Chapter 464
464:
Eyes fixed on the screen, murmurs broke out across the room, heads subtly tilting toward Lyman. Nobody dared make an outright accusation, but suspicion gravitated toward Lyman. After all, the young Prince of Eighshire had never made a public appearance—why suddenly step into the spotlight now, and for something so trivial? Endangering his protection for the sake of a mere label seemed illogical. Safety surpassed everything.
Lyman’s complexion drained of color, his expression frozen, eyes locked on the viral headlines. Why did this have to come out now, of all times? Was someone out to get him? Panic took over, and he racked his mind for a way to fool these guests and slip away with whatever excuse he could find before he collected the essentials and vanished.
“Mr. Patel, what’s going on? Are you really mentored by Tiana? I trust you’ll tell me the truth,” Lorraine asked, her emotions stirred as she grabbed his arm. She had battled doubt for a while, but the thought of accepting the truth terrified her. If Lyman wasn’t Tiana’s protégé, she and her relatives would be mocked relentlessly—she wouldn’t be able to endure the disgrace.
“Of course, I’m Tiana’s protégé! That so-called Prince is nothing but a pretender with outrageous nerve!” Lyman exclaimed, appearing deeply agitated and furious. “I swear to bring charges against this brazen liar who not only impersonates the young Prince but also attempts to steal my identity!”
After venting, he turned toward Kurt, his tone shifting. “Mr. Miller, I deeply regret having to leave your birthday party, but I must consult my attorneys and ensure this impersonator pays for his actions.”
“Excuse me,” Lyman added, pivoting toward the exit, desperate to leave and make a run for it.
“Hold it.” Dylan’s tone sliced through the room like ice.
A wave of unease swept over the crowd, goosebumps forming as anxiety mounted. They dared not meet his piercing gaze.
Dylan’s aura was undeniable—he carried an authoritative intensity that unsettled everyone, leaving them stiff and shaken.
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Lyman halted, legs trembling. He inhaled slowly, willing himself to stay calm. He swiveled to face Dylan with a composed facade. “Mr. Scott, is there something else?”
“You’ve been masquerading as Tiana’s protégé, deceiving others with that false claim. You’re not walking out today,” Dylan replied without emotion.
Lorraine, still unwilling to accept the truth, hurriedly interjected, “Don’t be ridiculous! Mr. Patel is Tiana’s protégé! No one has ever seen the young Prince of Eighshire. Why should we trust a stranger’s word? And even if he is royalty, how does that prove he studied under Tiana? Maybe he’s the con artist!”
For Lorraine, conceding that Lyman had lied meant public humiliation that would stain her family forever, and she couldn’t let that happen.
Lyman’s expression turned stormy as he snapped, “I’m the genuine article—Tiana’s protégé. And you gullible fools fell for a fraud’s claim!”
Just as his voice fell silent, a guest exclaimed, “Check it out—there’s a new trending topic!”
The room instantly buzzed with guests scrambling for their phones.
“Turns out the Prince of Eighshire is really Tiana’s elusive protégé! Oh man, this is so hilarious. Let’s see what Lyman has got to say!”
“No kidding. Tiana’s two other protégés just backed the Prince of Eighshire up publicly. They even reposted it.”
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