Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 434

Ethan had no choice but to adjust his numbers. He took a deep breath, suppressing the overwhelming urge to drag them out himself, and turned to two of his executives. "You two head back. Find out exactly who bypassed my orders to print entry passes for my mother and Mara."

"Understood, Boss."

Dismissing them, Ethan strode directly toward the Mercer family's seats.

He glared coldly at Lacey. "Be smart and take that thing home right now."

Lacey nearly choked on a surge of blood. Was this really the son she had painstakingly raised and groomed? But surrounded by Melvion City's elite, she refused to make a scene and become the day's laughingstock. She would settle the score behind closed doors.

For now, there was no way she was leaving with Mara.

Shortly after, Shane Porter and Roxanne arrived with their entourage. Roxanne's gaze swept the room and instantly locked onto Mara.

"Dad, what is she doing here?"

Shane glanced toward the Mercer section. "No idea. We didn't give her any orders for today."

Roxanne glared at the back of Mara's head. "She's an embarrassment. Why is she even showing her face?"

She could already hear the whispers rippling through the rows behind them.

"What's going on? The Mercers and the Porters are all here after the scandal last time. Are they going to throw down, or is there more drama brewing?"

"Hard to say. They might pull some dirty tricks again. If you want a good show, keep your eyes on the two heiresses."

But there was nothing Roxanne could do to kick Mara out.

During the intermission, Lacey turned to Mara. "Sweetheart, you've seen what you wanted to see. Why don't we head home now?"

"But Mom, I haven't seen the final announcements yet! Can we just stay until the end? Please?"

It was already halfway through the event, and she still hadn't managed to swap the bidding proposal. Porter Entertainment needed it for the second half. She was running out of time.

Lacey reluctantly agreed. They were already there; staying a little longer wouldn't hurt.

Mara watched like a hawk and finally saw her opening when Ethan left for the restroom.

"No 'buts.' This proposal belongs to the Mercer family. Even if she ruins it, it's our problem, not yours."

The implication was clear: a mere secretary had no right to deny her daughter anything.

"Fine."

The secretary figured she would just look at it for a second. With the matriarch sitting right there, she couldn't possibly steal it.

Mara took the folder. On the surface, she flipped through it calmly, but her heart was hammering against her ribs. She kept the secretary in her peripheral vision.

The moment Lacey spoke to the secretary, drawing his attention away, Mara moved with lightning speed. She pulled the fake proposal from her bag, swapped it with the real one, and shoved the authentic document deep into her purse.

She handed the decoy back. "I'm done. Thank you."

The secretary took it and tucked it securely under his arm.

Mara's eyes immediately darted toward the Porter delegation.