Chapter 979 No Inheritance Spared
Vincent knew he had to attend the Silver Chamber's gala in Silverlight City, and he would certainly bring a date.
"Vincent, are you sure you want me here?" Selene whispered, her confidence wavering.
"Who else would I bring? You're my wife," Vincent murmured. "Unless you'd prefer I escort Lily instead?"
"Absolutely not!" Selene hissed back.
"What are you two whispering about in public?" Ethan called out as he approached with Jasmine on his arm, having spotted Vincent and Selene from across the room.
"Care to share with the rest of us?" Tom leaned in with a mischievous grin, eager to eavesdrop.
Vincent shot him a warning glance. "Mind your own business."
Connor grabbed Tom by the collar with a sigh. "Can you stop provoking people who could flatten you?"
"Who says he could flatten me?" Tom protested indignantly.
Connor raised an eyebrow. "Then fight him. I'd love to see that."
Tom rolled up his sleeves and took one step forward before his bravado visibly deflated. He cleared his throat and retreated, whispering to Connor, "I'm too mature for fighting. Adults use their brains, not their fists."
"Well, well," Connor's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Look who's grown up."
Tom lifted his chin proudly. "That's right."
Vincent looked at Tom as if he were examining a peculiar specimen. "This is Tom," he explained to Selene. "Childhood fever fried his brain cells."
Selene gave Tom a pitying look. "Such a handsome face gone to waste. What a shame."
Tom glared at Vincent, silently fuming at the insult.
"Aren't you going to introduce us properly?" Jasmine asked with an amused smile.
Vincent cleared his throat.
"Jasmine, I'm—I'm Selene," Selene pointed to herself, assuming her designer gown and elaborate hair and makeup had rendered her unrecognizable.
Jasmine laughed. "I know who you are, but shouldn't Vincent do the honors?"
"This is my wife, Selene," Vincent announced to the group.
Selene's ears turned crimson as she ducked behind Vincent. "I thought we agreed to keep it quiet," she whispered, concerned about her inheritance scheme being exposed. If everyone knew, wouldn't she need to share the unexpected windfall to avoid looking greedy?
"Vincent... you, of all people?" Tom's jaw dropped. He turned to Connor in disbelief. "He's got a wife? Even this madman has a wife! Why am I still single?"
Connor chuckled. "If you want to change your relationship status, tonight's your chance. There are plenty of eligible women here. Just pick one and Vincent can make the introduction."
Tom suddenly looked uncomfortable, running his fingers through his hair. "Nah... I'm not looking for a girlfriend."
"Where's Liam?" Ethan wondered aloud.
"What would he be doing here?" Vincent scoffed.
"I always said fortune's wheel keeps turning," Ethan smirked at Vincent. "Looks like you've fallen for the girl Liam sent to seduce you. Admit it—you've lost this round."
Vincent let out a grudging grunt. He had to concede... this time, Liam had bested him.
"Everyone's having such a good time," a voice cut through the chatter. Lily had entered the ballroom, her eyes turning venomous when she spotted Vincent and Selene.
Selene instinctively shrank behind Vincent, unnerved by Lily's hostile gaze.
Lily clenched her fists and approached them.
Jasmine stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Selene. "Ms. Taylor, I suggest you find another path. You're frightening my sister."
"Selene is your sister?" Lily's eyes narrowed. "How clever, Jasmine. I've lost to you again." Her voice dripped with resentment. "But I won't always be the loser."
Jasmine's smile was ice-cold. "Won't you? People with corrupt intentions never truly win."
Lily cast one more malevolent glance at Vincent and Selene before slinking away.
She had clearly misunderstood the situation, believing Jasmine had planted Selene in Vincent's life to steal him away from her. No matter—what Lily couldn't have, she would destroy.
"Lily's malice runs deep," Jasmine warned Vincent. "Selene isn't equipped to handle her. Keep her close."
Vincent nodded. "I thought the same initially, but Selene has a kind of... innocent immunity. It's surprisingly effective."
Indeed, Selene's timidity worked in her favor. All her cleverness went into self-preservation, making her impossible to bait—she simply wouldn't engage with Lily's provocations.
Throughout the evening, Lily sat nearby, glaring daggers at the couple.
Selene remained glued to Vincent's side like a shadow, never straying more than a step away. An observer might have thought they were attached with industrial-strength adhesive.
Furious, Lily slammed her hand on the table and instructed someone nearby, "Get Vincent away from her."
Surely Selene wouldn't follow him to the men's room?
When several executives cornered Vincent for a discussion, Selene realized she needed the restroom.
"Vincent, I need to use the ladies' room," she whispered.
"Find Jasmine and go together. Be quick," Vincent instructed, unable to break away himself. He caught Jasmine's eye with a pleading look.
Jasmine received his silent message and accompanied Selene.
"Ms. Cunningham, Mr. Douglas needs you," a man approached Jasmine as she waited outside the restroom. "He's injured."
Jasmine leaned against the wall, unfazed. "I'm not a doctor. If he's hurt, he should seek medical attention."
The man was taken aback—this wasn't going according to plan.
Unable to separate Jasmine from Selene, he retreated to await another opportunity.
When Selene emerged, she happily stayed close to Jasmine, alert as a quail watching for predators.
Lily was reaching her breaking point. She'd never encountered anyone like Selene before—wherever Vincent went, Selene followed, and when Vincent was unavailable, she clung to Jasmine instead!
Finally, Jasmine and Ethan were called away for networking, and Vincent remained engaged in business talk.
Exhausted, Selene found a seat in a nearby lounge area.
Lily smiled coldly and seized her chance, sitting beside Selene.
"Let's have a chat, Ms. Patel," Lily suggested with a thin smile.
Selene eyed her warily, covering her mouth as she shook her head. "No, sorry."
She had nothing to discuss—especially not about the inheritance she had no intention of sharing.
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