The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 274

First of all, Xavier wondered how they could get additional seats. The pre-selection dinner hosted by VanderMed Technologies offered only a limited number of slots to each bidding company, but he certainly wanted to see how Walter could make it happen.

“Sure,” he answered with doubt. “Why not?”

“It’s the least I could do for you, Xavier,” Walter said. “My new company is bidding for distribution rights for VanderMed Technologies. If we ever win the bid, it will guarantee my company’s future for the next ten years.”

“The dinner will be held at The Embercrest Grand Hotel at seven in the evening,” he added.

“But there’s a catch,” Cassandra said cautiously. “I hope you don’t mind, Xavier. Most of the attendees of the bid know our family.”

Hudson and Haley nodded.

Christian just stared at his family, listening.

“I - I,” Walter stuttered. “You see, I never wanted your stepmother to feel humiliated. Everyone in the community believes she is my first wife.”

Cassandra nodded.

“So, if it’s okay with you, Xavier, and also since you are carrying your mother’s last name, I would just introduce you as someone I sponsored in college,” Walter said softly.

Xavier fell silent.

Then rage filled his heart.

He wasn’t angry about not being acknowledged. In fact, he didn’t care, but for Walter to suggest that he paid for his college tuition infuriated him.

“No,” Xavier said flatly, his voice turning cold. “I’ll be there, but we can pretend not to know each other. I’d rather there be no connection between us.”

Dead air fell upon them.

Walter’s lips quivered. “Xavier, I did not mean it that way. I was just trying to protect your stepmother’s reputation—”

“That, what?” Xavier asked. “That she is a homewrecker?”

“Xavier!” Walter scolded.

“Don’t be too sensitive, Xavier!” Cassandra scolded. “Walter is still your father.”

“Actually, you don’t get why Xavier is not accepting this,” Alice said. “Why make everyone believe that Walter had sponsored him in college? He did not do anything. He had abandoned Xavier since he was twelve!”

It could not be helped.

The temperature in the room dropped.

The mood changed entirely.

There was no entertainment left for Alice and Xavier to laugh about, so it was definitely time to leave.

“I think we'd better go,” Xavier said, getting up.

He only turned to Christian, saying, “It’s nice to meet you, half-brother.”

Christian nodded. "Likewise, Xavier."

They were about to walk out when Walter asked, “Wait, Xavier, if you are going to make it hard for us, then I’m afraid I can’t get you that extra seat.”

A scoff left Xavier’s lips. He said, “I don’t need your extra seat, Walter.”

Even as Xavier and Alice exited the Reeves’ home, Cassandra chased after them. She was carrying two paper bags. “Wait, Xavier, Hudson prepared these for you. These are his old clothes. If you use them for interviews, it would give you a good impression.”

Xavier turned to Cassandra in disbelief.

He almost laughed, but held back anyway. “You can keep those clothes or donate them. I don’t care.”

He and Alice finally left, hopping into the car that had been arranged for them.

When they returned to their hotel room, doing naughty things was no longer on their minds. Instead, they reported everything that had happened to Serena through a video call.

Their best friend was so furious!

“What? I can’t believe them! How dare they humiliate Xavier like that!” Serena said on the phone. Her voice rang out in the background, “Nathan! Nathan! We should attend the event in Cedar City this Saturday!”

“If we get both opportunities, then we are truly lucky,” Walter said with a smile.

“Either way, this is a great opportunity to be here,” Hudson said, looking around with a glint in his eyes.

But just as they were enjoying the moment, Christian glanced toward the door and said, “Look, Xavier is here.”

All their heads snapped toward the entrance.

Their faces paled, their hearts drumming against their ribcages.

Indeed, Xavier had arrived.

The more surprising thing was that he looked even more commanding, more refined. His tailored suit fit him like a second skin, every line sharp, every detail whispering quiet luxury.

To his left, Alice smiled softly, her lips glossed and curved with effortless charm.

But it was the older woman on Xavier’s right who made Cassandra frown.

The woman’s hand rested lightly on Xavier’s arm, her posture straight, chin lifted with natural elegance.

A strand of diamonds graced her neck, each stone catching the light with every subtle movement. Matching earrings framed her face, drawing attention to her full, perfectly painted lips.

She wasn’t trying to impress anyone, and that made her all the more impossible to ignore.

“Is— is that… Claire?” Walter stuttered.

Seeing Walter’s ex-wife, Cassandra’s heart burned with jealousy.

Not just because Claire was beautiful, but because she carried herself like a woman who had never been replaced.

“What—what are they doing here?” Cassandra asked.

Then realization hit her. Her eyes rounded as she said, “Walter, they are going to humiliate us. They are here to let everyone know about your past!”