Chapter 30 Protagonist's Appearance

The renovated Sinclair Villa exuded subtle luxury; opening the glass doors between the foyer and the garden terrace transformed the banquet into a semi-open space. A professional event planning company had meticulously planned the event's decorations, program, and menu.

Despite having attended numerous parties, Paul couldn't help but admire the splendor of this banquet. Prominent members of various families flooded into the banquet room. Nicole instinctively straightened her posture as she entered, hoping to present her most beautiful self to the audience tonight.

Nicole had specifically asked Paul to go to any length to get the latest spring collection from the brand BLUE for the event. She wore a princess-style strapless chiffon dress with a small crown atop her head, giving off a regal aura.

Nicole's intentional, sweet smile drew the attention of many upon her arrival. However, before she could strike a pose, the onlookers averted their gazes, their expressions tinged with disgust.

Nicole was perplexed by the sudden shift in attention and couldn't figure out what was wrong with her outfit. As she left, a girl in a black dress in the corner made a casual remark to her companions.

"Who was that just now? She appears to be unaware of the current protagonist. Did she consider herself the princess of the day by wearing a crown?"

Her companion said, "I vaguely recognize her, but I can't recall her identity."

"Isn't she the CEO of Parker Group? How did they get on today's guest list?"

Some of the attendees at the banquet were drawn to the Parker family's presence. Ethan, perplexed by their arrival, inquired, 'Aren't these people from the Parker family? How were they allowed in?'

Despite Alexander's insistence on mistreating Olivia and cutting ties with the Sinclair Group, all previous collaborations had ended. Ethan questioned how the Parkers had gained entry to the event.

"Mr. Sinclair, it's so good to see you. I've wanted to reconnect with you for a long time, but our schedules never lined up. What a pleasant surprise to meet here tonight," Ethan exclaimed excitedly. Given Ethan's previous approach to discussing collaboration, Paul naturally sought him out upon his arrival.

Angela, Ethan's wife, accompanied him as they strolled hand in hand through the banquet hall, exchanging pleasantries with guests. Angela's expression faltered briefly when she noticed Paul and the others, but she smiled and inquired, "Ethan, who are these individuals?"

Angela had never met Paul or the others before, so she was unaware of their identities. Despite Kayla's previous visit, she was promptly turned away before entering the house, leaving Angela completely unaware of them.

He added, "This is Mr. Parker and his wife, and this young lady is Mr. Parker's daughter."

Angela's demeanor immediately changed when she learned they were from the Parker family.

Ethan held Kenneth in high regard for his leadership of the Sinclair Group, a sentiment shared by Angela's family, which was accustomed to following Kenneth's orders. Angela was well aware of Alexander's disdain for the Parkers, which she shared.

Angela later discovered that Olivia, purportedly a Parker family member, had been raised as Nicole's servant since childhood. Olivia's responsibilities included carrying Nicole's bag and buying snacks for her at school. When Nicole became ill and was admitted to the hospital, Olivia remained by her side to provide care. Despite the depiction of a sisterly bond, Angela couldn't get past the fact that Olivia was essentially serving Nicole rather than being treated equally. Olivia was injured while saving Nicole from a car accident and was subsequently expelled from the Parker household, leaving her with nothing.

Kenneth would not have felt compelled to investigate further if Kayla hadn't unexpectedly shown her support for Olivia during her recent visit. However, the truths uncovered only fueled his rage as he dug deeper into the situation.

While there was no evidence that Kayla mistreated Olivia, it was clear that she had been treated unfairly and coldly by the Parker family. Angela's impression of the Parkers soured, and her expression became icy. "So, you are Mr. and Mrs. Parker. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she said, mentally noting their faces to avoid their presence in the future.

Paul, preoccupied with discussing business collaboration, paid little attention to Angela's demeanor. Instead, he chuckled. "Yes, two days ago, my wife and daughter paid a visit, but they missed seeing you. They returned, expressing regret, but at least we'll meet today."

"Is that so?" Angela arched her brow. "Did Mrs. Parker not explain why they missed the meeting?"

Angela's questions caught Nicole and Kayla off guard. Paul, initially perplexed, quickly grasped the situation and detected something amiss. He looked at his wife and daughter, who looked visibly guilty. Without missing a beat, he added, "I've indulged my wife and daughter. If they have offended you, I hope you will overlook it."

Angela and Ethan exchanged knowing glances, realizing Paul was still unaware of the events of that day.

They thought, 'Well, that's interesting.'

Ethan cautiously responded, "On that day, Mrs. Parker and Ms. Parker didn't even have the opportunity to meet my wife. How could they have offended her?" To protect the family's reputation, he avoided discussing the cancellation of the partnership with the Sinclair Group.

Paul, who understood business language, discovered that Kayla and Nicole had concealed their involvement in sabotaging the collaboration. Despite his rage, he kept his cool, remembering the banquet that was going on. However, his stern expression served as a warning to his wife and daughter that the matter would be discussed later. Paul redirected his attention to Ethan, expressing sincerity. "Mr. Sinclair, there appears to be a misunderstanding here. Let's not let it derail our potential partnership. I genuinely want to collaborate with you, and I am willing to negotiate the terms.

Ethan shook his head and looked at Paul. "In truth, Kenneth made the decision to cancel the collaboration himself. "I had no say in it," he said, feigning distress to imply his agreement with Kenneth's directive.

Paul was perplexed when he learned Kenneth had made the decision. His gaze naturally shifted to his wife and daughter, who appeared even more guilty than before. He was almost taken aback, wondering how many people they had offended while visiting the Sinclair Villa that day.

Before Paul could think about how to handle the impending interrogation, Angela interjected beside him, her words unrelated to the collaboration. "Ah, here comes the main attraction for tonight," she told Mr. Parker. "You've looked after our children before, so now that you're here, you should relax and enjoy yourself."

Paul found Angela's words strange and followed the others' gazes to the corner of the staircase in the front hall. When he saw the figure descending the stairs, graceful as a pure white camellia, he was astounded.