Chapter 1700
No.1
However…
Adrian met everyone’s gaze with an icy smirk.
“Who told you I’m a jobless failure?”
“I am the President of GoldenPhoenix Entertainment. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
He pulled a stack of business cards from his pocket.
He tossed them into the air with a flourish.
Dozens of cards fluttered down around them.
Each one was printed in gleaming gold foil.
[President of GoldenPhoenix – Adrian Sinclair]
The room fell into stunned silence.
No.2
The useless, unemployed Adrian Sinclair was now the president of GoldenPhoenix?
How… How was that even possible?
GoldenPhoenix had signed numerous top-tier artists.
The company’s market valuation was well over a billion.
Adrian was the president?
That meant his personal net worth had to be at least…
Victoria felt as if she’d been slapped across the face.
She had just tried to “gift” her measly two-hundred-thousand-dollar factory to a man of his stature?
The humiliation was unbearable.
Everyone else looked equally uncomfortable.
No.3
Their expressions were as if they’d accidentally swallowed a fly.
Alexander narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Doesn’t GoldenPhoenix belong to Isabella?”
Isabella?
Oh. Right.
The reality of the situation crashed down on everyone.
Who didn’t know that GoldenPhoenix was Isabella’s company?
She had been incredibly public about it.
She’d practically thrown money around on Twitter for the entire world to see!
How could Adrian Sinclair claim to be GoldenPhoenix's president with such audacity?
No.4
Eleanor Kensington glared at him. "Adrian Sinclair! How dare you show us counterfeit business cards? Don't you realize this company belongs to Isabella Montgomery?"
"Of course I know!" Adrian shot back. "Isabella provided the financial investment while I contributed my expertise. What's the issue with that?"
His response left everyone in the room stunned. Did Isabella really establish this massive company just to let Adrian play president? That made absolutely no sense!
Richard Montgomery scanned the room and noticed Isabella had already moved to a side sofa. She sat with perfect posture, legs elegantly crossed and hands resting on her waist. Her relaxed recline radiated an aura of cool detachment, as if she were watching a performance by amateur actors.
Richard turned to address her directly. "Isabella, is this true? Did you actually appoint Adrian as company president?"
Everyone held their breath, hoping desperately this wasn't the case. They wanted to see Adrian humiliated and exposed as a fraud in front of the entire gathering.
Isabella merely raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "And if I did? Is there some problem with that?"
Her voice carried that signature chill, arrogant and utterly self-assured. The confirmation struck the room like a physical blow. Adrian Sinclair truly was president of GoldenPhoenix!
Just moments ago, they had all been mocking him while pretending to offer charity with that pathetic factory worth only $200,000 in dividends. Meanwhile, he commanded a position that made their petty offerings laughable. They had become the fools in this scenario.
Victoria Kensington had intended to publicly shame and embarrass Adrian, but instead found herself the target of ridicule. This was her wedding day! How could everything keep going so wrong? Even this minor confrontation had spiraled out of control. Her useless cousin had come to insult her at her own wedding!
No.5
White-hot fury surged through Victoria's veins as tears began tracing paths down her cheeks. She turned her pained expression toward Isabella. "Isabella, do you truly hate me this much? I begged for your forgiveness repeatedly, yet you never accepted my apologies! If you despise me, just say it directly! Why send Adrian to publicly humiliate me? Why involve innocent people in our personal conflict...?"
The revelation clicked for everyone simultaneously. Since Adrian worked for Isabella, he must have been acting on her instructions when he spoke those cutting words.
"Agh..." Victoria suddenly clutched her stomach as if in severe pain.
Margaret Whitmore's face paled instantly. "Victoria! Are you all right? Don't let this stress harm the baby!"
"Victoria, let's get you out of here," Eleanor said, taking her daughter's hand. "Come rest in the bridal suite. Don't lower yourself to their level."
She guided the seemingly distressed Victoria toward the private rooms reserved for the wedding party.
Richard turned his furious glare toward Isabella. "Even if Victoria made mistakes, you shouldn't sabotage her wedding! You're embarrassing the entire Montgomery family! And that child she carries is your own niece! Are you trying to cause a tragedy?!"
"I'm warning you clearly," Margaret added with a scornful look. "If anything happens to my grandson, I will hold you completely responsible!"
The entire wedding party swarmed around Victoria, some asking about her condition while others fetched water. They treated her like precious royalty in that private room while Isabella remained alone in her corner outside, appearing more isolated than ever.
Alexander Whitmore fixed Isabella with an icy stare. "I never imagined you could be this cruel, Isabella." He scoffed in disgust before turning away.
No.6
Not long ago, he had been desperately trying to win her affection. He believed her to be straightforward, genuine, and real. Now he saw her for what she truly was—a vicious, irrational, and heartless woman! If anything happened to Victoria's baby, he would never forgive her!
A subtle smirk touched Isabella's lips as she watched the crowd fuss over Victoria. They were all so concerned about that unborn child. She wondered what expressions they would wear when they finally discovered the truth...
Isabella found a secluded corner to sit, away from their prying eyes.
Once she was gone, Victoria turned to the Montgomerys and Whitmores. “Please don’t worry, it was just a cramp. I’m feeling much better now. I know you’re all very busy—please, don’t let me keep you.”
“Oh, darling! No matter how busy, you are our priority! Ignore whatever those people said; they’re just jealous!” Margaret Whitmore comforted her.
“We’ve put the past behind us, so you should too. The only thing that matters is that you and Alexander are happy together.”
“Exactly. Your happiness is crucial for the baby’s health. Pay no mind to cruel words—we know your true heart. As long as you learn from past mistakes, we will always support you,” added Eleanor Kensington.
“Alright... I won’t disappoint you,” Victoria nodded obediently.
After successfully persuading them to leave, a sinister expression returned to Victoria’s face. These people were so easily manipulated. A few sweet words from her, and they danced like puppets.
Isabella? Ha. That pathetic woman had no real allies.
No.7
Just then, a group of guests passed by the resting room, their voices carrying.
“Goodness, isn’t this wedding excessively lavish?”
“They must have spent a fortune. I thought they’d be more discreet!”
“Hah! The audacity. One is a notorious playboy, the other a master manipulator. They have no shame, flaunting this spectacle.”
“Absolutely. Look around—no one here is genuinely happy for them. I’d be mortified.”
“A cheating scoundrel marrying a home-wrecker? And they make it this grand? Hilarious...”
Inside the room, Victoria’s fists clenched tightly. It seemed Rio wasn't the only one mocking her.