Chapter 117: The charity gala
The day of the charity gala...
The grand banquet hall was already packed with distinguished guests. Every influential figure and member of the city’s elite had been invited.
Bright lights bathed the hall. A soft melody from the live orchestra drifted through the air as elegantly dressed guests chatted over glasses of champagne.
The atmosphere radiated wealth, prestige, and sophistication.
Tessa walked in beside Noah, unable to stop herself from looking around.
The gala was being held in the luxurious ballroom of the city’s most expensive hotel.
"Wow... this hotel is gorgeous," she murmured, admiring the lavish décor.
Tugging lightly at Noah’s arm, she asked, "I heard the Rowan family owns the Royal Hotel. Is that true?"
Noah pulled his arm away.
"Mr. Rowan is one of the richest men in the world." His tone was cold and dismissive. "I have no idea which properties he owns across the globe. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late."
Without another word, he walked ahead.
Tessa noticed his indifference, but she refused to let it ruin her mood.
"Forget it." She shrugged. "Today is an important day. I’ll finally get the chance to meet Mr. Rowan."
She smoothed her hair with her fingers, a calculating smile appearing on her lips.
"If I can impress him and earn his favor, no one will be able to drive me out of this city, not even Noah."
Still smiling, she hurried after him. "Noah, wait. I’m coming."
Not long afterward, Elena and Elias arrived.
They had returned that morning, visited Elias’ parents’ graves, and then come straight to the hotel for the charity gala.
Elena wore an elegant off-white gown that hugged her figure perfectly. She looked graceful, confident, and composed.
Beside her, Elias looked exceptionally handsome in his tailored black suit. Resting a hand on the small of her back, he guided her into the private elevator.
As soon as the doors closed, he turned toward her.
"Today," he said calmly, "I’m going to reveal my true identity to the entire city."
This had been his plan all along.
He wanted to see Noah’s reaction after learning the truth.
Would he beg for mercy? Or would he continue acting arrogantly and slandering him?
’This is going to be entertaining.’ A faint smirk curved Elias’ lips.
Elena blinked in surprise. "Wait... you are really going to tell everyone that you are the owner of Novacrest?"
Elias nodded, the smile never leaving his face. "Yes." His eyes softened as he looked at her. "And I’m also going to announce our relationship."
Elena gasped, covering her lips with her fingers. "Really?"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. At last, their marriage would no longer remain hidden.
Back then, Noah had concealed their marriage from the public, making her believe she was never worthy enough to stand beside him. But Elias had never once tried to hide her.
Instead, he wanted the whole world to know she was his wife.
Her trust in him deepened even further. The thought of him publicly announcing their marriage made her heart flutter.
"Are you excited?" he asked with a smile.
Elena nodded. "I am... though I’m a little nervous too."
The elevator reached the top floor with a soft chime.
The doors slid open, and the two of them stepped out hand in hand. Just then, Owen approached.
"Hello, Sir... Madam." He inclined his head respectfully. "All the guests have arrived. However, there is something important I need to discuss with you."
Hearing the seriousness in Owen’s voice, Elias immediately realized it wasn’t a trivial matter. Instead of replying, he turned to Elena.
"You go in first. I’ll join you in a minute."
Elena guessed they had something important to discuss and didn’t question him.
"Okay. I’ll wait for you."
With that, she walked into the banquet hall alone.
The soft music greeted her the moment she entered. Crystal glasses clinked softly as servers moved gracefully through the crowd with trays of champagne and exquisite hors d’oeuvres.
The faint scent of expensive perfume blended with fresh lilies decorating every corner.
Elena had attended many business events before, but none compared to this. Nearly every powerful businessman, politician, celebrity, and influential socialite in the city was gathered beneath one roof.
The sheer grandeur of the occasion left her momentarily overwhelmed. Taking a quiet breath, she walked farther into the hall.
A waitress approached with a silver tray. "Champagne, ma’am?"
Elena accepted a glass with a polite smile and continued walking gracefully, the hem of her gown gliding across the polished floor.
From across the hall, Tessa spotted her.
"Wait... Elena?" Her brows furrowed. "What is she doing here?"
Following Tessa’s gaze, Noah turned around. The moment he saw Elena, his entire body stiffened.
It had been over a month since he had last seen her.
"Elena..." Her name escaped his lips almost unconsciously.
She looked breathtaking, elegant, and graceful. Her beauty was mesmerizing.
As she moved through the hall, countless eyes followed her. Guests whispered among themselves, wondering who the beautiful woman was.
Noah couldn’t look away.
Had she always been this beautiful? Or had he simply never appreciated her before?
Perhaps he had missed her so much that he couldn’t stop staring at her.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Tessa had already marched toward Elena and blocked her path.
Elena stopped. Her fingers tightened ever so slightly around the stem of her glass.
"Elena," Tessa smiled mockingly. "Did you lose your way and wander in here by accident?"
Elena let out a soft snort without replying. She lifted the glass to her lips and took an unhurried sip of champagne.
Seeing how calm Elena remained, Tessa’s smile disappeared. She hated this version of Elena. She wanted to see her lose her composure.
Swallowing her irritation, Tessa forced another smile.
"Oh dear, you obviously have no idea what kind of event this is." Her voice dripped with false sympathy. "You don’t belong in a place like this. You should leave before people start questioning who let you in."
"Why should I leave?" Elena tilted her head slightly. "I came here to attend the charity gala."
"Really?" Tessa burst into laughter. "Oh, please, Elena. You are nothing without the Sinclair family. And your new husband..."
She laughed again. "He is barely managing to keep his company afloat."
Her eyes were filled with contempt. "How exactly do you plan to make a donation here?"
She stepped closer. "Don’t embarrass yourself. Leave while you still can."