Everyone will think Elisa and I got married again.
Once the news reaches Grandma, the pretense will turn into something real!
Elisa felt the urge to pinch Gareth as she watched him silently sit there. Look at this scoundrel! He's so good at acting and scheming against others!
However, she remembered that Gareth's wounds had not wholly recovered. She suppressed her anger and resisted pinching him.
"I want to rest. You are free to leave to socialize…"
"Everyone, I have an announcement."
The voice of a middle-aged woman sounded nearby and interrupted Elisa midsentence.
Elisa looked up and saw an elegant older woman in a green dress walking onto the stage.
She held a microphone and faced the crowd below. "Thank you, everyone, for coming here tonight. I hope you all have a good evening. Let me introduce my long-lost daughter, Melinda Garner. I'm proud to announce that she will enter Garner Group as an intern. There will be more chances for her to meet you all as she gets more involved in the business. I ask for everyone to be kind to her and guide her."
A young woman in a purple dress stepped forward as the older woman spoke.
The stage lights shone on her. She had long chestnut wavy hair and snow-white skin. She looked like an exquisite porcelain doll.
Furthermore, her eyes…
They looked familiar to Elisa somehow.
"Do you know Mrs. Garner's long-lost daughter?"
Gareth could not help but ask as he noticed Elisa staring at Melinda and would not look away.
Elisa shook her head and snorted. "Are you sure you don't know her? She's your former lover, after all."
Her tone carried a hint of mockery.
Gareth's expression darkened. He pursed his lips and did not speak.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Garner gave a brief speech on stage as she introduced Melinda. Then, Melinda talked about herself and how she suffered in the years she was missing. She and Mrs. Garner also brought up their charity project.
In a show of gratefulness for their reunion, they announced they would donate fifty million to mountainous communities and orphanages.
Melinda said, "From now on, I will focus on the plight of children in poverty and set up a charity fund for them. Everyone here is welcome to contribute and help out."
This banquet was not only to introduce Melinda to the world. It was also to create a sweet and charitable image for her.
Everyone at the banquet complimented Melinda for her charitable deeds.
However, Elisa found it ironic.
She knew Melinda was Linda from her voice.
What kind of person was Linda?
Well, one could say that there was nothing sweet or charitable about her.
After the introductions, Mrs. Arden brought Melinda around to greet the guests.
Linda came to Gareth with a glass of wine in her hand. Mrs. Arden introduced, "Melinda, he is Mr. Wickam. Our family collaborates with him on a major project."
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