Chapter 651 Public Declaration

The banquet hall erupted into a buzz of excitement as the elevator doors slid open, revealing Chandler stepping out.

In Kingsdom, everyone knew who he was. Over the past couple of years, he had become a staple in financial news, often labeled by the media as the heir to the Aniston family or a rising business mogul. Yet, he never participated in interviews, which only added to his air of mystery. For someone as busy as Chandler, getting a chance to meet him was a rare opportunity – one that usually required waiting in line for at least a week. No one expected him to suddenly appear at this casual class reunion.

“Oh my God, he’s even better looking in person!”

“Look at those legs! Is it true that all the Aniston men are this handsome?”

“What a shame he’s already married! Guess we’re all out of luck!”

“Wake up! Even if he weren’t married, he wouldn’t be in your league. You’d never even get a chance to meet him.”

“I heard he’s not into women at all. Why the sudden flash marriage? Meryl really hit the jackpot!”

The crowd that had been fawning over Dalton quickly shifted their attention. With Chandler’s arrival, they left Dalton behind without a second thought.

Dalton, who had ventured out on his own to pursue entrepreneurship, and Chandler, who was the undeniable heir to Galaxy Holdings Group with real authority in his grasp, presented a clear contrast. In this situation, even a fool would know which path to take.

Dalton felt a jolt of surprise as he noticed everyone abandoning him, leaving him alone in the spotlight. The stark change left him feeling a deep sense of disappointment. But despite his discomfort, he knew he had to greet his uncle.

“Uncle Chandler!” Dalton called out, standing up.

“Hmm,” Chandler replied, his attention already drawn by the throng of people eager to hand him their business cards.

Dalton carefully accepted each one.

People had assumed that someone like Chandler would be hard to approach, but to their surprise, he was surprisingly down-to-earth tonight. Rumors had circulated that he was all business and rarely smiled, but tonight seemed different.

Perhaps it was all for Meryl’s sake; after all, as her husband, he wouldn’t want to put on airs in front of her old classmates. However, when they recalled how Dalton had been acting earlier, dismissing everyone who tried to toast him, it painted a stark contrast. The crowd couldn’t help but think, “There’s no competition here!”

“Mr. Aniston, why didn’t you let us know you were coming? I would’ve sent someone to fetch you!” Laird, a sharp-witted guy, chimed in as he fished a pack of cigarettes from his pocket to offer Chandler.

Chandler politely waved him off. “I quit smoking ages ago. My wife is pregnant, and I’m not going back to it.”

A hush fell over the crowd. They mused, “Wow, Chandler really dotes on his wife! Who knew he was like this behind the scenes?”

As Chandler approached Meryl, he gently wrapped an arm around her shoulder, smiling at everyone.

“No need to be formal, everyone. Just enjoy yourselves.”

Then, turning to Meryl, he added softly, “It’s getting chilly. Aren’t you going to put on something warmer?”

He began to take off his suit jacket to drape it over her shoulders.

Meryl pressed a hand to his chest. “I’m fine, really. They have the heat on in here.”

Chandler frowned slightly, squeezing her hand. “Your hands are so cold, huh?” He casually took the glass from her hand. “This water is cold; you shouldn’t drink it.”

Watching the scene unfold, Lydia instinctively clenched her fists. She had been so pleased when Meryl picked up the glass of water she had spiked, but now, just as Meryl was about to take a sip, Chandler showed up out of nowhere! The glass was set back down on the bar, and Lydia quickly plotted to discreetly dispose of it later, hoping no one would notice and leave her with a damning piece of evidence.

Meanwhile, as Chandler showered Meryl with attention, the other women in the room looked on with envy. Who wouldn’t want a husband who was not only handsome but also wealthy and talented, with his heart clearly devoted solely to her? They thought Meryl had truly hit the jackpot.

One of the classmates whispered, “Meryl, you’re so lucky to be married to Mr. Aniston.”

Chandler caught the comment and smiled down at Meryl, his gaze softening. “No, it’s me who’s lucky to have such a wonderful wife like Meryl.”

With that, he turned slightly, casting a sidelong glance at Dalton. “Right, Dalton?”

Dalton felt as if an invisible hand had clutched his heart, leaving him feeling rigid and exposed. Suddenly, his very existence felt absurd. He mused, “Chandler’s calling me out. If I hadn’t been such a fool, Meryl would never have married him.”

The whispers in the crowd grew louder as people began to connect the dots regarding the tangled history between the three of them. A few classmates, oblivious to the backstory, were given a quick rundown by others, pointing and murmuring.

Tonight’s gathering was turning into a nightmare for Dalton, and he could feel his face burning with embarrassment. He couldn’t help but feel that Lydia was utterly despicable.

Chandler’s gaze remained fixed on him, forcing Dalton to respond.

“Uncle Chandler, you and Aunt Meryl are truly a match made in heaven.” Though the words felt like poison on his tongue, he plastered on a forced smile in front of the crowd.

Chandler seemed pleased with his response, giving Dalton’s shoulder a friendly pat. “Well said! I reviewed the partnership proposal you sent over a couple of days ago. I’ll have my assistant set up a time for us to discuss it in detail.”

Dalton had been working on his startup and had submitted a collaboration proposal to Chandler, but it had been a month without a response. Each time he mustered the courage to ask, Chandler would brush him off, citing a backlog of paperwork. Dalton had felt too awkward to push further.

He mused, “Looks like Uncle Chandler was waiting for me to make a public declaration…”