thousand dollars each, they were absolutely floored.
Lysander moved his lips. “What… a hundred thousand dollars each?”
Might as well be highway robbery.
Granted, for some events, a hundred thousand dollars for an entry ticket wasn’t outrageous.
But they needed three more tickets. That would be three hundred thousand dollars. And it wasn’t even some elite, exclusive banquet.
Sure, it was hosted by the Lancaster Group, but still, nothing extraordinarily special.
But the Hawke family had already dressed to the nines and backing out now was just not an option. They couldn’t let anyone see them falter.
So, with no other choice, they reluctantly parted with the three hundred thousand dollars.
Dorian paid with his card, his brow furrowed tightly. Sure, he wasn’t hurting for that kind of money, but how he spent it definitely affected the mood.
Once the tickets were paid for, security finally let the Hawke family in. As soon as they entered, they spotted the Blackwell family.
Warm greetings were exchanged, and Alden and Grace moved over to mingle with the Blackwell elders.
Theo wasn’t attending tonight due to a previous injury from an incident with Miranda that left a scar.
While the elders chatted away, Arabella was off talking to two familiar heiresses.
Meanwhile, the four Hawke boys were drawing quite a bit of attention, becoming the evening’s focal point with ⚫ their striking looks.
The eldest was a dashing, cool–headed CEO, the second was a sophisticated and well–known attorney, and the twins were equally impressive: one a rising star in the esports world, the other having already held two world violin tours before even reaching adulthood, even performing at top opera houses worldwide.
The Hawke brothers were already quite famous in their circles, and their good looks only added to their allure, earning quite a bit of attention and admiration from the young heiresses of high society, which was why the heiresses felt like getting in touch with Arabella.
Arabella couldn’t help but complain, “Isn’t the Lancaster family being a bit stingy? Only two people per invite, and an extra ticket costs a hundred thousand dollars!”
One of the heiresses, who usually got along with Arabella, frowned slightly. “Really? I hadn’t heard that.”
Another heiress looked at Arabella in surprise. “I haven’t heard that either. Our family came with four people on one invitation.”
Their conversation wasn’t far from where Alden and Grace, along with the four brothers, were standing, so the Hawke boys overheard it.
Hearing the other families didn’t have to pay extra, the four exchanged glances.
What was going on here? Why were they the only ones who had to pay for more tickets?
Dorian sensed something fishy was afoot, but since the money was already spent, there wasn’t much to say. He decided to look into it after the banquet.
Arabella happily chatted away with her friends.
“Talk about bad luck, I had a troll filming me and trying to smear my reputation recently. You guys better watch out for those types, they’re awful. Being a bit famous means dealing with all kinds of jealous, nasty women.”
1/2
09-21
Chapter
Though there had been some online scandals recently, they weren’t serious, and for a high society family like theirs, it didn’t really affect their social interactions.
After arriving at the venue, Miranda took a stroll in the quieter areas.
The Lancaster Group’s banquet was quite the event, filled with distinguished guests all engaged in networking. Despite sticking to the less crowded spots, Miranda’s striking presence didn’t go unnoticed.
“Who’s that stunning girl? Never seen her before. Which family’s heiress is she?” a young nobleman asked, curiosity piqued.
Another young man, holding a glass of red wine, shook his head. “No idea, but she looks like she belongs to some prominent family.”
Their whispers and glances spread like wildfire, drawing more eyes toward Miranda as she walked leisurely by the ornamental rock garden and pond.
Lavinia had orchestrated a grand entrance for Miranda but let her step out for some fresh air to keep from getting bored while waiting.
Miranda favored places with natural beauty, so she found a large but secluded area, unaware that she would still draw attention.
Those from NexMed Labs possessed unique traits, and the more they connected with nature, the better for their inner energy flow. Miranda had already become one with her body, inheriting the characteristics of her soul.
Unbeknownst to her, when she harmonized with the natural surroundings, she exuded an ethereal allure that was impossible to ignore. Her radiance was beyond what any makeup or dress could achieve.
With so many young noblemen present, Miranda’s presence sparked a sense of eager intrigue among them. Naturally, the Hawke family noticed the buzz and Miranda too.
“Dorian, doesn’t that girl look like Miranda?” Lysander murmured.
Dorian furrowed his brows, looking over at Miranda.
The girl in the champagne–colored dress adorned with a constellation of stars looked as the brightest star among them.
Her entire presence seemed to be veiled in an ethereal glow, and even a single glance at her profile was breathtaking. In an instant, it felt as if she existed on a different plane entirely.
“It’s her,” Dorian whispered.
Alistair was stunned. “How is she here?”
Orion narrowed his eyes. “For a second, I thought I was mistaken, she looks so different from before.”
