The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 91

The crowd fell silent.

The the grand doors of the banquet hall swung open, and Miles Zimmerman stepped inside.

Dressed in a sharply tailored black suit, his towering presence and sharply defined features immediately commanded the room.

Gasps and hushed whispers of admiration rippled through the guests.

"Miles Zimmerman? The Zimmerman Heir! How did the Vanderbilt family manage to invite him?"

"Mr. Zimmerman, it was an honor meeting you at Central General Hospital last time."

"He seems to have come alone tonight."

...

Miles's voice was impeccably smooth. "My grandfather hasn't been feeling well lately, so he sent me to offer his congratulations in his stead."

His words were brief, but his mere presence was the ultimate show of respect.

Otis Vanderbilt beamed with pride. "Thank you, thank you so much..."

Having a Zimmerman at their celebration elevated the modest Vanderbilt family's status in Empire City overnight.

Claire Jenner's heart sank the moment she saw him.

Running into Jefferson Sterling at an event like this wouldn't have surprised her.

But Miles? Why would he suddenly attend a corporate gala?

Her luck couldn't possibly get any worse.

Claire tried to subtly step back, but Nathan Langford's hand clamped down on her wrist like a vice, his grip painful.

"You better play your part perfectly tonight," Nathan hissed under his breath. "That's the heir to the Zimmerman empire. Our family is dying to secure a partnership with them."

"If you ruin this for me, I swear I'll make you pay."

Miles's gaze swept over the crowd and landed on her.

It was a fleeting, icy glance devoid of any emotion.

Nathan plastered on an eager smile and stepped forward, extending his hand. "Mr. Zimmerman, I'm Nathan Langford from Langford Construction Materials. It's an absolute honor to cross paths with you tonight."

Miles didn't take the offered hand, offering only a curt nod in acknowledgment.

Nathan pulled his hand back awkwardly but refused to give up.

He quickly gestured beside him. "Mr. Zimmerman, this is my... girlfriend, Claire Jenner."

Girlfriend.

The word grated against Claire's ears, sending a sharp ache through her chest.

Now, there was absolutely no way she could ever explain the truth to him.

Girlfriend?

Just yesterday, she had been straddling his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, whispering his name until he lost all reason.

And now, knowing her mother's kidney transplant was secured, she could simply turn around and stand beside another man as if nothing had happened?

If they weren't at a public gala, if he didn't still possess a shred of mercy to leave her with her dignity...

He would have dragged her out right then and there to demand if she even had a heart.

Even a stray dog would show some affection after being cared for that long.

How could she so flawlessly move on to her next target?

What was she trying to extract from Nathan this time?

Money? A lucrative contract?

Nathan glared at Miles's retreating back, muttering a string of curses. "Pretentious jerk. He's just a doctor who got lucky with a rich daddy—Ah!"

"What the hell is wrong with you, Claire? Why did you step on me?"

Frustrated by the failed networking attempt and feeling utterly humiliated, Nathan's temper flared.

As the banquet neared its end, the combination of free-flowing alcohol and rowdy cheers turned the atmosphere wild and chaotic.