Chapter 500

Robert Vance and Richard Evans froze simultaneously.

What did Mr. Valentine mean by that?

Was he deliberately provoking them?

Their faces turned ashen, but they didn't dare disobey.

They could only force themselves to agree. "Alright, let's go take a look."

The three men turned and walked toward the noisy banquet hall.

Preston Valentine and Susan Langley stood frozen in place.

Susan swallowed hard. "Preston, what is your uncle trying to do?"

"Does he think showing them how handsome that boy toy is will make them forgive your sister for cheating?"

Preston was equally confused.

He had seen that boy toy before. The man was exceptionally handsome, more dazzling than a top celebrity.

But what did his uncle want them to see?

Was he preparing to call off the engagement?

He must be...

Preston immediately grabbed Susan's hand and followed them.

Evelyn Ross had already reached the center of the crowd.

She saw Alexander Vance standing at the entrance, his expression dark.

Penelope Valentine was pointing at him and shouting angrily. "You boy toy, get out of here now!"

"Don't you dare ruin Mr. Vance's birthday gala!"

Guests around them whispered among themselves.

"The Valentines are going too far. How could they bring a boy toy to Mr. Vance's birthday gala?"

"They're completely disregarding the Vances!"

"Will the Vances just take this? This is a huge humiliation!"

"The Valentines are powerful. The Vances probably don't dare to offend them easily."

"But they're the richest family in San Francisco. They can't just let the Valentines humiliate them like this..."

"This Ms. Valentine has no class. Keeping a boy toy in private is one thing, but bringing him out in public?"

"I heard Mr. Vance loved his first wife deeply. Ms. Valentine was also hurt by his first wife."

"Their marriage is just a business alliance. But she still shouldn't be so brazen!"

"She has no shame!"

Amid the accusations, Evelyn walked forward and raised an eyebrow. "Why aren't you coming in?"

With Alexander Vance's status, these people couldn't possibly stop him.

Alexander glanced coldly at Penelope. "I was waiting for you to come get me."

Evelyn almost laughed.

Penelope immediately shrieked. "Grace, have you no shame? You've disgraced the entire Valentine family!"

"If you dare let him in, the Vances will not let this go!"

Evelyn extended her hand to Alexander. "Then step through this door. Let's see what the Vances dare to do."

Alexander took her hand, the corner of his mouth lifting. "I wouldn't dare."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "That's more like it."

Penelope trembled with rage. "What are you two doing?"

Ethan Valentine rushed over. "Little sister, this really isn't the right occasion."

"Let me take your friend out for a walk first? I promise I'll treat him well!"

Evelyn shook her head. "No need."

Ethan was almost frantic with worry. "Little sister, you don't understand."

"I heard that Alexander Vance is extremely formidable. Even Uncle is cautious around him."

"He learned martial arts from Uncle. What if he shows up later and beats up your friend..."

Evelyn didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Alexander struggled to suppress a smile.

Penelope said angrily, "You're still laughing? You think this is funny?"

Charles Valentine suddenly had an epiphany. "I get it now!"

Ethan asked urgently, "Get what?"

"Little sister is here to call off the engagement, right?"

Ethan froze.

Penelope's eyes lit up. "Is that it? Then you should explain it properly to Mr. Vance. Maybe he'll understand."

"But the alliance between the Valentine and Vance families can't be broken..."

This way, she would have a chance!

Penelope was still scheming when a loud voice interrupted. "Who wants to call off the engagement?"

The crowd automatically parted.

Mr. Valentine walked over with the Vance family's patriarch and Richard Evans.

Richard spoke as he walked. "Mr. Valentine, if you're here to call off the engagement, we can discuss it."

"Since both children have someone else in their hearts, there's no need to force them together..."

Robert Vance nodded repeatedly. "Yes, there's no need."

Mr. Valentine scoffed. "The Valentines are not calling off the engagement."

Their expressions immediately darkened.

Robert said angrily, "Mr. Valentine, if you're not calling off the engagement, why did you let your daughter bring a boy toy to provoke us?"

"This is going too far!"

Richard immediately chimed in. "That's right! Bullying North like this? The Vances will not stand for it!"

"You must give us an explanation today! No matter how powerful the Valentines are, you still have to be reasonable, right?"

"Everyone, don't you agree?"

The three men made their way to the front of the crowd.

Penelope spoke first. "Uncle, since little sister and this boy toy are in love, why not cancel her engagement with Mr. Vance?"

Mr. Valentine looked at her deeply. "So you can represent the Valentines and marry into the family?"

Penelope quickly nodded. "I can do it. The Valentines have raised me for so many years. It's only right that I marry for the family's alliance..."

Mr. Valentine sneered. "You? Are you worthy?"

Penelope's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Being kicked out of the Valentine family hadn't been this humiliating.

Mr. Valentine's single sentence made her want to crawl into a hole.

She pointed angrily at Evelyn. "Then is she worthy? Old Mr. Vance, Mr. Richard Evans, look at her!"

"Bringing a boy toy to provoke you like this. Can the Vances really tolerate this?"

Richard followed her pointing finger.

He saw Alexander and Evelyn standing together like a perfect couple.

He was completely stunned.

Robert was also dumbfounded. "Boy toy?"

"Yes, it's him!"

As soon as Penelope finished speaking, the "boy toy" she referred to stepped forward.

Alexander's face was dark. "This farce has gone on long enough!"

"Someone, throw this troublemaking woman out!"

Penelope was incredulous. "What did you say? How dare you throw me out?"

"Who do you think you are? How dare you cause trouble at the Vances!"

Before she could finish, Thomas Watson immediately stepped up to Alexander and bowed. "Yes, Mr. Vance!"

Penelope was completely bewildered.

She stared at Alexander in disbelief. "You... you are..."

Alexander's gaze swept over Ethan Valentine and Charles Valentine.

Finally, it landed on Mr. Valentine. "Uncle, thank you for taking the time to attend my birthday gala."