Chapter 144: The Cracking Facade
The Vanderbilt ancestral mansion stood majestically beneath the night sky, glowing with warm golden lights that transformed it into a vision of grandeur.
Its sprawling stone facade, towering windows, and exquisite European architecture reflected generations of wealth and prestige. A long driveway lined with perfectly sculpted hedges and soft lights led to the grand entrance, while vast gardens and woodlands stretched beyond the estate.
Tonight, illuminated against the darkness, the mansion looked less like a home and more like a royal palace prepared for a fairy-tale celebration.
As the luxury cars rolled into the driveway one after another, guests stepped out dressed to impress. They knew the immense importance and high-stakes nature of the occasion, wanting to put on their best masks of civility in order to form connections and attract the attention of the hosts, who already sat at the absolute pinnacle of success.
While some guests sought to build alliances and deepen corporate ties, others were there purely to enjoy the rare privilege of being invited to the grand mansion after so long.
They eagerly hunted for gossip, given the sudden nature of the heiress tying the knot with the city’s most eligible bachelor, especially following the recent scandal that had surfaced surrounding Jacob Grant, the acting CEO. Everyone watched with razor-sharp eyes, desperate to catch anything amiss behind the scenes to see if there was any truth to the rumours.
After all, this was the world of the elite, where the absence of proof never meant an absence of scandal.
Holding fast to that belief, the guests continued to mingle within their familiar circles after greeting Alester and Portia, who were personally receiving everyone at the entrance as the crowd continued to pour in.
Eyes scanned the grand ballroom restlessly to catch a glimpse of their daughter and her incredibly desirable groom-to-be, both of whom were currently missing from the floor.
Naturally, many in attendance were deeply unhappy with the union.
Two of the world’s most coveted catches were being taken off the market simultaneously before anyone else could even make a move.
The vast wealth concentrated under Aliana and Gavriel was something most could only dream of possessing. But more than mere wealth, it was about the brand. To be associated with either of their surnames alone could open tremendous avenues, securing business deals that would otherwise be impossible.
That was the staggering weight behind those two names.
As the hours slipped by, Portia continued greeting guests with the same elegant smile she had worn all evening.
However, the moment another conversation ended, she leaned closer to her husband and quietly asked, "Don’t you think they’re taking a bit too long? Most of the guests are already here."
Alester’s gaze swept across the increasingly crowded entrance. Truthfully, he had begun wondering the same thing.
Turning slightly, he looked towards his assistant, James, who stood attentively behind him. The man immediately understood the silent question.
"They should be here any minute, sir. I spoke to Nigel not too long ago," James replied.
Alester gave a small nod, though the faint crease between his brows remained.
Just then, another luxury car rolled to a stop before the mansion. The arrival instantly drew their attention.
A familiar figure stepped out first.
Dressed in a crisp, perfectly tailored suit, Jacob Grant straightened his jacket before making his way around the vehicle. Reaching the opposite side, he opened the passenger door and extended his hand.
A delicate manicured hand slipped into his. Moments later, a beautiful woman stepped out.
Sharp black heels touched the ground first, followed by the graceful figure of a woman dressed in an elegant black evening gown. Her blonde hair cascaded freely over her shoulders, while striking violet eyes and delicate features gave her an almost innocent beauty that contrasted with the sophistication she carried herself with.
Offering Jacob a warm smile, she slipped her arm through his before the pair began making their way towards the entrance.
"Jacob, I’m glad you made it. I thought your business trip might prevent you from attending," Alester greeted warmly as he shook the young man’s hand.
At the same time, his sharp grey eyes subtly assessed him.
After all, it was Alester who had deliberately sent Jacob away after the scandal erupted.
Perhaps it was the instinct of a protective father, but he had seen little value in allowing the young man to remain in the spotlight while rumours regarding his daughter continued to circulate.
Distance had been the safest solution. Fortunately, public attention had quickly shifted towards Gavriel and Aliana’s engagement, allowing the controversy to fade before it could cause further damage.
"Mr. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Vanderbilt," Jacob greeted them with a respectful nod. "Of course I wouldn’t miss this evening for the world," he replied smoothly, though the older couple utterly failed to notice the dark, calculating glint in his eyes.
Alester’s attention then shifted towards the woman standing beside him.
A hint of curiosity entered his expression.
"And who might this beautiful companion be?" he asked.
"Meet Diaz. She is a dear friend of mine and here as my plus-one for the evening," Jacob introduced the blonde lady beside him.
Diaz gave the couple a practised smile. "It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you both. Congratulations on your daughter’s engagement."
Alester gave her a polite nod before replying, "Thank you, Diaz. I hope you enjoy the evening."
"Yes, it’s wonderful to meet you," Portia added kindly before turning her attention back to Jacob. "And I truly am glad you made it, Jacob. You have always been so good to Aliana. I’m certain she will be thrilled to see you here."
"The pleasure was all mine to guide her," Jacob replied smoothly. "She has always been remarkably bright and quick to catch on. I can’t wait to see her and offer my personal congratulations tonight."
Alester offered a small smile before gesturing toward the grand ballroom. "Please, go inside and enjoy yourselves. She will be joining the party shortly."
This made Jacob pause. "Shortly? I assumed she would already be upstairs, putting the final touches on her gown for the big day," he inquired lightly, his tone perfectly casual.
Portia shook her head with a fond smile. "Oh, Ali is actually still on her way here."
"She isn’t at the mansion yet?" Jacob asked, genuine surprise breaking through his composed facade as he stared at the couple with a sharp question in his eyes.
"Yes, she’ll be arriving with her fiancé. You know how the younger generation is these days," Portia said with a charming chuckle before leaning slightly closer to Jacob as though sharing a harmless secret.
"Ali has actually been living with her fiancé all this time, so she’ll be making her entrance with him. Of course, we aren’t so old-fashioned as to mind. After all, they’re going to be married soon. The more time they spend together, the better, right?"
The moment those words left Portia’s lips, something dark flashed through Jacob’s eyes. For a fraction of a second, his carefully maintained composure slipped.
He had not known.
Not once had he imagined that Aliana had been living under the same roof as Gavriel all this time. A violent surge of fury erupted within his chest.
The thought of them waking up together, eating together, spending every day together clawed at his mind like poison. It took everything in him not to let the emotion show on his face.
But the moment he felt sharp nails threatening to slice into his skin through the fabric of his suit coat, he instinctively recovered.
Jacob’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly before he forced the emotion back down where it belonged. When he looked up again, the violent thoughts had been tucked back behind a polished smile.
"Ah, I see," he replied with a light chuckle. "That certainly explains things."
Just as he was about to continue the conversation, the distant hum of engines drifted through the evening air. A moment later, two luxury vehicles rolled through the grand gates and proceeded down the illuminated driveway.
When Alester recognised the lead car, visible relief washed over his face. "Ah, there they are," he said with a smile.
Portia’s eyes brightened instantly.
The chauffeurs moved quickly to pull the car doors open, and the person everyone had been eagerly waiting for finally stepped into view.
The nearby guests who were just about to enter the mansion felt the breath catch in their throats at the sight of him.
A tall man with a commanding presence, Gavriel stepped into the light wearing a tuxedo that fit his frame to perfection. His gorgeous, aristocratic face remained perfectly stoic as he swept around to the other side of the vehicle and extended his hand.
A delicate hand wrapped securely around his. Sharp red heels touched the driveway before the most beautiful woman anyone had ever laid eyes on finally stepped out of the car. Aliana stood tall in her magnificent crimson gown.
Jacob felt his breathing hitch at the breathtaking sight of her. A wave of intense desire rushed through him, his arousal flaring to life all over again. Beside him, Diaz tightened her grip around his arm until her nails dug deep.
Her furious eyes remained sharply fixed on Gavriel before her focus snapped down to their connected hands, and bitter resentment twisted inside her.
She watched with a bleeding heart as Gavriel smoothly offered his arm to Aliana, and together, the golden couple finally made their way toward the small group waiting by the entrance.
But just as Gavriel’s icy blue eyes shifted ahead, they narrowed ever so slightly.
The change was subtle, yet Jacob and Diaz instinctively felt their bodies stiffen. And suddenly, neither of them was looking forward to what would happen next.
