Chapter 154
This meant the people in the car had also come with Harrison to attend the Summi Forum’s welcome banquet.
The first to step out was Clayton, the eldest son of the Thompson family.
He wore a crisp white suit and sported a close–cropped undercut, the top brushed back with meticulous precision. His skin was pale, his expression permanently jaded, with dark circles beneath half–lidded eyes that gave him the look of someone who hadn’t slept a wink. A black stud gleamed in his ear, matched by a black ring in his lower lip.
The moment Clayton appeared, the media recognized him immediately.
“That’s the so–called ‘foster son‘ from the Thompsons–Clayton. Even after their real daughter was found, the family still treats him like their own.”
Clayton’s whole world had shifted the year he turned eighteen. After a car accident sent him to the hospital, the doctors discovered his rare blood type. Tests revealed that he wasn’t the biological child of Victor and Matilda Thompson.
The Thompsons launched an investigation and were shocked to learn that, years ago, their baby had been switched at birth. They called in the police right away, desperate to find their lost child. Fortunately, Selene had registered her DNA in a missing children’s database.
The blood types matched. The Thompsons were stunned to realize that the child they’d lost wasn’t a son, but a daughter.
Soon after, they welcomed Selene home.
As for Clayton’s birth parents, there was still no trace of them.
Although he wasn’t their biological son, Clayton was still the only boy in the family. Victor and Matilda continued to treat him as their own, showering him with the same affection as before.
Clayton seemed to relish the attention, basking in the media’s curiosity.
He turned, glancing back at the car.
All cameras swiveled toward the open door–someone else was about to emerge.
Clayton, now working at Capital Premier Hospital, showing up with Harrison at a tech summit? That alone was news. So who was his companion?
1/4
09:40
As everyone watched, a womans chunky heeled shoe touched the ground
Felicity hopped out of the car, a lollipop tucked between her lips and one hand stuffed into the pocket of her tailored slacks, She oozed effortless swagger, her long hair styled in artful waves. The tousled volume at her forehead gave her a distinctly retro, 1980s power–woman vibe.
She wore a pale blue men’s dress shirt, a loosely knotted gray striped tie hanging around her neck. Her other hand swung her suit jacket over her shoulder.
Camera flashes popped in rapid succession. Felicity squinted, unfazed.
“Who’s that? She looks kind of familiar…” a reporter whispered.
“That’s Felicity Thompson–the family’s younger daughter!”
“What? She’s a woman? I always thought she was a guy with long hair!”
“That’s Felicity for you! The most genuine ‘one of the boys‘ in the whole capital.”
Felicity couldn’t help but smirk at the praise drifting her way. She knew exactly why Harrison had brought her to this tech summit–an event she’d normally have no business attending.
A jokey video of her and Mr. Waverly had made the rounds online. Harrison had managed to contain the fallout, but her reputation in the city’s elite circles had taken a hit.
Now, here she was–at the Summit Forum’s grand banquet–a perfect opportunity to reinvent herself. She was confident that, with her bold personality, she’d win over more than a few company heads and be hobnobbing with the best of them by the night’s end.
Swinging her jacket, Felicity strode toward Harrison.
“Completely improper–neither here nor there!” Gemma, Harrison’s mother, shot Felicity a disapproving look.
“Mom, she’s Natalie’s closest friend,” Harrison murmured, reminding her quietly.
Gemma pursed her lips and headed toward the hotel entrance, determined to keep her distance from Felicity.
Harrison, Clayton, and Felicity entered the hotel together.
At the doors to the ballroom, Harrison presented his invitation to the attendant.
“Selene?”
09:40
Clayton’s voice cut through the air.
Felicity and Harrison turned to follow his gaze.
A striking woman in a black strapless gown was walking toward them with poised elegance.
Selene?
Even Harrison, who had been married to Selene for seven years, barely recognized her transformed appearance.
Running into Harrison and his entourage at the door, Selene silently cursed her bad luck.
Felicity’s eyes swept over Selene from head to toe.
Selene’s dark hair was swept up, her neck adorned with a luminous string of angelic pearls. The dress hugged her waist in a classic V–shaped design–could it be a custom Valencia gown?
Felicity’s heart skipped a beat, but then she caught herself. That couldn’t be! Valencia couture wasn’t something you could just buy, and she’d never seen this style before. Selene was probably wearing a high–end knockoff, rented for the night.
Amused, Felicity’s lips curled into a sly, mocking smile.
“Selene! What are you doing here?” Felicity exclaimed, her voice exaggerated and dramatic, drawing curious glances from nearby guests.
Selene smiled back. “Why shouldn’t I be here?”
Harrison’s expression hardened. “I’m not letting you in.”
His tone was cold and resolute.
Felicity’s eyes crinkled mischievously. “Selene, maybe you should beg the attendant–see if he’ll bend the rules and let you sneak in with us?”
Harrison turned to Selene, his gaze stern. “I already gave you a chance. The invitation to this event was right in front of you. You refused it. Don’t come begging now. Even if you got down on your knees, I’d still say: no way.”
Selene didn’t bother to spare a glance at either of these self–important fools. She reached into her purse and pulled out her own invitation, handing it to the attendant with a cool smile.
“I don’t know these people, she said pointedly. “You should probably double their credentials–just in case.”
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