CHAPTER 316: CHAPTER 316: ALEX’S ARRIVAL

Louis nodded again, almost cheerfully. "I will be waiting."

Then, with a sudden movement, he took Olivia’s hand in his. This time, there was actual contact. He shook his head dramatically, his voice trembling in mock fear.

"I am so scared. I cannot bear Mateo’s cold gaze. It is so cold... so cold that even winter feels warm compared to it."

His exaggerated performance was so over the top that Aurora nearly fell over from laughing.

"I have seen many types of men," she managed to say between giggles, "but you are completely different from all of them."

Some of the onlookers whispered to each other, some smiled, and a few shook their heads in disbelief.

Aurora, still grinning, raised her glass toward Louis. "Well, future boyfriend, I think you just made quite an impression."

Louis gave her a small smile, but his eyes shifted back to Olivia. "That was the point," he said simply.

Mateo’s jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists at his side, but he kept his voice in check. He could feel that if he spoke too much, it would only make him look worse in front of everyone.

Still, inside, he was boiling. He did not understand how Olivia had gotten involved with someone like Louis.

In his eyes, Louis was nothing but a shameless leech who lived off drama and attention. For a brief moment, Mateo even thought of warning Olivia to stay away from him.

Before he could act on that thought, a calm yet firm voice called out from nearby. "Aurora."

Aurora’s brow arched slightly. She turned her head toward the voice. Her expression shifted from mild curiosity to surprise when she saw who it was. Standing a few steps away was Alex.

This was the first time Aurora had met Alex while being herself, Aurora, and not as Ms. Dawn. She blinked at him for a moment, her mind quickly working.

Olivia also noticed Alex, and her face changed slightly. She seemed to recognize him instantly, though she kept quiet.

Alex walked toward them with a calm, steady pace. His movements were deliberate, and before anyone realized it, he was standing directly in front of Aurora and Olivia.

It was subtle, but his position placed him between them and the two young men, Louis and Mateo, as if forming a quiet barrier.

Louis gave him a curious glance, while Mateo frowned.

Alex did not even glance at either man at first. His attention was on Aurora. When his eyes met hers, there was a softness there, but also something guarded.

"Aurora," he said gently, "how have you been?"

Aurora tilted her head, pretending to be puzzled. "I am good now," she said slowly. "But... who are you?"

Alex’s smile stayed in place, though there was a flicker of something else in his eyes. "I am a family friend," he explained, his tone calm.

Olivia’s frown deepened. Before Alex could say anything more, she spoke up. "He is Alex," she said plainly. "Mary’s son from her first marriage. Your brother."

Aurora widened her eyes slightly, as if truly surprised. In reality, she had already known Alex’s identity and personality. Still, she kept up the act, looking at him with a hint of wonder.

"I did not even realize it was you," she said. "Why were you not with the rest of the family?"

Alex’s smile became a little stiff. "I could not stay at the house for... certain reasons," he said in a voice that left no room for questions.

Before Aurora could respond, Alex’s gaze flicked to Olivia. She was glancing toward a platter nearby, her attention caught by something.

Without thinking, Alex reached for it. He picked up the last cupcake from the platter a waiter was carrying, the one that had been out of reach before.

He held it out to Olivia casually, almost like it was a habit.

Olivia accepted it with a quiet "thank you" and began eating. She did not show much emotion, but there was no hostility in her tone either.

Aurora, however, noticed the detail immediately. Alex had gone out of his way to get that last cupcake for Olivia. It had been the only one left, and he had chosen to give it to her without hesitation.

For Aurora, this said a lot.

In truth, neither Olivia nor Lucas, Theodore, or Adriana held any real grudge against Alex anymore. In fact, after one particular hospital visit and after hearing certain stories, they had only pity for him.

They had made an unspoken agreement not to bully him. What they had done during the first month of visiting the hospital, they had long buried in their memories, never admitting they had once tried to make his life harder.

Alex himself had been generous, forgiving them without resentment. Still, after Aurora had fallen into a coma, he had suddenly vanished from their lives about six months later.

When he said he did not want to face them again, they had chosen to respect his choice.

Aurora decided to break the silence. "What are you doing here, Alex?"

"I was invited to the party," Alex replied smoothly. "I wanted to make some connections."

His eyes shifted then. He turned toward the two young men who had been trying to speak to Olivia and Aurora. His gaze became colder.

"And who are they?" he asked.

Olivia opened her mouth, but Aurora beat her to it. She pointed straight at Mateo. "That guy was here to flirt with Olivia," she said calmly.

Alex’s expression chilled further. His eyes locked onto Mateo, studying him with quiet disapproval. A look of disdain flickered across his face before he turned away slightly, as if Mateo was not worth his time.

Mateo felt his stomach drop. He knew exactly who Alex was.

The CEO of a fast-rising company, Alex had the potential to surpass his own family’s influence in just a few years.

In fact, their families were already nearly equal in status. If Alex kept his momentum, he could very well end up far ahead.

The thought made Mateo glance at Olivia differently. He had fancied her before, thinking she was a beauty who might be easy to win over. But now he realized she had connections far beyond what he expected.

Just moments ago, he had said she might be mistreated by others in the future. Now, that idea felt laughable.

Alex broke the silence. "I do not think someone like you would suit Olivia," he said flatly.

He glanced at Olivia then, almost as if waiting for her to agree. When he saw the lack of interest in her eyes, he pressed on.

"You are not very good-looking. Your family background is not strong enough. And to be honest, your family might not even last long."

Mateo’s face flushed. "You are saying too much," he snapped. "It is not like that. My family will rise again soon."

Aurora raised one eyebrow. In the dream, it was true that Mateo’s family avoided bankruptcy. She had even tried to cause their downfall herself, adding fuel to the fire only a few days ago. Yet nothing worked. It was almost as if some invisible force was protecting them.

It irritated her to no end, but she said nothing about it now.

Alex, however, remained calm. "Even if your family does recover its position," he said, "that does not mean I will allow someone like you to come near my sister."

Just as Alex’s cold words toward Mateo hung in the air, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. A soft but clear male voice echoed through the hall, drawing everyone’s attention. It was calm yet confident, the kind of voice that made people stop what they were doing and listen.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the voice said. "Thank you for being here tonight."

The crowd turned toward the source. At the far end of the room, walking toward the stage with a relaxed smile, was a man in an expensive dark suit.

His steps were measured, and his presence alone seemed to draw people’s eyes.

Aurora’s gaze sharpened. She recognized him immediately. This was Patrick Dawson, the host of the party.

She had done her homework on him before coming tonight. Patrick was not just wealthy; he was the kind of man people both admired and whispered about in private.

On paper, he was a billionaire who owned nearly half the restaurant chains in the country. In reality, his fortune was probably far greater, with assets that stretched across industries.

To say he was rich was an understatement.

But there was something about him that had always bothered Aurora. His public image was spotless, but there were rumors. Shady business deals. Exploitation hidden behind polished marketing.

Even the food in his restaurants, though delicious, was priced so high that it felt like robbery. Still, his hotels and restaurants always stayed full, with loyal customers who swore by the "experience" he offered.

Patrick reached the microphone, his smile widening as he looked at the crowd. "I am truly honored to welcome you all tonight," he began. "We are here to celebrate a major step forward for my company. And I could not have done it alone."