"You’re supposed to be in a mental institution." Kalen said as he stepped forward.
Alrik didn’t respond, he just smirked. But when he tried to step forward, Gregory Pratt stood in his way.
"You can’t come in. You don’t have an invitation to be here. Why are you trying to embarrass us? Leave here now. Or do you no longer understand? Have you gone back to being retarded?" He asked.
"Gone back? What do you mean? When did he regain his mind?" Kalen asked, and Gregory turned to face him.
"Who are you? And what is your business with this man?" Gregory asked.
Kalen scoffed because he wasn’t recognised, then spoke. "I am Commander Kalen Zerdon."
As soon as Grregory Pratt heard the name Zerdon, he immediately became humble.
"Forgive me for not recognising you. I don’t really keep up with the military. I’m just a business man. Thank you for your service to the nation."
"Now explain your relationship with Alrik." Kalen ordered.
"He’s the retard that forced himself on my daughter. He refuses to let her go. She..."
"It’s too early for your lies, father. Alrik is my husband. I wasn’t coerced in any way. I chose him because I love him." Eliza cut in.
Vaida grabbed Kalen’s arms, and then began to laugh. "Eliza Pratt, as I live and breathe. I haven’t seen you in a while. Last I heard, you were penniless after being disowned. So Alrik is the retard I heard you married. What a small world. You’ve really fallen low in the world, so I’m not surprised you picked up my left overs."
"Vaida. I see you’re still the same shallow girl you used to be in high school. You left your sour personality unchanged, and focused on changing other things. I suggest you slow down, darling. If you keep going under the knife, there may be nothing left." Eliza tsked, and Vaida’s face turned red.
She had always hated Eliza for being a natural beauty, and smart in school.
"Whatever. Your previous academic success is useless now that you’ve been disowned. And I’m getting married soon, to a military commander. What about you?" Vaida smirked.
"Of course you don’t keep up with news in the business world. You were always too dumb for that. I’m sure you only read trashy tabloids, else you would know the answer to that question. If that is all, we have important matters to attend to. Excuse us." Eliza rolled her eyes, and grabbed Alrik’s hand so they could move further into the hall.
Alrik had been silent through all this for a reason. No need to ruin the surprise. That would make the end more satisfying.
"Guards! Security!" Vaida yelled. "Get these thieves out of here."
Two of the security personnel for the event stepped forward, and pushed them all aside to make way for Eliza and Alrik.
"What? You’re allowing them to pass? They don’t have invitations. They’re..."
"Sir, if you keep trying to make a scene, you will be escorted out, and banned from the premises permanently." The guard warned Eliza’s father sternly.
Gregory Pratt shut up immediately, face red with shame after being told off. They all watched as Alrik and Eliza moved quietly, and began to mingle.
"It was all a ruse. You coming back home, it was staged, right? Kalen seems surprised, so I’m sure he didn’t help you pull it off. What I would like to know is why? Why pretend to be mentally ill? You even deceived the doctor, or maybe he was also part of your game." Griffin Zerdon spoke as he calmly approached Alrik.
"I owe you no explanations, Grandfather. Officially, I am no longer part of the Zerdon family. I needed something, so I found a way to get it. That’s all. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to show off my beautiful wife." Content orıginally comes from NovelHub(.)net
"Wife? When did you get married, and why was I not informed?" He said, and Alrik laughed.
"Quit the hypocrisy, Grandfather. Or I guess I should address you by your name now, Griffin. Don’t pretend you care what happens in my life now after tossing me out to the streets, and stripping me of the family name."
"Don’t be so dramatic. I knew you could survive it. If you didn’t, then you would not be worthy of carrying my blood in your veins." He replied, and Eliza scoffed.
"You speak like your blood is worth anything." She said with clear disdain in her expression, and Griffin was shocked.
No one dared speak so disrespectfully to him. "Young lady, I suggest you mind the way you speak to..."
"Why should I have respect for the man that left my husband to die?" She said, and then faced Alrik. "The auction is starting soon. We should move in that direction."
"Sure thing, love." Alrik smiled, and then they left without another word.
Griffin stared at them for a few seconds, and then scoffed. He didn’t appreciate their rudeness, but deep down, he was proud of Alrik for standing up for himself, and for having a wife who backed him up. Griffin knew his time was getting closer, and he needed someone capable to take over from him. His method of training Alrik for the future may be cruel, but to him, the end justified the means.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, have your seats. The auction will begin in five minutes. We have some unique items d by the CEO of Crestview Group for the event, so get your wallets ready. Remember, all proceeds will be used for charity, to support the military, and the homeless."
Alrik pulled the chair out for Eliza to sit, and she smiled at him as he sat opposite her. During the seating arrangements, Alrik intentionally instructed Gaya to keep his family on one side, and Eliza’s family on the other side of their own table. He wanted them close when he finally announced his identity, so their reactions would not be missed. In order to keep the secret till it was time for the announcement, none of his inner circle sat with him and Eliza. Their seats remained empty since they could be easily recognised as Crestview Executives.
"Are you still keeping up this pretense? I don’t know how you managed to bribe your way in here, but what makes you think you can afford to bid in an auction?" Henry Pratt whispered angrily in Eliza’s direction.
"That warning should be for you. Remember that you no longer have sole control over the company’s finances, so I suggest you avoid trying to purchase items under the company name. The transaction will not go through without my signature, and I do not give my approval." Eliza responded to her grandfather.
"The auction is officially open. The first Item..."