The Hidden Heir's Stunning Revenge

Chapter 4

Harrison rode an e-bike to the dazzling entrance of the grand hall where the banquet is being held. He dismounted and locked the bike, feeling the curious stares of arriving guest in their luxury cars.

As he straightened his button-down shirt, his gaze landed on the familiar figure stepping out of a black sedan.

Mia? A smile curled up on his lips.

She wore a flowing yellow dress, perfectly complimenting her fair skin and making her dark hair glow. He couldn’t resist the urge to greet her. He walked straight toward her.

“Mia,” he called gently.                                                     

She turned, and her worried expression softened as they greeted each other.

While they were acknowledging each other, Janet appeared, her arm linked with David, who wore a tailored suit. Janet’s elegant black gown hugged her figure flawlessly, but her face twisted with ugly disbelief the second she spotted Harrison.

“What are you doing here?” Janet demanded. Her eyes scrutinized over his modest outfit with disgust, lips curling in contempt.

 “I’m here for work.” Harrison replied, keeping his tone even, refusing to let her see how much she still affected him.

Janet scoffed, letting out a disbelieving laugh and flipped her hair back dramatically, “Work? Please. You’re still not over me, are you?” Her voice rose, drawing more attention. “Following me all the way here like some pathetic, clingy ex. How low can you go?” She accused him,

The word stung, reopening the fresh wound from earlier. Harrison’s jaw tightened, but he held his ground. “I came here for legitimate work. It has nothing to do with you.”

“You came here for work on an e-bike?” she glanced at his bike with mocking laughter before turning her gaze to him. “Are you working as a waiter now?”

David smirked beside her, eyeing Harrison from head to toe with lazy arrogance. “Even the waiters here need to go through rigorous screening. You wouldn’t even pass the initial selection,” he dragged his eyes slowly from Harrison’s hair to his shoes. “That outfit makes you look like a beggar who wondered in off the street. Although… I suppose I could put in a word with the manager. Get you a tray and a bow tie, it might suit you.”

Harrison’s hand clenched at his sides, anger coursed under his calm exterior. He refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing him break. “No, thanks.” he said coldly. “I really am here for work.”

Janet crossed her arms, her posture haughty. “David is being generous, and you’re still acting superior?” Her mouth pressed into a cruel, hard line. “This banquet is only for the city’s dignitaries and celebrities, people who actually matter. There’s no place for a poor student like you.”

Janet finally glanced at the lady standing next to Harrison, and recognition dawned at her face, followed by a venomous smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She had always burned with jealousy at how Mia turned heads at every family gathering.

“Well, well…look who we have here…” Janet drawled, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. She tossed her hair again, savoring the moment. “Torres Enterprise is about to go under, and you still have the mood to be out eating and drinking and having fun.” She scoffed. “I heard your family threw you at Mr. Bryan to save the company. What happened? Plan didn’t work out, so now you’re trying your luck seducing someone new?”  \

David’s eyes lingered on Mia with blatant lust, his smirk deepening.  How the hell did Harrison land someone this beautiful after Janet dumped him?

Harrison’s brows creased in protective anger. Before Mia could respond, he stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of her. “Funny how I keep hearing dogs barking at an event like this,” he said coldly, his voice carrying clear authority.

He reached back and slid his arm around Mia’s waist, pulling her close in deliberate protective gesture. “She’s here with me, what does it have to do with you that I’m attending the banquet with my girlfriend?”

Mia’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden contact, but she didn’t pull away. Janet’s face twisted with jealousy at the sight of them together, her nails digging into her palms. 

“A disfavored, poor young lady like you really thinks she can climb the social ladder by seducing people.” she taunted, voice rising. “Pathetic. I’d love to see you actually get into this banquet today. This isn’t a place you can enter just by smiling at people a couple of times.”

Harrison’s lips curled up into a confident smirk. He glanced at Mia, then met Janet’s gaze head-on. “Fine, let’s make this interesting. Whoever can’t get into the banquet tonight will kneel right here at the entrance and apologize publicly.”

Mia’s brows creased with deep concern. Anxiety clouded her feature as she leaned closer to him. “Harrison, don’t say that,” she whispered urgently, her voice trembling. “We might not even get in.”

Harrison turned to her, noticing the genuine fear in her eyes and the crease between her brows. His expression softened instantly. He gave her hand a tender squeeze, his thumb brushing reassuringly over her knuckles. “Trust me.” he whispered back, his voice low. “I’ve got this.”

More onlookers gathered, wondering what was going on.

David’s lips curled up into a sneer, puffing out his chest. “Janet is one of the city’s top ten renowned female entrepreneurs. She gets more invitations to various banquets than she can attend. There’s no way she won’t get in.” Janet nodded smugly in agreement.

Janet rolled her eyes at Harrison and accepted the bet with a vicious smile. “Let’s see who gets in and who doesn’t.” She sneered at the security guards. “Strictly check this lady thoroughly. I doubt she even has an invitation.”

The guards immediately blocked Mia, demanding to see her card.

Harrison’s expression hardened. He gently squeezed Mia’s waist again before stepping forward again. “You haven’t even checked anyone else’s invitation. Why single her out? Or is this how you treat guest who doesn’t meet your personal standard?”

Janet’s lips drew back in a sneer. “I’m a regular at this banquet hall. How could I be the same as you poor people?” She narrowed her gaze. “But since you asked, I’ll be gracious and show you.” Janet handed a golden invitation card to the security guard.

The guard glanced at it briefly and nodded. “It’s genuine, welcome, Miss Janet.” He handed it back to Janet and turned to Mia. “Produce your invitation.” He demanded.

Janet turned back to Mia with cruel triumph. “You’ve been awfully quiet, Mia, you must be feeling guilty because you can’t produce an invitation, right?”

Mia’s face paled, anxiety twisting her stomach. When Harrison calmly took out a silver-grey invitation from his pocket and handed it to the guard, her heart sank further. He wouldn’t use a fake one… would he? The thought made her stomach churn with worry.

The guard barely glanced at it before sneering, “Sir, this invitation of yours is invalid. I’ve never seen anything like it. Get lost before you disturb real guests.”

Janet and David burst into loud, mocking laughter. Janet gave a theatrical little wave, mouthing get lost with exaggerated delight.

Mia leaned close again, her voice barely a whisper. “Maybe we should just leave… this isn’t worth it.”

Harrison noticed the fear on her face and gave her hand another reassuring squeeze. “Trust me.” he whispered.

He turned to the guard with a frown. “Are you sure you’re familiar with all types of invitations?” He asked the guard.

The guard laughed mockingly. “This is definitely fake, get lost now.”

Janet snickered. “You should listen to the guard and leave, don’t make more fool out of yourself….”

“Wait a moment,” a woman in business attire strode over, her presence commanded immediate silence. Everyone turned their gaze in her direction.