Chapter 194

"I never informed Father that I'd successfully tracked down Miranda's daughter. Yet somehow, he discovered it on his own and now intends to make a public announcement..."

Lillian turned her gaze toward Vivian, who was currently surrounded by admirers, her brows knitting together in unease.

"Despite the DNA results confirming her blood relation to Lucas, and her possession of the heirloom bracelet, something about this situation feels... off."

As Lucas descended the grand staircase, dozens of eyes followed his every movement.

Many socialites' hearts had shattered when Mr. Goldmann Sr. publicly declared his unavailability years ago. With Adrian Boucher - the entertainment industry titan - being untouchable due to his legion of fans, all attention had turned to Lucas, the last eligible bachelor among Bassburgh's elite.

Dubbed Bassburgh's Violin Prince, Lucas had inherited his father's extraordinary musical gifts.

He'd debuted on stage at five, performed internationally by seven, won gold at ten, and completed a world concert tour by fifteen. His academic achievements matched his artistic brilliance.

Now serving as the youngest professor at the Royal Academy of Music and their official spokesperson, he represented perfection.

However, Mrs. Laurent had made it clear: the Laurent family required their future daughter-in-law to come from at least a scholarly background.

"Lillian." A graceful woman draped in white mink approached, her arm linked with Yves Boucher's, her makeup impeccable.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"That's the Boucher patriarch and his wife!"

"Everyone knows Mrs. Laurent and Mrs. Boucher are inseparable. Their presence was inevitable."

Vivian glanced over, observing Lucas and Lillian conversing with the Bouchers, then bit her lip.

'The Bouchers - Bassburgh's only family that rivals the Goldmanns in prestige.'

With calculated steps, Vivian approached the group. "Auntie, Lucas—"

Both Mrs. Boucher and Yves turned their attention to Vivian. Lillian's eyes flashed with irritation at the interruption.

"Is this your sister's daughter?" Mrs. Boucher inquired, studying Vivian.

Lillian offered only a tight-lipped smile.

'Interrupting elders mid-conversation? Such appalling manners.'

"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Boucher." Vivian adopted a demure posture, leaving Lillian no opening for reprimand.

Mrs. Boucher nodded politely, though her assessing gaze lingered.

'Well-mannered and pretty enough, but... lacking something essential.'

Both Lillian and Miranda had carried themselves with natural nobility that ordinary socialites couldn't replicate. Even Lillian's son radiated extraordinary charm - shouldn't Miranda's daughter possess even more?

Mrs. Boucher couldn't hide her disappointment.

Noticing the shift, Vivian lowered her head, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

'What's wrong with this old bat? That look... is she judging me?'

"Dad, I can walk on my own! Stop dragging me—"

William had located Sophia and practically hauled her to the Laurent estate's gala.

He'd claimed Lillian Laurent planned to reveal the de Armas heiress's identity. Though it didn't concern her, Sophia knew her father's real motive - to parade her before Bassburgh's eligible bachelors!

'Is he that desperate to marry me off?!'

But when Sophia spotted Vivian across the room, she wrenched free from her father's grip, face contorting in shock. "Vivian Vanderbilt? What are you doing here?"