Chapter 7: Arrival of the Queen

The comment caused a commotion in the hall, prompting surprised and curious glances from those nearby.

It was surprising that someone recalled such a small incident from two years back. Leo appeared visibly taken aback, but he skillfully concealed his shock. He quickly regained his composure and replied, "I had no genuine feelings for that medical intern. She was impulsive and always forced me to compromise. You know how some women, who achieve nothing and are blindly in love, can act recklessly... I agreed to marry her out of pity. But now, I've found true love with Elisa. I'm ready to be brave for her!"

He then concluded, "That medical intern will soon be my ex."

The crowd resumed their murmurs. Leo's act had them fooled, and some began to speak ill of the "impulsive medical intern," casting me as the antagonist.

Others whispered about Leo and Elisa, while a few approached them, engaging in lively chats.

Despite my hesitation to acknowledge it, Leo and Elisa had taken the spotlight at the gala. Once again, Leo had used me to boost himself.

They needed a wake-up call, and I was about to deliver it in person.

In my heels, I weaved through the gathering. Elisa caught sight of me and clung tighter to Leo, whose surprise turned to disdain when he noticed me. Perhaps he thought I was the type to audaciously show up to bother him.

At that moment, a waiter opened the ballroom doors, the orchestra fell silent, and the chatter ceased immediately because of the two people who were entering the hall at the moment. I happened to know both of them as well.

The first person was Ethan, my neighbor, who gave me the dress I wore.

Ethan was so handsome when wearing a suit that he would make any woman lose their mind. The bright lighting of the hotel made his handsome facial features even more dazzling. I could even hear the breathing of some of the women present and their quiet screams.

Behind Ethan was Uncle Tommy, who was wearing a tuxedo and a golden badge of the Aesthete family. Everyone knew that his appearance represented my grandpa, Edward, the leader of the Aesthete family.

Elisa's gaze fixated eagerly on Ethan, disregarding Leo's attempts to grab her attention. The moment she spotted Uncle Tommy, a spark of excitement ignited in her eyes, prompting her to move towards him.

However, Uncle Tommy paid her no mind, calmly stating, "Step aside, please."

In full view of the crowd, two men embodying elegance and prestige at the gala marched directly towards me while spectators made way for them.

With his long, commanding strides, Ethan reached me first. He took my hand and gallantly bowed to kiss it. "Hailey, you look stunning tonight. This dress barely captures your beauty."

"Thank you," I replied.

Uncle Tommy then stepped up. "Sir?" he gestured to Ethan, who handed me over to his care.

Uncle Tommy grinned and said, "Hailey, Edward is under the weather, so he requested me to present you with some gifts on his behalf."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Leo and Elisa faded into insignificance as the onlookers' attention shifted towards me.

He took out a list of gifts from his pocket. On the piece of paper, there was a list of gifts and a golden stamp of the Aesthete family.

Uncle Tommy then announced the contents of the list with a serious voice. "A mansion in Benery Villa in Los Angeles. A penthouse in Pacific Hill in San Francisco. A university manor in Grenalic and countless other properties. The truth is that Mr. Aesthete promised Miss Hailey that she could choose any of his properties and that he would also give her part of the family's trust funds."

After hearing the gift list, all the guests present were speechless. Some even covered their mouths to prevent themselves from making too much sound due to how shocked they were.

I stood on stage with a grateful smile on my face. Uncle Tommy put away the gift list and held my hand gentlemanly before continuing, "Edward is grateful to Hailey for taking care of him over the past years. Over the years, Hailey had already become an important member of Edward's family. She is also an important member of the Aesthete family."

His words caused an uproar. Everyone looked at me with shock and admiration. Uncle Tommy kept it brief, wishing everyone a delightful evening.

Leo, standing below the stage, was gobsmacked. The lavish gifts and news from Uncle Tommy had clearly rendered him speechless. Subconsciously, he let go of Elisa's hand and wiped his hand on his pants as he looked at me in a daze.

"Is it my turn now?" With Uncle Tommy stepping aside, Ethan walked up to me with a small velvet box in his hand. His eyes were determined but soft.

"You already gifted me this dress," I pointed out. Even as the crowd began to disperse, all eyes remained on me, drawn by Ethan's presence.

"That wasn't a birthday present. Mr. Aesthete has a way of outshining everything that follows. But I'm greedy—I want to make a lasting impression on you." He opened the box, revealing a familiar gold necklace. Memories flooded back.

First, a woman bending down to kiss my forehead, adorned with sparkling earrings.

Then, at a funeral, I held hands with a boy my age, sheltered from the rain by a black umbrella. "The car accident was severe. They only recovered this necklace. Mr. Edward instructed me to give it to you." The boy handed me the gold necklace that the woman always wore, the last remnant, as pitiful as my situation.

Then I recalled my cries and curses. "What a fool I am! How could I lose it? It was one of the few things Mom left me!"

The boy reassured me, "Don't worry, Hailey. I'll help you find it. I promise."

I remembered his name...

"Ethan?!" I came back to my senses. Gratitude flooded me as I stumbled in surprise. Ethan, thoughtful as ever, held me firmly.

"You found it?!" I exclaimed.

Understanding my emotions, Ethan enveloped me in a warm embrace. "Yes."

I guessed that my face was bright red. I was excited because I finally remembered who Ethan was. When I was four, my parents died in a car accident due to being chased by the media. My grandpa hid me from the world and found a boy of a similar age to keep me company. He would be around me almost 24/7.

However, the boy I remembered was quite different from Ethan. I remembered that he was never nice to me. Whenever he said that he would protect me, I would always think that he was being bossy. I couldn't accept being bossed around by a weak and small boy.

My grandpa told me that Ethan was the successor of an affluent family in Italy. He wanted me to forgive Ethan for his cold attitude because that was what he needed to survive.

When I was 15, maybe 16, I had grown accustomed to Ethan's presence and believed we would always be together. He said he had acquired my grandpa's support and would need to return to Italy to inherit his family.

"You used my grandpa! And me!" I screamed angrily at him.

Ethan didn't argue with me and just kissed my forehead. "In exchange, I will let you use me for the rest of my life when I return. What I mean is that I won't ever leave you again."

Ethan was really back!

"Hailey," Ethan said softly. A passionate look appeared on his face. "Happy birthday."

Tears welled up in my eyes. As I looked at Ethan, my eyes were filled with love and gratefulness. When Ethan leaned in to kiss me, I turned towards him, planting a kiss on his lips. He was taken aback momentarily, but his eyes soon sparkled with joy. What began as a simple kiss quickly escalated into something more passionate. I should have remembered our friendship and its boundaries—friends didn't kiss like that.

Yet, I forgot everything else, the world seeming to shrink to just the two of us.

The guests erupted into applause and cheers, believing we were destined for each other. They had every reason to bless us, especially on my birthday.

Leo and Elisa stood where they were and felt rather awkward. Leo's face paled, and his hands trembled slightly. He seemed to have realized what he had lost. Elisa's envious look made her look ugly and ferocious as well.

"Hailey, what are you doing? Kissing another man in front of your husband, huh? Is this your plan or something?" Leo couldn't contain his rage, his face flushed with anger. Trying to appear generous, he declared, "Misunderstanding or not, we need to talk."