CEO Plus-Size Ex-Wife

Chapter 134: Pete Is Missing

Valentine Anderson stood amidst the flurry of whispers in the hall, the piercing gazes of the guests upon him, and the relentless clicking of journalist cameras. This was the last place he wanted to be—the center of unwanted attention. His fists clenched at his sides; Andrea's public revelation of his identity was unexpected, and her timing in front of this crowd was less than ideal.

"Val, am I right?" Valentine heard her say, as he cast an unhappy glance her way.

Valentine surveyed the gathering, his eyes darting between the guests and the active cameras. The realization that they were being live-streamed was unmistakable.

Valentine's thoughts were a jumble as he recalled Margret Willow's kindness. Torn between the urge to reveal his true identity and the desire to maintain his anonymity, he finally made a decision.

Taking a deep breath, Valentine raised his voice in response. "Mrs. Singers, one should be careful with their words. Everyone in Vegas City knows that you married Lucas Anderson, Valentine Anderson's brother. What does that have to do with me? I've come to Vegas for the first time because of your invitation. How does your marriage concern me?"

Murmurs spread through the hall like wildfire.

"He doesn't resemble Valentine Anderson at all," one guest whispered.

"I'm certain, he's from Cardiff, not a Vegas native," another chimed in.

A voice sneered with contempt, "Andrea is probably trying to deceive us with her lies. She's provoking the Willow Group, and under her watch, the Singers Group will surely fall."

Andrea's hand trembled on the microphone as she absorbed the biting remarks, her expression shifting to one of shock and disappointment. She hadn't expected Valentine to so publicly reject her claim.

The hall erupted with noise and speculation, and as Andrea stood frozen in her shock, Lucas Anderson took the microphone from her.

"I am Lucas Anderson, and the man you see before you is indeed Valentine Anderson my twin brother," Lucas declared.

This revelation only sparked further excitement and gossip among the guests. It was as if witnessing someone else's misfortune was a source of entertainment.

Valentine's anger boiled over, and he fought the urge to lash out at Lucas for acknowledging him as his brother.

As the room fell into a tense silence, Lucas continued, "You must all be wondering why he looks different. A year ago, my brother nearly perished in a bomb blast. His injuries were so severe that he required reconstructive surgery, funded by the generosity of Margret Willow. For a year, when others believed Valentine to be dead and attended his funeral, Andrea refused to accept it. She continued to search for him, spending vast sums of money, because she was convinced that the body in the coffin wasn't her husband's."

Andrea's eyes welled with gratitude as she looked at Lucas, who had unexpectedly spoken in her defense. Lucas turned to Valentine with a look of disappointment and continued, "While others suggested Andrea should cancel the wedding, she held on to the belief that Valentine was alive and would return to exchange vows with her. But Valentine, you never appeared. My decision to marry Andrea in your stead had nothing to do with her—it was my choice. You can confirm it with our mother and sister. Andrea was unaware of the switch until a few weeks ago. She is innocent."

A heavy silence enveloped the hall as the guests processed this dramatic unfolding of events. The shock was palpable—a story that seemed too extraordinary to be true.

Before anyone could fully recover from the revelations, a series of gunshots shattered the quiet, and chaos erupted outside the Singers' mansion.

Startled and fearful, the guests were thrown into a panic. Without hesitation, Tony swiftly exited the hall.

The entrance to Singer's Mansion was besieged by protesters, their voices booming like thunder, punctuated by the sporadic crack of gunfire as some armed intruders vaulted the walls to stir up chaos.

Tony's expression was as dark as charred coal, his anger nearly palpable. He yearned to lash out at the thronging masses for their foolishness, yet he knew that to approach was to be showered in their spit.

Amidst the turmoil, he noticed guests hastening to their cars, eager to evacuate the Singers mansion. Turning to the guards responsible for transportation and security within the estate, he directed, "Let our guests use the east gate. The north gate is compromised for the time being."

Having issued his command, Tony retreated to the hall just in time to catch Lucas Anderson's unexpected admission to Valentine, "You can despise me all you like, but don't extend that to Andrea and your son."

Andrea, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, looked at Lucas with gratitude. Even Tony, who had little but scorn for Lucas, found himself begrudgingly respecting the man for his words, seeing him now as irritating rather than utterly contemptible.

The revelation hit Valentine Anderson like a physical blow, his voice quivering, his eyes wide with shock, "Pete is my son?"

The notion seemed incomprehensible, unbelievable to him.

But when Mrs. Anderson confirmed the truth, "Yes, Pete is your son, my grandson. Andrea was pregnant when she left Vegas City eight years ago," there was no room for doubt. Valentine trusted his mother implicitly.

Emerging from his stunned silence and accepting Pete as his son, Valentine noted the departure of the reporters and journalists, and the once-crowded hall now lay almost barren, save for a few guests linked to the Singer's Group. His gaze swept the room, a surge of panic rising when he realized Anne Gate, his intended companion for the event, was nowhere to be seen.

Memories of his plans with Margaret Willow flashed through his mind, spurring him into a sudden sprint from the hall, leaving onlookers startled. Lucas Anderson's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he followed in hot pursuit, with the rest trailing behind.

Emerging from the hall, they were taken aback and intrigued to see Valentine sprinting toward the main house of the Singers mansion.

Valentine's heart sank at the sight of the guards sprawled on the floor with the mansion staff.