Chapter 9

MAX POV

After several attempts, the attendant brought out a black and white suit, its lines crisp and immaculate. “This one might be what you’re looking for, sir,” he suggested, handing it to me.

I slipped it on, stepping in front of the mirror. The fit was perfect. The black jacket contrasted sharply with the white shirt, and the sleek black tie completed the look.

“This is it,” I said, nodding.

The attendant smiled. “Excellent choice, sir. You’ll make quite the impression.”

As I paid for the suit and left the store, my thoughts drifted back to the Johnson family. Kenneth Johnson’s daughter, once thought to be dead, was about to reappear in front of the world. The paparazzi would undoubtedly have their cameras ready, broadcasting every moment live.

Who was this mysterious daughter? How had she stayed hidden for so long? And why now, of all times, was she being introduced to the world?

The questions piled up in my mind, refusing to give me peace. My thoughts then shifted to Richard Garrison, the wealthiest young bachelor we all knew.

Rumor had it that he and Kenneth’s daughter were set to begin a relationship. The idea made my stomach churn. Garrison was charming, powerful, and influential…everything I wasn’t.

I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the growing frustration. As my car sped toward the Johnson mansion, my mind flashed back to the note Jacob had left. The crossed knives haunted me, their meaning slipping through my grasp like smoke.

“What are you trying to tell me, Jacob?” I whispered to myself.

The car came to a smooth halt in front of the grand Johnson mansion. The estate was breathtaking, its towering gates shining under the soft light of the evening.

Rows of luxury cars lined the driveway, and the soft hum of voices and music could be heard in the distance.

I stepped out, my polished shoes clicking against the cobblestone driveway. My chauffeur gave me a respectful nod before driving off to park the car.

As I adjusted my tie, my eyes scanned the surroundings. That’s when I saw her…Nadia, my fiancée.

She stood near a cluster of tall flowers, her silhouette illuminated by the mansion’s golden lights. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed she wasn’t alone.

A tall, well-built man stood close to her. His posture was casual, but there was an intimacy in the way he leaned toward her.

My breath hitched as I saw Nadia, still in her high heels, lean closer to the man. She was trying to kiss him.

Anger and confusion surged through me. Who was this man? Why was Nadia with him?

Without thinking, I walked toward them, my footsteps quick and deliberate. My eyes locked on the pair, but as I approached, the man turned slightly, his face hidden from my view by the angle. Before I could reach them, he disappeared into the shadows.

“Nadia!” I called out, my voice sharper than I intended.

She turned, her expression was that of surprise and warmth. “Max!” she exclaimed, walking toward me with a sweet smile.

I waited for some time, my thoughts swirling with doubt. Did she see me coming and dismiss the man on purpose?

“Hey, you,” she said softly, slipping her hand into mine. “You look amazing.”

I forced a smile, pushing my doubts aside for the moment. “So do you,” I replied.

Her eyes sparkled as she squeezed my hand. “Shall we?”

I nodded, letting her lead me toward the ballroom. The scent of roses filled the air, and the soft hum of music grew louder with each step.

But in the back of my mind, the image of the mysterious man and the note from Jacob disturbing me, refusing to be forgotten.

The grand ballroom was alive with chatter and the soft hum of classical music. It sparkled with elegance, every corner drenched in wine and different dishes.

My heart kept racing in anxiousness as I stepped inside, my eyes darting from one unfamiliar face to another.

I was eager…desperately eager…to catch a glimpse of the infamous daughter of Kenneth Johnson. The rumors surrounding her were endless. After years of silence, whispers of her reappearance had stirred every corner of the elite society. And tonight, she would finally be revealed.

As I made my way through the crowd, I couldn't stop looking around. Each new face felt like a possibility, a moment of revelation. My mind raced with thoughts. Would she resemble her father? Was she as mysterious as the whispers suggested?

Kenneth Johnson himself stood at the center of the room, commanding attention as he always did. His deep, booming voice cut through the hum of conversation. He looks more unique than ever, unable to stop talking about his daughter.

“She’s my pride and joy,” Kenneth declared, his chest puffed with pride. “You’ll all see what I mean when you meet her. She’s a beauty, a miracle.”

I paused near one of the decorative pillars, trying to blend into the background while keeping my attention fixed on him.

Kenneth continued, his voice tinged with emotion. “I know the rumors,” he said, addressing the crowd like a king speaking to his subjects. “And I want to set the record straight…my daughter wasn’t in that fatal accident all those years ago. It wasn’t her.”

Gasps rippled through the room, followed by a wave of murmurs. I felt my pulse quicken. Wait, what? My mind raced, trying to piece together what he meant.

Then Kenneth smiled, raising his hand to silence the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present my daughter, Tamara Johnson, and her fiancé, Richard Garrison.”

The room erupted into applause as Kenneth gestured toward the stage. I turned sharply, my eyes snapping to the spotlight.

Tamara Johnson stepped into view, her arm linked with none other than Richard Garrison, the youngest and wealthiest bachelor in our circle.

Then I looked closely only to realize that it was the same Tamara I had mistreated like trash, the same Tamara who my family and I had accused of stealing a Jewelry which we even went together to plot her arrest.