The Rebirth of a Scorned Heiress

The day for Chairman Watson’s birthday finally arrived, with dignitaries from all parts of the country gathered in the Watson family mansion.

The atmosphere at the Watson family mansion was electric, filled with an air of excitement and anticipation as the banquet attendees stood around in groups while conversing on topics of interest. Mostly business amongst the men and latest designer products amongst the women.

The grand estate was adorned with breathtaking sets of decorations, transforming the already extravagant setting into a mesmerising spectacle of light and colour.

The murmuring crowds quietened as Mark stepped into the banquet hall with a beautiful lady on his arm. They were both dressed so exquisitely that they instantly became the centre of attention.

Mark donned a perfectly tailored tuxedo, accentuating his strong physique, while his companion was draped in an elegant, figure-hugging gown that shimmered in the soft lighting.

Once again, whispers and murmurs erupted in the room as people began to wonder who his date from the night was.

“Who is that? The face looks familiar, but I just can’t place it.”

“Oh, I also feel that way; is she one of those daughters staying abroad?”

“Could be. I did hear some families are bringing in their marriageable daughters back into the country to have them go on blind dates.”

“She’s not! I remember her!”

“Who is she, then?”

“She’s the winner of the national competitions! That’s Lily, the CEO of Lily’s Fashion!”

“Oh my goodness! She looks so good!”

“Is that one of her designs? I love the shape of the dress; I should have someone get it for me.”

“Don’t even think about it. Right now, they are no longer taking orders due to the overload. You’ll have to wait a bit longer to get a new order placed.”

“Well, they can just expand their team, can’t they?”

“They are doing so, but they are still a start-up business anyway. I heard she’s going to be working on a project with the French designer Bryan Roux.”

“No way! That picky designer wants to work with her. Bryan Roux wants to work with a newbie designer. That’s a first!”Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

“Of course! There was an official statement from the Roux team about it. They’ll be working on the costumes for the autumn festival, and that will be their debut in the local market!

“And now that she’s seen with Mark Watson, her worth will only skyrocket! I also heard Avon will be on her team this time.”

“But how did you think they met? According to the narrative, she’s poor.”

“She attends the same school as Celina. And you know how close Celina and Mark are.”

Lily smiled politely at those who greeted her as she walked beside Mark. “Our appearance seems to have caught more attention than we were hoping,” she whispered, and Mark chuckled.

“You don’t like being the centre of attention?” He replied equally in a whisper, and Lily shrugged.

“Oh, I got used to it,” she replied. “I’ve been in a situation where I once hosted a loud banquet like this before,” she added, and Mark raised a brow.

Before he could ask further questions, a business partner walked up to him.

“You command attention just as you’ve always done,” Jayden, one of Mark’s friends and closest business partner, greeted as they shook hands.

“Jayden, it’s good to see you,” Mark replied warmly, patting his friend on the shoulder. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss Chairman Watson’s birthday for anything. Plus, I was eager to discuss something with you, not knowing I’d meet the woman who has captured my friend’s heart,” Jayden said with a knowing smile, turning his attention to Lily.

Lily blushed slightly but maintained her composure, extending her hand in greeting. “Lily Turner, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Jayden took her hand and pressed a polite kiss on her knuckles. “The pleasure is all mine, Lily. Mark has spoken highly of you, and I can see that his praise was well-deserved.”

As they conversed, Mark and Lily shared a meaningful glance, both aware of the curiosity that their relationship had sparked amongst their friends and acquaintances.

Mark had always been private about his personal life, so his public appearance with Lily had undoubtedly set tongues wagging.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must go and greet some other guests,” Jayden said, giving Mark a friendly nod before turning to Lily. “I do hope we have the opportunity to speak again tonight, Lily. I’m fascinated to hear more about your work in the fashion industry.”

“I’d be delighted, Jayden. I look forward to it,” Lily replied with a charming smile.

As Jayden disappeared into the crowd, Mark leaned closer to Lily. “You seem to have made quite the impression on my friend.”

Lily laughed softly. “It’s all part of the package. I’m just worried your grandfather would be mad when he finds out this isn’t real,” she breathed out, and Mark hummed as he led her towards his grandfather, who was talking with some older men.

“Oh, Mark! You are here already; come say hello to Mr. DiGiovanni and Mr. Adarsh. They were the business tycoons of our age,” Chairman Watson introduced as he dragged the young couple into the group.

Mark greeted both Mr. DiGiovanni and Mr. Adarsh with a warm smile and firm handshakes. Lily, following Mark’s lead, extended her hand in greeting as well, impressing the older gentlemen with her grace and charm.

“It’s an honour to meet you both,” Mark said, his voice conveying genuine respect. “Your contributions to the business world have been truly inspirational, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from your experiences.”

Mr. DiGiovanni, an Italian man with a thick accent, smiled broadly as he took Mark’s hands in his.

“Ah, Mark, it is good to see you taking up the mantle of the family business with such enthusiasm and dedication. And with such a lovely companion by your side.” He gave Lily an appreciative nod, which she returned with a polite smile.

“Yes, we have watched you grow and prosper over the years, and it brings us joy to see the next generation of leaders emerge.” Turning to Lily, he continued, “And you, young lady, must be a remarkable influence on this young man’s life. It is a pleasure to meet you both.”

Chairman Watson beamed with pride as he watched the exchange, clearly pleased to see Mark connecting with the distinguished guests. Mark and Lily both basked in the warmth of the older men’s approval, their connection growing stronger in the face of the glowing praise.

Seeing Mark engaged in a conversation with the older men, Chairman Watson pulled Lily to his side with a bright smile.

“You must be Lily Turner; I had to threaten my grandson before I could meet you.”

“I’m glad I could meet you, Chairman Watson. You’ve always been an inspiration to us younglings.” Lily smiled as he held her hands in his.

“Call me Grandpa; don’t be uptight like him.” He nudged her playfully while pulling her up to greet other guests.

From the smiles on their faces, the banquet attendees could tell that the two were quickly forming a bond, and Chairman Watson was very satisfied with Lily.

While others were scheming ways to get close to Lily, a certain lady at the corner of the hall was seething with anger while glaring at Lily with hatred.

She scoffed and turned to the man standing beside her. “Find out everything about that gold digger for me.” She gritted out. “I mean everything!”