Chapter 86: The Patriarch’s Banquet and The Rival’s Mockery

The crisp evening wind blew through the sprawling, opulent courtyard of the East Lake Villa, as hundreds of glowing crystal lanterns illuminated the lavish silk banners hanging from the traditional wooden eaves, setting a majestic stage for the Vance family’s highly anticipated eightieth birthday banquet.

Dozens of high-society guests, elite politicians, and wealthy business tycoons mingled on the pristine stone pathways, sipping vintage champagne from crystal flutes, since gaining favor with the formidable Vance family was a golden ticket to navigating the city’s treacherous elite circles.

Sitting at the absolute center of the grand courtyard was the head table, where Patriarch Arthur Vance rested in a heavy, custom-carved mahogany chair.

Arthur was an eighty-year-old man with a stern, deeply wrinkled face and sharp, judging eyes, wearing a traditional silk tunic that projected decades of ruthless authority, as he demanded respect and strict adherence to the unspoken rules of high-society status.

A massive crowd of aunts, uncles, and distant cousins crowded around the head table, practically stepping over each other to shower the old man with blatant flattery and sickening bootlicking, because securing a place in the Patriarch’s will was their only goal in life.

"Father, your health looks as robust as a true dragon today," Uncle Henry praised loudly, holding a glass of premium wine, "Our Vance family continues to thrive under your peerless guidance, since your wisdom is the foundation of our wealth."

"Indeed, Grandfather," a grating, highly annoying voice chimed in, cutting through the murmurs of the older relatives.

Standing right next to the Patriarch was Isabella Vance, Elena’s petty and intensely jealous younger cousin, who wore a flashy, overly sequined red dress that squeezed her chest in a desperate attempt to draw attention.

Isabella was practically purring like a spoiled cat, as she clung tightly to the arm of her smug, arrogant boyfriend, Preston Croft.

Preston wore a flashy designer suit that reeked of unearned arrogance, swirling his expensive wine glass with a haughty sneer on his face, looking down at the rest of the family members as if they were nothing but common peasants.

"Grandfather, Preston has some incredible news to share with you on your special day," Isabella boasted loudly, making sure her shrill voice carried across the courtyard, "Because my man is a true titan of the corporate world!"

Preston puffed out his chest, stepping forward to bask in the attention of the elite crowd, as he offered a smug, self-satisfied bow toward the old man.

"It is true, Patriarch Arthur," Preston gloated, his voice dripping with condescending pride. "Just last week, the supreme CEO of the Imperial Jade Hotel Group, Mr. Cheng Shuang, personally recognized my unmatched corporate talents."

"He promoted me directly to the position of Regional Vice President," Preston declared, pausing to let the weight of his fake achievement sink in. "I now control the hospitality operations for the entire southern district, which means my word is absolute law in the luxury hotel sector."

Loud gasps of pure admiration erupted from the surrounding aunts and uncles, as they immediately began whispering among themselves, highly impressed by his connection to the legendary, ultra-exclusive hotel conglomerate.

"The Imperial Jade Group is a behemoth!" Aunt Sarah whispered loudly to another relative. "They cater exclusively to billionaires and royalty! Preston is a true dragon among men!"

"Isabella has truly secured a golden son-in-law for our family," Uncle Henry agreed eagerly, nodding his head. "Having a Regional VP in the family will open countless doors for our real estate ventures."

Patriarch Arthur offered a rare, slow nod of approval, his stern face relaxing slightly as he looked at Preston.

"You give me great face today, Preston," Arthur stated in a heavy, raspy voice. "A man who climbs the ranks of the Imperial Jade Group is a man of substance. You are a worthy match for my granddaughter Isabella."

Isabella beamed with malicious pride, leaning her head against Preston’s shoulder, as her eyes scanned the courtyard looking for her favorite target.

"Preston works tirelessly to bring glory to our name," Isabella sneered, raising her voice again. "Unlike some ungrateful people in our family who throw away massive billionaire alliances just to play independent."

Just as the venomous words left her mouth, a heavy silence fell over the entrance of the courtyard, as the towering wooden doors swung open.

Elena Vance stepped onto the stone pathway, arriving entirely alone, wearing the breathtaking, custom-made dark sapphire backless gown she had purchased at the Times Square Mall.

Her dark hair was styled in an elegant, sweeping updo, and her flawless, jade-like skin glowed beautifully under the crystal lanterns, projecting the freezing, untouchable aura of a true Ice Queen.

But despite her stunning appearance, the courtyard immediately filled with harsh, judging whispers, since the entire family knew she had broken off her highly lucrative engagement to Liam, ruining a massive corporate merger in the process.

"Look at her showing up alone," Aunt Sarah muttered, loud enough for nearby guests to hear. "She brings shame to this family. She had a billionaire heir ready to marry her, but she threw it all away."

"She thinks her medical career makes her special," Uncle Henry scoffed in disgust. "A woman’s true value is the powerful husband she brings to the family table."

Elena gritted her teeth, keeping her spine perfectly straight and her face devoid of any emotion, as she ignored the buzzing of the pathetic insects around her, walking directly toward the head table.

She was incredibly anxious because Rick had told her he needed to make a quick detour to secure his gift, meaning she had to face the den of vipers by herself for the first few minutes.

"Happy eightieth birthday, Grandfather," Elena said respectfully, offering a slight, elegant bow as she stopped in front of the Patriarch.

She reached into her designer clutch and pulled out a polished wooden box, placing it carefully onto the mahogany table.

"I procured a vintage, hand-carved jade tea set from the southern province for you," Elena explained softly. "I know you enjoy your afternoon tea, so I hope this brings you peace and good health."

Patriarch Arthur looked at the wooden box with cold, unimpressed eyes, not even bothering to reach out and open the lid, since he placed heavy value on grand, expensive gestures over sentimental thought.

Before Arthur could even respond, Isabella let out a shrill, highly obnoxious bark of laughter, slapping her hand against Preston’s arm.

"A tea set?!" Isabella shrieked maliciously, looking at Elena as if she had just presented a bag of garbage. "Are you actually joking, Elena? A fifty-thousand-dollar tea set is all you can offer the Patriarch on his eightieth birthday?"

"Isabella is right," Preston chimed in, adopting a fake tone of deep concern as he shook his head in disgust. "Elena, this is a monumental occasion. Offering such cheap, low-tier junk is a blatant insult to your grandfather’s prestige."

Elena’s jaw clenched tight, her ice-blue eyes narrowing into a freezing glare as she looked at her petty cousin.

"It is an authentic dynasty piece, and the thought behind the gift matters more than a flashy price tag," Elena defended herself, keeping her tone even.

"Thought does not buy power, and it does not secure alliances," Uncle Henry sneered from the sidelines, actively joining the pile-on to earn points with the Patriarch. "You already ruined our connection with Liam’s family, and now you embarrass us in front of the city’s elite with this pathetic offering."

Preston smirked, seeing the perfect opportunity to crush Elena’s dignity and elevate his own status, as he reached into his tailored suit jacket and pulled out a heavy velvet case.

"Allow me to show you what true respect looks like," Preston boasted arrogantly, stepping forward to present his case directly to Arthur.

He popped the velvet lid open, revealing a heavy, gleaming gold coin resting on a silk cushion.

"This is a flawless Ming Dynasty imperial gold coin," Preston announced loudly, ensuring every single guest heard him. "I utilized my high-level connections at the Imperial Jade Group to acquire it from an underground shadow auction. It is valued at a flat two million dollars."

The crowd gasped in pure awe, as the aunts and uncles clapped their hands, showering Preston with a fresh wave of sickening flattery.

"Two million dollars! Now that is a gift worthy of a true king!" Aunt Sarah praised loudly, shooting a venomous glare at Elena.

"Preston truly understands our family’s worth," Uncle Henry nodded eagerly. "He is a real man of influence."

Patriarch Arthur’s eyes lit up slightly at the sight of the expensive gold coin, offering Preston another slow nod of deep approval.

"You have a sharp eye, Preston," Arthur rasped, before he turned his cold, disappointed gaze back toward Elena. "You have disappointed me today, Elena. Showing up without a partner, bringing a mediocre gift, and tarnishing our name with your selfish choices. You need to learn your place."

Elena’s breath hitched in her throat, a deep flush of humiliation burning her cheeks, as the suffocating weight of her family’s snobbery threatened to break her freezing facade.

She was completely cornered, surrounded by greedy relatives who only valued her as a bargaining chip for their own wealth.

"If she doesn’t want Liam, maybe we can introduce her to one of your mid-level managers at the hotel, Preston," Isabella mocked cruelly, a wicked smile on her face. "Since she clearly likes lowering her standards."

But just as the mocking laughter peaked, the heavy, towering wooden doors at the entrance of the courtyard swung wide open with a loud, resounding thud.

The sudden noise silenced the giggling aunts and uncles, as every single head in the courtyard turned to see who had arrived so late.

Stepping through the threshold was Rick, wearing the pristine, flawless bespoke Italian suit Elena had purchased for him at the luxury mall.

The dark fabric hugged his broad, muscular shoulders perfectly, projecting an aura of raw, dominant power, as his deadpan, apathetic eyes scanned the crowd of high-society elites without a single hint of intimidation.

He held a heavy, intricately carved mahogany box casually under his right arm, walking down the stone pathway with slow, deliberate steps, exuding the suffocating presence of an apex predator entering a den of loud, barking dogs.

Elena’s face instantly lit up, a massive wave of genuine relief washing over her heart, as she turned her back on her mocking family and practically ran across the courtyard.

"Sorry guys! Looks like I made you all wait!"