Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 199

Chapter 199: Flattery That Kills

The commotion grew louder as Damien approached. As an award-winning actor with a global fan base, the excitement in the room was palpable.

"Damien is here!"

"It’s really him! He’s already at the entrance!"

"Oh my God, it’s not just a rumor—Damien actually came to the Clark Group’s banquet for Angelica!"

"I’m so jealous..."

Katie was ecstatic. "James, Damien is a major figure. We can’t afford to be negligent—let’s go welcome him!"

James adjusted his suit and nodded. "Angelica, come with me."

Just like that, the plagiarism scandal was brushed aside as if it never happened.

Angelica was once again the center of attention. Surrounded by admiring glances, she followed James toward the entrance, walking like a victor basking in her triumph.

Katie, seizing the moment, turned to Selina and mocked her with a condescending smile:

"See that? Not only did the plagiarism scandal fail to bring Angelica down, but it actually made people pity her even more. Selina, you can’t win against me!"

Selina casually ran a hand through her hair. "I hope Mrs. Bryant can stay this confident."

Katie frowned slightly, sensing an underlying meaning in Selina’s words.

But with Damien here, what could Selina possibly do? No matter how arrogant she was, there was no way she could turn the tide now.

"I know you’re jealous of Angelica, but there’s nothing you can do about it. She’s just naturally loved by everyone." Katie sighed in fake sympathy before smirking. "Oh well, your mother’s company will belong to us soon. Don’t go doing anything foolish now."

She covered her lips with a smug laugh, practically glowing with satisfaction.

"Your mother, Victoria, was such a kind woman. Not only did she conveniently die young, leaving me to take her place, but she also left behind all this wealth for my daughter and me to enjoy. Tsk tsk... I wonder if she’s rolling in her grave right now?"

"But what can she do? You’re just useless, Selina. But don’t worry—once I take over Clark Group, I’ll be sure to find you a ’proper’ place."

At that moment, Selina locked eyes with Damien from across the room. Her lips curled into a smirk.

"Mrs. Bryant, do you know why, despite all the rumors, Damien never once acknowledged Angelica’s claims?"

Damien had never said he came back for Angelica. The entire narrative had been fabricated by Angelica’s team.

But why hadn’t Damien ever clarified the truth?

Because...

"The higher you climb, the harder you fall," Selina said slowly. "Mrs. Bryant, I look forward to watching it happen."

...

Meanwhile, Damien’s arrival sent the entire banquet into a frenzy.

As an internationally acclaimed actor, he had always been a figure of admiration. But now, with the rumors of his return being tied to a certain actress, the speculation had only intensified.

The moment he appeared, livestream viewership across multiple platforms skyrocketed, overwhelming the servers.

[Damien is here!]

[Finally! We’ve been waiting all night for this. Thank you, Angelica!]

[Yes, big thanks to Angelica! If not for her, we wouldn’t have had the chance to see Damien. Ever since he took over his family’s business, he’s barely been active in the entertainment industry. What a rare occasion!]

[If Damien acknowledges Angelica, then she must be truly exceptional. New fan here!]

Damien’s presence single-handedly reversed Angelica’s public image.

After all, Damien had always maintained a spotless reputation. The people he associated with were all top-tier professionals known for their integrity.

If Angelica was his friend, wouldn’t that mean she was equally outstanding?

In an instant, all the accusations of plagiarism and criticisms about her being an unworthy stepdaughter vanished, replaced by praise and admiration.

James eagerly stepped forward, full of respect. "Mr. Brown! What an honor—welcome! We didn’t expect you to grace our humble event. Please, come inside!"

Damien responded with a polite, refined smile. "Mr. Clark."

Seeing that Damien’s attitude was pleasant, James grew even more eager. "Mr. Brown, this is my daughter. You two have met before, I believe. Angelica, come say hello."