Chapter 18: Chapter 18 - Bold Declaration
I stood there in my black suit, a shy smile crossing my face. The formal attire made me look somewhat handsome, a change from my usual appearance. Never before had I participated in such a grand event. Having spent my entire life in the lower echelons of society, being the center of attention felt utterly foreign to me. Nervousness threatened to overwhelm me as all eyes focused on my presence.
Then my gaze met Mabel Sean’s, and confidence instantly flooded my heart. Her encouraging look became my source of strength in that moment. I walked quickly toward her, soon finding myself standing directly in front of her elegant figure.
Brief silence blanketed the crowd before whispers rippled through the gathering like waves on a disturbed pond.
"Mason Raymond? I’ve never heard of such a person."
"Who is he? Are there any Raymond families in River City?"
"Not just River City, but even in Chuzzle, there seems to be none!"
Harvey Brown’s face turned ghostly pale. His lips trembled as he whispered, "How... How is this possible... How is this possible!"
"Why should this piece of trash!" Lyla Lucas clenched her fists, her face contorted with resentment. The very person she once despised had suddenly become an honored guest of the Sean family! This dealt an undoubtedly massive blow to Lyla’s ego.
The spotlight still hadn’t moved away from Harvey Brown, making him look like a pathetic clown caught in an unwanted performance. Mabel had clearly orchestrated this to humiliate him.
"It’s over, it’s all over..." Harvey’s face displayed pure pain and horror, appearing exceptionally ridiculous under the harsh spotlight.
While everyone continued their hushed discussions, an astonishing scene unfolded before them. Mabel Sean approached me, stood on her tiptoes, and playfully patted my head.
"Silly boy, you didn’t even fix your clothes properly, you’re really making people worry," Mabel said with a hint of playfulness in her voice.
Then, with everyone watching, she personally helped straighten my clothes. Her demeanor contrasted completely with her usual aloof image.
The crowd collectively gasped. Who on earth was I that the proud Sean family princess would lower herself to help fix my attire?
"It’s over, it’s over..." Harvey Brown finally collapsed, falling to the ground with a heavy thud.
I felt somewhat shy standing on stage with all this attention.
I whispered to Mabel, "Is this really okay in front of so many people?"
"What’s wrong with it?" Mabel Sean rolled her eyes at me.
"Be more confident. Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, no one will dare to look down on you or disrespect you," Mabel said softly.
Her voice was quiet, yet somehow it reached everyone’s ears in the venue.
I took a deep breath and replied firmly, "Okay, I understand!"
The venue fell silent, but I could sense everyone’s hearts stirring with shock and curiosity. Their doubts about my identity only seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
"Do you want to say something?" Mabel whispered in my ear.
My expression faltered as nervousness crept back in.
"It’s okay if you don’t want to talk," Mabel smiled, offering comfort when she noticed my hesitation.
"No." I took another deep breath, grabbed the microphone from her hand, and declared, "I will never let you down." My tone came out firm and resolute.
Mabel looked at me with surprise, her large eyes filling with delight.
I held the microphone firmly and faced the crowd. Standing before these upper-class elites, I struggled to maintain my composure.
With another calming breath, I slowly said, "I know you don’t know me, and before this, I was just a nobody, even worthless."
"But in no time at all, the name Mason Raymond will be well-known!"
"That’s all I have to say."
I handed the microphone back to Mabel Sean.
Deathly silence descended upon the venue. Some people looked suspicious, others wore sneers, while a few seemed willing to give me the benefit of doubt.
"Well said, I believe in you!" Just as the awkward moment threatened to stretch too long, Mabel suddenly spoke up.
"Right...Yes, well said! We also believe in you!"
"That’s right! Mr. Raymond will definitely achieve great things!"
The crowd began shouting encouragement, followed by thunderous applause.
I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. The reality was clear to me – these people weren’t actually believing in my words. They simply didn’t dare to offend Mabel Sean.
"Hmph, all he knows is boasting," Lyla sneered from somewhere in the crowd.
This time, even the people around Lyla seemed somewhat unhappy with her comment.
"It seems you have a strong desire to perform. Why not come up and say a few words?" Mabel suddenly fixed Lyla with a cold stare.
