Ch. 991..1000
Chapter 991
Josh Batton nodded.
He agreed with Stanley Batton. On top of that, he did not want his scandals to cause any trouble to Xyla Quest.
"Alright then. Do you guys want to clarify it? Or do you want my company to make an official statement about it?" Xyla asked.
"We'll do it ourselves. Please hire a few more bodyguards for Josh after we make our relationship public," Stanley added. "Okay, I will."
With that, Xyla hung up the phone.
After Xyla hung up the phone, Stanley locked his phone screen and turned to Josh. "These paparazzi are unbelievable."
In fact, he was not ruffling Josh's hair just now.
There was something on Josh's hair. He was just helping him to fling it away.
Josh touched his head for the same reason too.
He could not believe that the paparazzi would make such a ridiculous story out of it.
Josh shook his head helplessly as he logged onto his Weibo account.
There were many unread messages in the chat box.
Josh tapped on the chatbox and found countless spiteful text messages. All the netizens were criticizing him for being gay. Some of them even asked him to get out of the entertainment industry. This was not his first time being attacked by the netizens. Criticism had been tagging along with him ever since he debuted.
Therefore, these malicious comments could hardly cause a ripple of sadness within him.
About five minutes later.
Two new posts popped up on Xyla's Weibo homepage. Josh and Stanley uploaded them.
"@JoshBatton, this is my brother. To the paparazzi who started this rumor, wait for our legal letter," jabbed Stanley. "@StanleyBatton, this is my brother. To the paparazzi who started this rumor, wait for our legal letter," Josh hissed.
Their posts had hit a million likes, comments, and shares.
Xyla did not open the comment section. Instead, she tapped on the trending list.
#Josh Batton And Stanley Batton Are Brothers# appeared as the first hot topic on the list.
#Josh Batton Was Born With A Silver Spoon In His Mouth# was just right below it.
The two hot topics were followed by a fiery red "HOT!".
Without hesitation, Xyla tapped to open the first article.
The first thing that came into sight was the two posts uploaded by Josh and Stanley. Many marketing accounts had screenshotted their posts and reposted them on their respective timelines.
All the netizens were dumbfounded. Xyla could hear them screaming like chickens over the phone screen.
"F*ck... I told you they might be brothers because of their last names, right? Why didn't you all believe me? Ahhhhhhhhh!"
"Ahhhh!! Who said Xyla's a pitiful woman? Who on earth dares to say she's luckier than Xyla? She has a handsome husband and a hot brother-in-law, who are from a wealthy family. Oh my!" "Who called Xyla a stand-in wife just now? Come out and apologize! Ahhhhh!"
"I'm so freaking shocked! Josh Batton is too secretive, isn't he? I can't believe my beloved idol was born to the purple! Ahhhhh!'
"Josh Batton... A man who has amassed a great fortune even if he doesn't work hard..."
"Xyla is undoubtedly a life winner. Sorry, Xyla! I was wrong!"
The three of them had turned the tables on the netizens unexpectedly.
Xyla let out a deep sigh of relief after reading the comments.
Buzz buzz buzz... Suddenly, her phone vibrated again.
Chapter 992
Chapter 992
Seeing Georgie Clementine's name on the screen, Xyla Quest immediately picked up the call.
"President Xyla, you're so quick! I haven't even done anything, and you've already settled the problem." Georgie sounded delighted.
"It's just a small matter. I can handle it myself." Xyla chuckled.
"I guess I have to hire more bodyguards to protect Josh Batton from now on." Georgie smiled.
"Yeah. That's what I plan to do."
"Alright, I'll talk to you again. I have an incoming call from the reporter now. He's probably calling to interview Josh."
"Okay, bye."
***
After hanging up the phone, Xyla shifted her attention back to her work.
She had forgotten about everything that happened on Weibo just now.
Her office was quiet and peaceful.
Meanwhile, on the contrary, X Entertainment's main entrance was thronged with countless reporters.
Josh Batton and Stanley Batton were brothers. None of them would like to miss this breaking news.
The two brothers had also gone viral on the internet.
Their names were splashed in headlines across all the major news apps and portals.
Thanks to Stanley, Josh had successfully garnered a lot of attention this time, which indirectly enhanced his popularity.
Once again, all the netizens were devoured by pure jealousy because of Xyla. Everyone was extremely agitated when they found out that Josh-one of the most notable artists in the world-was not only her friend but her brother-in-law.
Following the title of 'the most envied woman on the internet' and 'the girl who saved the galaxy', Xyla had won several new nicknames after this incident, such as "the lucky star", "the real life koi" and "the princess".
***
After Xyla had finished all her work in the evening, Stanley picked her up from her office and drove her to Crab Delight where he had booked a private room for them in advance.
Jeremy Quest had some work to do last minute, so the family dinner had eventually turned into the lovebird's dinner date.
Crab Delight was a nature-themed restaurant.
It was elegant and pleasing.
The restaurant was full of customers as it was dinner time.
As soon as the pair stepped into the restaurant with their vast group of bodyguards, almost all eyes fell upon them.
Many people recognized them instantaneously. They were all sneakily taking pictures of the gorgeous couple.
The two overshadowed everyone in the hall the moment they set foot inside the restaurant. It was as if a blinding light was exuding from them.
Stanley and Xyla could not care any less about the hungry eyes locking upon them. They were used to them, and they were tired of them.
Without further ado, the two followed the beautiful waitress upstairs to their private room.
After they left, the dazed crowd finally came back to their senses and started whispering among themselves.
"They're Xyla Quest and Stanley Batton, right? What a lovely couple!"
"Oh my god. They're just like the princess and prince in the fairytale."
"They really are gorgeous, and I really am jealous."
"Hang on. I have to share their pictures on Weibo and WeChat."
***
The beautiful waitress led the two of them to a grand room.
The room was spacious, and its decoration was similar to the hall downstairs.
There was a faint green tea fragrance in the air, refreshing and sweet.
After the two sat down at the table, the waitress placed the menu in front of them nervously, her hand trembling subconsciously.
She could not take her eyes off Stanley.
Chapter 993
Chapter 993
The man sitting in front of her was too stunning.
He was the most handsome man she had ever met in her life.
As a woman and a face judger, she simply could not peel her eyes off Stanley Batton's face!
Stanley could tell what the waitress was thinking from her expression. Sadly, he did not even bother to look at her.
Though Xyla Quest could also sense the waitress's fondness for Stanley, she remained as calm as ever.
All the girls in the world were in love with Stanley.
She was used to it.
The pair ordered two signature crab paste risotto, a plate of steamed king crab legs, a huge curry crab, and two cups of orange juice.
The waitress was reluctant to leave even after they had done ordering the food.
She poured a cup of warm water for each of them before leaving the room unwillingly.
After the waitress left, Stanley took a sip of warm water and said, "Oh yeah, make sure you're free next Monday night."
"Why?" Xyla stared at Stanley and asked smilingly, her chin on her left hand.
"We're going to hold a party for Dragon Group's 70th anniversary at eight o'clock that night. We have to attend the party, and we're going to dance for the opening ceremony." Stanley slowly placed the glass of water on the table as he spoke.
Upon hearing that, Xyla nodded without a second thought. "Sure. I shall find a brand to customize my gown then."
"I've already ordered it for you. It'll be here in a couple of days," Stanley said.
Warmth spread in Xyla's heart when she heard that. "Really? Hubby, you're so thoughtful."
Stanley gradually smiled. "Of course. I have to be thoughtful to my wife."
"Where's the party?"
"On a cruise ship. All the executives of Dragon Group, domestic or abroad, will be there. We've also invited some of our elite employees, politicians, and celebrities from all over the world," Stanley added. “I ought to dress up nicely that night. I'm not going to humiliate you." Xyla looked determined.
"You're pretty enough to take everyone's soul away even if you don't dress up," Stanley reassured her.
Upon hearing that, Xyla's smile subconsciously widened.
"Speaking of which, are your brothers and sisters coming back that night?" Xyla asked.
Stanley was the fifth child in his family. He had two elder brothers and two elder sisters who Xyla had never met before.
She had only seen them in their family photo.
Sharon Lindt said that the four of them loved Stanley, Josh, and Catherine Batton very much. They liked to spoil their younger siblings ever since they were kids.
Besides, Sharon told her that Stanley's eldest brother started a public relations company in Country L after completing his degree there.
He was a very successful businessman. His company was the largest public relations company in Country L.
On the other hand, Stanley's second eldest brother ran a high-end hotel and an entertainment industry at Country D.
Stanley's two elder sisters went to Country J to complete their degrees years ago. Both of them met their Mr. Right when they were studying abroad. One of them encountered the son of Country J's vice president, while the other met the son of Country J's president.
After graduating, they got married and helped their in-laws run their family business. The two of them were living a prosperous life there.
That was the reason why they were all so busy and rarely had the time to visit Atlantis. Furthermore, they had their own families and children in their respective countries. Sometimes, they only came back home once in a few years.
"I guess so." Stanley pondered for a few seconds before continuing, "Why? Do you want to meet them?"
Xyla nodded. "Yes."
"I think you're going to see them that night."
Nodding once more, Xyla grabbed the straw and took a few sips of orange juice.
***
After dinner, Xyla and Stanley strolled along the streets hand-in-hand under their bodyguards' watchful watch.
Subsequently, they went back to their luxury car and drove home.
Buzz buzz buzz... Xyla's phone vibrated as soon as they walked into the living room.
Chapter 994
Chapter 994
Seeing that Jeremy Quest was calling her, Xyla Quest immediately answered the call.
"Xyla, come to my house now. I have something to tell you." Jeremy cut to the chase.
"Okay. I'm coming over." As Xyla spoke, she turned to look at Stanley Batton. "I need to go home now. You have some rest first. I'll be back soon." "Do you want me to go with you?" Stanley wrapped his arm around Xyla's waist and asked dotingly.
However, Xyla shook her head. "Nah, it's okay."
"Alright then. I'll wait for you upstairs," Stanley said.
After that, Xyla got into her red Maserati and headed straight to the Quest family's house.
Jeremy was sitting alone in front of the coffee table when Xyla pulled open the door. There was no one around him except a glass of warm milk.
The living room was cheerless as all the maids were not around.
Though Jeremy seemed a little depressed sitting there alone, his presence imparted an air of elegance.
Xyla immediately hurried to the living room and sat down next to him. "Dad, is there anything important you want to talk to me about?"
"Well, you know I've been in a bad mood lately. I'm planning to go on a trip so I can put my mind at ease. I'm not sure how long I'll be away. I'll just leave the company to you when I'm not around." Jeremy sighed.
Xyla knew that May Conner's and Emily Quest's death was a big blow to her father.
Therefore, she was not surprised that her father needed a break.
Instead, she fully supported her father to go on vacation.
"That's a good idea. Don't worry, Dad. I'll take care of the company," Xyla replied softly. She slid her fingers between Jeremy's and reassured him, "Dad, go ahead and do what you want to do. I'll support you even if you're going to take a long break. You can come back anytime. I just want you to be happy. That's the most important thing to me.
"However, I have a request. You have to bring bodyguards with you wherever you go. There must be someone who can take care of you and protect you when I'm not around, okay? Otherwise, I'll be worried sick about you," Xyla admonished him.
Jeremy nodded. "I will. Alright, you should go back now. It's late."
"I'll stay with you for a while. I'm not in a hurry anyway." Xyla leaned on his shoulder.
Having no other choice, Jeremy nodded.
He had inwardly decided at this moment...
***
Xyla stayed at the Quest family's house for a long time.
Finally, Jeremy felt sleepy. Xyla immediately helped him to his room and covered him with the blanket to prevent him from catching a cold.
After cleaning up the coffee table, she went back to her house.
It was already midnight when she reached home.
Xyla pushed open the door of her bedroom and found that Stanley was still awake.
He was currently sitting on the bed, staring at his laptop screen. A solemn expression was etched upon his face as his fingers danced across the keyboard.
The room was ill-lit. All the lights were out except the lamp on the bedside table.
The warm yellow light shone brightly on the man's face, causing his brows to look extraordinarily captivating.
The light had also added luster to his black silk loungewear, setting off his fair smooth skin.
Noticing Xyla's arrival, the man slowly put away his laptop and walked up to her. He held her hand and kissed it gently.
A prickly feeling ran down her skin, all the way to her heart.
Once again, her heart skipped a beat.
"Let's go and have a look at the star," Stanley whispered.
"Is the astronomical telescope here?" Xyla asked in surprise.
"Yeah. It's here. Come with me."
Before Xyla could even respond, Stanley gave her a princess hug and carried her to the balcony. He hit the switch on the wall with his back as he walked past the door. Suddenly, all the lights in the balcony were switched on.
Chapter 995
Chapter 995
The darkness in the large balcony was dispelled by brightness.
An enormous astronomical telescope appeared in front of her.
Stanley Batton marched toward the telescope and carefully put Xyla Quest down beside it. He then lowered his head to adjust the telescope.
When he found the star he bought for Xyla, he quickly zoomed in and focused on the star. Without further ado, he pulled Xyla to the telescope and pointed at the eyepiece excitedly. "Look. This is your star." Xyla immediately peeped into the eyepiece.
In the very next second, Xyla Star came into her sight.
The magnified star, which belonged to her, was shining dazzlingly in the galaxy.
Xyla was amazed.
Never in her life had she imagined that she would own a star in the vast universe.
She could hardly contain her happiness at this moment. Her face lit up with glee.
"So? Can you see it?" Stanley asked with a glint of anticipation in his eyes.
Xyla nodded delightedly, her soft lips subconsciously curling upward into a bright smile. "Yeah, I saw it. Thanks for the star, hubby."
Stanley hugged her from the back and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Silly girl. You don't have to thank me. It's what I'm supposed to do. I'll leave the astronomical telescope here so you can have a look at it whenever you want. I'll teach you how to use it later."
Xyla nodded obediently.
Then, she continued observing her star. From time to time, she would wrap her arms around Stanley's hand and ask him to join her like a little girl.
Stanley had no complaints at all. No matter how Xyla asked him to show her this and that, he would just do as he was told.
After admiring Xyla Star, Stanley showed her many more unique stars in the galaxy.
Stanley was very knowledgeable. He knew almost every star that the scientists had discovered, and he had no problem describing them.
Xyla had gained a lot of astronomical knowledge from him that night.
Her admiration for Stanley soared as she listened to his explanation about the wonders of the universe.
'Is there anything that Stanley doesn't know?' she wondered.
Xyla was a fast learner. She could easily remember the function of each part of the telescope as she watched Stanley adjusting and controlling them.
Finally, she tried to use the telescope to locate the moon and enjoyed the moonlight with Stanley.
The two of them stayed at the balcony until two o'clock in the morning. At last, Xyla was tired, so she stopped playing with the telescope and pulled Stanley back into their bedroom.
***
When Xyla opened her eyes the following day, Stanley was already gone.
She stretched her hand and moved it around the spot beside her.
The blanket was chilly.
This meant that he had woken up long ago.
Xyla stretched her stiff back before sitting up on the bed slowly.
Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the huge astronomical telescope on the balcony. She could feel her joy unfolded like a flower at that instant.
The memory of them looking at the stars together last night flashed across her mind.
Every word, every action was full of sweetness.
Right at this moment, the door of the bedroom was pushed open.
Stanley, who was wearing a white dress shirt with a pair of black pants, walked into the room with a phone in his right hand.
The straight white shirt and the perfectly-fitted black pants had remarkably set off the man's golden body ratio.
"Zack gave me a call just now..." As Stanley spoke, he plopped down next to her and gently stroked her hair. "They've found out the real cause of Emily's death."
Chapter 996
Chapter 996
"Detective Ritzer found that Emily's brain was in a state of hypnosis. He speculated that Emily committed suicide under hypnosis.
"Besides, he said that Emily had consumed the Soul Devouring Potion before. The toxin left behind by the potion can greatly enhance the effectiveness of hypnosis. Hence, it's really easy to 'control' Emily and instruct her to commit suicide if the master wants."
The seriousness in Stanley Batton's tone was only amplified with each word he spoke.
Xyla Quest was not surprised to find out about that.
She knew how powerful the Soul Devouring Potion and hypnosis were.
"The coroner must've stopped investigating after confirming that Emily has indeed died of suicide."
Stanley continued, "Well, there are still a lot of possibilities other than this reason. The master might have bribed the coroner."
"There must be a spy in jail, helping him to keep an eye on May, Emily, and the police. Otherwise, it's impossible for him to carry out all these things in jail. I bet there is more than one spy in there." Xyla analyzed the incident in earnest.
"Yeah. Detective Ritzer and I have thought about that too. He's trying to look into the case from there," Stanley replied softly.
Following that statement, he ran his fingers through Xyla's long black hair again.
"What else did he find out?" Eagerness stirred in Xyla's eyes.
She wanted to know who that master was and why she was his target so badly.
"That's all so far..." Stanley answered truthfully.
"Alright then." Xyla did not say anything else. She was disappointed.
"Have faith in Detective Ritzer. I believe that he'll find out the truth real soon." Stanley tried to reassure her.
"Okay."
"Time to get up, wash up, and have some breakfast. I made your favorite seafood noodles."
Xyla's hair was messy as she just woke up. Tiredness and laziness were written all over her bare face. She looked very much like a lovely snow-white Persian cat as she had fair skin too. Stanley felt like his heart was melting away as he looked at her.
He could not help but stroke her hair again.
"Hubby, you're so nice to me," said Xyla.
"I'm blessed with a kind, beautiful wife. What else can I do besides spoiling you?" Stanley's eyes were full of tenderness.
Upon hearing that, Xyla burst out laughing. "Keep on spoiling me then."
"I will. I'll spoil you for the rest of my life."
A bright smile blossomed on Xyla's face. "Sure, but can I trust you?"
"Of course you can. I'll give you lots and lots of love. You'll forever be my baby princess."
This one short sentence was like the faint rosy fragrance in the garden early in the morning, surging through her body and overtaking every bit of her.
"Alright, time to wash up, my princess," Stanley said again.
"Okay," Xyla responded in a soft, adorable voice.
Following that statement, she got out of the bed and went into the bathroom.
On the other hand, Stanley left the room and headed downstairs.
***
Time flew like an arrow.
In a blink of an eye, it was the day of Dragon Group's 70th-anniversary celebration.
Xyla got off work at two o'clock in the afternoon.
She went to do full-body skincare before going home to dress up.
Chapter 997
Chapter 997
She had put on her favorite peach blossom makeup, especially for the grand event tonight. There was a tiny peach blossom on her right cheekbone, refined yet alluring.
She had also put on some highlighter on her collarbone, making it look exceptionally sexy and eye-catching.
Immediately afterward, she pulled her black wavy long hair into a delicate high bun.
After settling her makeup and hairstyle, she hurried off to her enormous dressing room to look for her custom-made Dior gown. She pushed the hanger aside and carefully put on the sleeveless nude gauze nightgown.
Xyla Quest had turned into a little fairy the moment she put on the gown.
From sketching to stitching, Stanley Batton had been keeping a close watch over the gown's manufacturing. Xyla was really surprised by Stanley's good taste.
The color was refreshing yet elegant. The design was simple yet imposing. It was the best gown for early summer.
Xyla had picked a diamond crown, her favorite pair of teardrop diamond earrings, and her beloved silver heels to match the gown. She then stood in front of the gold-and-diamond-studded dressing mirror to double-check her final look.
Her beautiful figure was reflected in the mirror.
She was a real-life fairy.
No one else could beat her charm.
Making sure that her makeup was perfect, she grabbed the silver diamond tassel clutch bag from the rack and slid her phone inside. Then, she left the checkroom and headed to the door, intending to meet Stanley downstairs.
However, right at this moment, Stanley strode into the room.
His utter amazement was reflected in his eyes the moment he caught sight of Xyla.
Her beauty was sublime, ethereal, and almost divine. She looked pure yet sexy, lofty yet captivating. It sounded unrealistic, but everything just made sense with her.
She was very much like a snow lotus on a cliff or a white peony on the top of the mountain.
She was born to bloom above everyone.
No one deserved to touch her. Even their gazes would tarnish her.
Stanley's stomach was knotted when he looked at Xyla.
He forced her against the wall in the very next second, unable to control his desire.
Xyla's face turned cherry red instantaneously. Her blush spread across her cheeks, all the way to her neck. She subconsciously grabbed the man's tie and stuttered, "What... What are you doing? Uhmm..."
"Hurry up and change your outfit, or we'll be late... We shouldn't let others wait for us... Ummm..." Xyla kept on struggling.
Upon hearing that, he reluctantly released Xyla and pressed her against the wall. "You little thing... If it isn't for the party later, I'd never let you step out of this room..."
"Alright, alright, time to get changed." Xyla let go of his tie and quickly pushed him away. She then turned around and left the dressing room.
Stanley leaned against the wall and touched his lips thoughtfully, unable to get over the excitement. Only after a long time did he recollect himself and start to get changed. On the other hand, Xyla's heart was still racing frantically after returning to the room.
Her whole body was burning hot, and her muscles tensed up.
Xyla quickly sat down on the couch and checked her emails on her phone to calm herself down.
About ten minutes later, Stanley stalked out of the dressing room.
He was wearing a black Armani Haute Couture suit with a white dress shirt inside. His look was completed with the classy black tie and the pair of black Armani leather shoes. His hairstyle was the usual fluffy slicked-back hair, simple yet noble, cool yet imposing.
He glowed as he strode across the room. The light exuded from him blinded Xyla effortlessly.
"Let's go." Stanley walked up to Xyla.
Xyla nodded, held his arm, and walked out of the room with him.
There was a helicopter waiting for them in the courtyard.
The pair hopped into the helicopter and headed straight to the cruise ship floating in the middle of the sea, where Dragon Group's 70th-anniversary party was held.
Chapter 998
Chapter 998
The cruise ship was well-lit.
It looked like a night pearl shimmering in the ocean as they viewed it from the sky.
There were many people on the deck of the cruise ship.
In addition to Dragon Group's top executives from all over the world, there were also some famous stars from the entertainment industry and some dignitaries from the political circle. The descending helicopter had caught everyone's attention.
Almost all eyes fell upon it.
"That's our president and his wife, right?"
"I've seen pictures of the young mistress before. She's gorgeous!"
"Well, well. I bet all the bachelors are going to go crazy later."
Very soon, the helicopter landed on the deck under the crowd's attention.
Everyone could not take their eyes off the helicopter.
Zack Cassidy, who was flying the helicopter, was the first to get out of the helicopter, followed by the several black-clad bodyguards.
After that, Zack approached the passenger seat and opened the hatch.
Stanley's and Xyla Quest's stunning faces came into everyone's sight in the very next second.
Without paying any heed to the crowd's attentive gazes, Stanley got out of the helicopter elegantly and then carried Xyla out of the cabin.
The heroic princess hug and the couple's temperament and appealing figures caused an uproar among the crowd. A sharp pang of jealousy washed over them. "Oh my god... Our president is so nice to his wife!"
"He's indeed the most uxorious husband ever."
"Who would have thought that the cold and apathetic Stanley Batton would fall into a girl's hand?"
Sebastian Brenand, Henry Armstrong, and Gary Lakes were all there.
The three of them were leaning against the railing, enjoying the cozy sea breeze. They could not help smiling when they saw the lovebirds.
They exchanged looks of glee, then walked up to Stanley and Xyla tacitly.
The intimacy between the lovebirds had garnered a lot of attention. Xyla's cheeks were burning with embarrassment.
She immediately glared at Stanley and whispered, "Put me down."
"Relax. Let me hug you for a while." Stanley had no intention of letting go of her.
"Man, can you stop acting lovey-dovey here? I know I'm still single, okay? You don't have to rub it in," Henry joked.
"Look at you, Stan," teased Gary.
"You're unbelievable." Sebastian followed suit.
"Shut up, guys."
Reluctantly, Stanley put Xyla down and held her hand, leading her to the deck.
Sebastian, Henry, and Gary followed closely behind them.
The pair had attracted a lot of attention as they strode across the deck.
Nevertheless, Stanley ignored the crowd and led Xyla to the three-story banquet hall right away.
The banquet hall was huge.
The crystal chandelier, which almost occupied the whole ceiling, was shining dazzlingly above them.
The hall was as glorious as a palace in the blinding light.
The world's top orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, played some peaceful music on the side of the hall.
The banquet hall was super crowded. Everyone was toasting and enjoying the food, the wine, and the music happily.
Xyla guessed that there were more than three thousand people here.
Chapter 999
Chapter 999
All of them were dressed up in exquisite suits and gowns.
There were towers of pastry, champagne, and wine at each corner of the hall.
What was more striking was the white nineteen-layer cake in the middle of the banquet hall. Each layer of the cake was decorated with beautiful white swans. The enormous cake was incredibly magnificent. The party was just like the king's feast described in the fairy tales.
It took Xyla Quest quite some time to find Wilson Batton and Sharon Lindt among the crowd.
Josh Batton was standing right behind them. They were busy toasting and chatting with the guests.
Josh and Wilson were much quieter compared to Sharon Lindt, who had been talking non-stop.
Sharon told Xyla before that Josh would be the host for the party tonight.
Maybe time stopped when Xyla and Stanley entered the hall. Everyone was frozen to their spots, their lips parted, and their eyes fixed upon them.
They subconsciously moved sideways and formed a path for the pair.
The path led the two straight to the stage decorated with flowers.
Xyla was already used to events like this.
She calmly walked to the stage with Stanley Batton and came to a halt in front of the podium.
After that, Stanley gave a long speech about Dragon Group's history, its development over the past seventy years, and his vision for the future.
He did not prepare any script for the speech today. Nevertheless, he remained as calm as ever. He had not stuttered even once, and all the terms he used were formal and professional.
His impressive leadership skills were evident to everyone.
After the long opening speech, Stanley and Xyla rose their glass of wine high in the air and cheered with the crowd.
Subsequently, Josh, the host of the day, went on the stage and joined the two. He was wearing a set of white suits, looking neat and gentlemanly.
The two brothers provided a startling contrast as they stood together. One of them was cold and apathetic, while the other was warm and friendly.
Though their temperaments were completely different, they somehow complement each other.
Josh brought the microphone to his mouth. "Next, let's welcome the heir of Dragon Group, my brother Stanley Batton, and my sister-in-law Xyla Quest to dance for us. Give them a round of applause!" The audience burst into wild applause and cheers at once.
Stanley held Xyla's hand and led her to the middle of the hall.
Grasping the situation, the Philharmonic Orchestra immediately played melodious music for the two.
Without hesitation, Stanley grabbed Xyla's waist and pulled her closer to him. The two then performed a waltz dance to the audience.
All the lights in the hall went off, except the one right above the lovebirds.
The warm yellow light shone brightly on them, causing them to look exceptionally dazzling in the ill-lit hall.
All the guests immediately gathered around them and formed a big circle.
The two of them continued to dance gracefully in the circle.
They could not take their eyes off each other as they danced. The way they looked at each other made everyone envious.
"Ahhhh!!! Are they a prince and a princess?"
"I can't take this. What a perfect match they are!"
"Ahhhhh!!! They're so sweet! I'm suffocating!"
Wilson, Sharon, and Josh were standing in front of the crowd, watching the pair dancing in delight.
They could not hide their smiles as they heard the crowd's compliments. This was especially true for Sharon, who was secretly giggling all the time.
On the contrary, Josh's smile soon faded away. Disappointment and a sense of loss flashed in his eyes.
However, they were all gone in the very next second, so no one in the hall had noticed them.
After the dance, Stanley held Xyla's hand and bowed toward the crowd politely.
Once Xyla raised her head, a familiar figure came into view. She stared at the girl in shock. "It's you..."
Chapter 1000
Chapter 1000
A girl was standing right in front of Xyla Quest. Her long black hair was styled into two low braids. There was a tiny daisy hairpin above her right ear, matching well with her Korean bangs. She was wearing a snow-white nightgown with a pair of silver ballet flats.
Joy was written all over her mixed-race face. Her pair of black watery eyes were sparkling with delight.
She was Daisy Cox.
She was the girl Xyla met at Kingstell International Exhibition Hall a few days ago.
She looked radiant today.
Her anxiety and panic that day had completely vanished. There were two delicate dimples near the corners of her mouth as she smiled.
Her eyes were clean and clear. Her face was young and youthful. She looked very much like a gentle, adorable little princess.
Though her dimples were not alcohol, Xyla felt like she was getting drunk by looking at it.
"It's me, Miss." Daisy smiled.
"I totally didn't expect to see you here. How's that young man? Is he okay now?" Xyla asked concernedly.
She thought she would only meet Daisy once in her life. Never in her life had she imagined that she would encounter her here.
"Yeah, he's alright. Well, you didn't expect to see me here, but here we are. I came here for you today," Daisy said sheepishly.
"Did you come here to look for me?" Xyla's eyes were full of surprise.
"Yeah. Brother Terrell and I— Erm, I mean the 'young man' you saved that day... We're here to find you. Ah, he's there!" As Daisy spoke, she pointed at the handsome guy talking to a blonde older man not far away from them.
Xyla almost failed to recognize him. He looked totally different from the day he suffered from sodium cyanide poisoning.
He was bright and energetic. He looked like a Eurasia, with typical European features and skin tone but black hair and pupils.
His thick black hair was neatly parted in three-seventh, and his fringe was slightly permed.
He was wearing a black suit with a white t-shirt inside. The light blue scarf around his neck had perfectly set off his outfit.
He looked extremely hot and elegant at the same time.
The people around him were all resounding dignitaries in the political circle.
Many of them were working for presidents from all over the world.
Nonetheless, the handsome guy was calm and steady as he communicated with them.
Xyla knew at first glance that he had a powerful family background.
Xyla totally did not expect that the young man she saved was actually a big shot.
"Wait a minute..." With that, Daisy lifted her gown and ran toward the handsome guy.
A sweet smile blossomed on the girl's face when she held the guy's arm. She tiptoed and whispered in his ear, "Let's go and thank the beautiful lady who helped us."
Questions were swimming in Stanley Batton's head. He could not make a head nor tail of the situation.
"How did you know Tyler Terrell and that girl?" Stanley asked confusedly.
"Do you remember the story I told you at Kingstell? I saved a young man from sodium cyanide poisoning at Kingstell International Exhibition Hall. It's him. Daisy was also with him that day," Xyla explained. "So it's him..."
"He's a big shot, isn't he?" Xyla's eyes widened, attentive and brimming with curiosity.
"He's currently a presidential candidate of Country T." Stanley added, "Moreover, he's a very successful businessman. Three years ago, he popped out in Korea out of nowhere and posed a great threat to the other businessman.
"He invested a large sum of money in Country T's real estate business then. He then established his own company, HM Property Group there. He spent a huge amount of money on buying lands and building their buildings. He's a brilliant guy indeed. HM Property Group has become the top property agency in Country T in less than three years."