Chapter 182: Chapter 182

Halfway through the banquet, according to the schedule, Miles Willow and his wife, as the hosts, were to go on stage for mutual confessions and deliver speeches to the guests.

Just like at a wedding, the romantic stories of the couple can at most touch themselves and the close friends and family around them.

But for those who join with the mindset of a bystander, there’s not much resonance.

Young people’s emotions are like that, let alone when they’ve been an old married couple for so long. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel★fire.net

However, the guests present knew the game, each of them trying hard to empathize.

Anna Thornton even wondered if there were extras mixed in among the crowd?

Because when Mrs. Willow read the pre-written love letter to President Willow, some people in the audience began wiping tears from their eyes, showing tears of admiration for their beautiful love.

Perhaps Anna Thornton still needed to hone her acting skills. Anyways, after hearing the entire letter filled with ’I love you,’ she was not touched at all. Her expression remained cold, unable to cry at will.

Acting requires tears to be shed, but at least the love in the script must be genuine.

Anna wasn’t the only one at the scene with an emotionless face.

Henry Willow had no interest in listening to what that woman was saying insincerely on stage; those tearfully moved faces below were, in his eyes, the greatest mockery to his deceased mother.

The man swept his gaze over the faces of the guests present, one by one.

He noticed Quinn Locke and curled his lips into a mocking smile.

Quinn Locke realized someone had locked their gaze on him and looked back at Henry Willow, a bit flattered and a bit reserved, smiling back.

Miles Willow really treats Lauren Chambers well, inviting even the illegitimate children to such an occasion today.

Obviously, he wanted to publicly emphasize that woman’s status as the legitimate wife.

The illegitimate children, represented by Quinn Locke, didn’t dare speak, but as the only remaining child of the legitimate first wife, if Henry Willow didn’t do something in this setting, wouldn’t it be in vain for him to be called back home to witness such a disgusting spectacle?

Although there was conflict between the two, Sarah Grant kept an eye on Henry Willow.

Henry Willow seemed exceptionally unhappy today. Others were there socializing and mingling at the banquet, but he was just busy drinking at the edge, away from the center.

Sarah Grant counted and realized he had drunk at least two bottles of red wine by now, and he was already drunk.

She intended to persuade him, but recalling her own anger, she could only worry helplessly.

When Henry Willow’s gaze fell on Quinn Locke and his lips formed a slight smile, Sarah Grant quickly looked in that direction, fearing that some vixen might lure her boyfriend away.

Fortunately, it was a man, but she couldn’t let down her guard.

Quinn Locke couldn’t understand the slightly hostile look Sarah Grant gave him, so he politely smiled to show goodwill.

At this moment, a figure suddenly passed through the corner of their vision.

It was Henry Willow, walking directly through the center of Quinn Locke and Sarah Grant’s exchanged glances, heading straight for the Starlight stage, which had been temporarily erected for the banquet’s proceedings.

On the stage, the custom cake for the wedding anniversary was in the process of being cut, with Miles Willow and Lauren Chambers holding the knife together, with their son and daughter behind them, and a professional photographer capturing the warm family moment with a camera.

Henry Willow’s sudden appearance disrupted this harmony.

At the sight of him, Miles Willow’s face darkened: "You still know to come home?"

In contrast, Lauren Chambers smiled affectionately at Henry Willow: "Henry Willow is back today. We are a family, and we should take a picture together."

That said, Lauren Chambers set down the cake-cutting props and walked over to invite Henry Willow: "You are all Willow Family children, go stand with Ivan and Faye."

Henry Willow emotionlessly brushed her hand aside: "If we’re talking about a Willow Family children photo, shouldn’t Aunt Chambers invite those below the stage up one by one too?"

Hearing this, Lauren Chambers looked awkward.

Miles Willow’s expression grew even grimmer, he glared at Henry Willow and said: "If you came home today just to embarrass your Aunt Chambers, then you can leave right now!"

"President Willow, I’m not the one embarrassing Aunt Chambers. The stage is filled with illegitimate children you had with other women. They couldn’t have snuck in; they must have come with invitations from your hand, correct?"

Since his mother’s passing, Henry Willow never called his father ’dad,’ always referring to him as President Willow.

Outsiders only heard about the strained relationship between father and son after Miles Willow married a second wife, but no one expected it to be so fraught upon seeing it.

Though a second wife, Miles Willow and Lauren Chambers’s eldest son was the same age as Henry Willow, with only a few months difference.

What does this indicate? It indicates his father was unfaithful while his mother was pregnant with him.

There’s a rumor that Miles Willow maintained a mistress for over twenty years, and theirs was the true love.

As for the first wife, it was merely a political marriage between families.

This is why, not even two months after the first wife’s death, he hurriedly married the mistress.

Henry Willow had a sister, and both his mother and sister died in a car accident. There’s another, more outrageous claim that suggests the accident was no accident, rather some who had waited too long finally lost patience.

Of course, voicing such a claim risks slander, and it hasn’t spread widely.

In any case, Henry Willow’s position as the second young master of the Willow Family is pretty miserable; he’s even less valued than the illegitimate children.

Especially after his mother’s death, his father quickly brought the mistress and the illegitimate children into the house and even had them start working in the company, intending for Lauren Chambers’s son to take over the family business.

Henry Willow, meanwhile, was completely sidelined, not receiving even a tiny share of the family’s assets, relying solely on his mother’s and sister’s accident insurance compensation for income.

Who wouldn’t be frustrated in his position?

Nevertheless, no matter how frustrated or temperamental he was, he shouldn’t have mentioned his father’s illegitimate children publicly!

Most of today’s guests are prominent figures in Aethelgard, and this situation has certainly caused quite the spectacle, tarnishing Miles Willow’s reputation.

Everyone knew Miles Willow was a playboy in his youth, but no one expected him to have so many illegitimate children, truly living up to the nickname ’Justin Willow’ that some secretly gave this amorous CEO.

Even Quinn Locke couldn’t help but feel shamed, blushing, although few people besides Mary knew his identity.

Miles Willow was so furious his face almost turned green; originally, he intended to emphasize his appreciation for his wife in front of everyone.

But Henry Willow’s distortion and redirection made it seem as though Miles intentionally invited Quinn Locke and the others to provoke the current wife.

If Miles Willow and Lauren Chambers were truly in love, where did all these illegitimate children come from?

Some are even younger than Faye Willow!

"President Willow, don’t lose your temper." Henry Willow managed a smile facing his father, "I’m not here just to eat your meal today, I came bearing gifts. Since I have urgent matters and must leave soon, I’ll seize this chance to present the gift."

With that, Henry Willow snapped his fingers.

Immediately, servers previously instructed by him brought up a gift box.

Henry Willow, worried the audience couldn’t see clearly, opened the box directly, flipped it over, and let all the contents spill out.

Bottles of kidney supplement pills scattered everywhere.

The guests present: "!!"