Chapter 149 - I Am Overjoyed To Introduce To You

Patrick Yang walked around the hall as he greeted his guests.

'The people whom I had expected to come are all here. I think it's time to call Nana out.' He glanced at the watch and it was close to 8:30 PM.

After sending a text to Wade, he glanced at Ace and after receiving a nod from him, Patrick strode through the crowd of guests.

As he walked to the grand staircase that was connected to the second floor, the guests all noticed his movements and turned in his direction.

He walked halfway up the stairs and stopped at the platform present there.

He looked around and started speaking when he noticed that everyone's attention was on him.

"Good evening and thank you for attending today's event on such short notice." He smiled at them and then cleared his throat.

Among the guests who were now slowly moving closer to the stairs, there was one particular pair who couldn't control their excitement.

Mandy held onto her mother's arm to stop herself from running onto the stage.

She was waiting for the moment her father would introduce her and then she would gracefully saunter onto the stage.

'This is the moment that I have been dreaming about. My chance to shine, the light that won't be snatched from me.' She smiled widely as she paid attention to Patrick's words.

"I know that this might have come as a shock to most of you when I had made that announcement in the press." He awkwardly chuckled when everyone in the crowd nodded their heads.

After his continual denial of fathering an illegitimate child with his ex-secretary, they were sure that the child would not be given any importance even if she was accepted.

However, that press meet had proved them wrong.

They were here today to witness how Patrick Yang would accept the same woman and child that he had so ardently refused in front of the media.

'I can see the scorn on most of their faces.' Patrick observed them but did nothing to point it out because they would soon be slapped with the real reason for this party.

"The person who I want to introduce to everyone here today is someone very close to my heart." As he said those words his face blossomed into a radiant smile.

A smile that made everyone misunderstand that it was for Mandy Rong.

"She might not have been near me for very long but that does not decrease my love for her even in the slightest bit." His face had a somber expression on it when he said these words.

'Nana spent so many years away from me and I still do not know why big brother moved away in such a haste.' He reminisced about the past events that led to Simon and his family to abruptly leave the country.

"But I am so glad to say that she has come back into my life. Hopefully, to stay here forever." His golden eyes sparkled when he said these words.

Mandy was almost on the verge of bursting into tears when she heard such beautiful words that had come out of her father's mouth.

'I always thought that he hated me but it looks like he was just bad at expressing himself at that time.' She smiled at the man on the stage and waited for what he would say next.

"I've been rambling on for a long time now. So I shall not keep you waiting for any longer and call out the person whom I want to introduce tonight." He nodded his head to Wayne who was standing at the door of the second floor.

Mandy looked at herself in her phone for one last time before handing it over to Lucille.

"Remember not to slouch." Lucille gave her the last minute advice and patted her back.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am overjoyed to introduce to you my lovely niece, Lina Yang!" Patrick's loud voice echoed in the room.

'Niece? Lina Yang?' Everyone had the same thought in their minds.

The applause that he had expected was not heard. In its place was a deadly still silence that enveloped the hall.

Mandy was about to take a step forward towards her father when she heard that the name coming out of his mouth wasn't hers.

Her raised foot froze in the air and she had almost stumbled to the ground if it wasn't for her mother's timely assistance.

'Lina?' 

That was all she could think right now because her head was a mess with all the negative thoughts that were swarming in it.

In that still silence, people heard a man's voice that came from the other side of the door.

"Too late. Let's go!" 

As the door opened, the first thing Lina saw was her brother Wayne standing there with a wide smile on his lips.

"Come, Nana." He stretched his hand out which Lina subconsciously grabbed.

The spotlight fell on the three figures who slowly descended down from the second floor.

Wayne on the right, Lina in the center and Wade on the left.

This was what people saw when their minds finally cleared from the shock that Patrick had given them.

Instantly, hushed murmurs were heard all around the room.

How could people not be confused when they had hoped for the illegitimate child to be introduced but it turned out to be someone else instead?

Lina's mind too was not in a normal condition at the moment. 

Feeling the spotlight on her face, her first reaction was to turn around and escape.

However, the two bodyguards by her side had blocked all her means of escape by holding onto her arms in a tight grip.

To the public, it looked as though three people were gracefully walking down but the reality wasn't so simple.

"Let go of me! Why am I here? It should be Stacy instead!" She whispered in Wayne's ears and tried to loosen his grip on her hand.

"Stay still or else I will tell Aunt Di that you tried to mess up her plans!" He threatened her using her mother's name.

'Mommy's plan?' Lina immediately halted her struggles and tried to understand what was happening.

"Here, she is! Come, Nana..." Patrick called out to her when the three reached him.

'I pride in my sense of perception but what the hell just happened?' She was bewildered by the outcome of today's event.

Her feet moved on their own and she now stood beside her Uncle Pat.

"You must already know who she is by now but let me properly introduce her to you." He cheerfully announced into the mic.

"This is my niece. My elder brother, Simon Yang's only daughter, Lina Yang. The apple of our eyes and the heiress of the Yang Group." He gently patted her head after he finished his little speech.

Collective gasps were heard all over the room after this revelation.

But among the gasps was a certain someone who was beaming in joy.

Burt Liang couldn't control the smile that appeared on his face and his hands moved on their own accord to start clapping.

The crowd turned to see who had started the applause and then they too followed after him.

Jeanette Liang stood beside her father and clenched her fists when she saw his joyous smile.

'So that is the bitch you so desperately wanted to meet?' She gritted her teeth but clapped her hands when she saw her father looking at her.

Lina's cloud of confusion had faded by now and she had realized what was going on.

'Was I just tricked by everyone to attend this party? Because they knew that I wouldn't come if it was meant for me?' She guessed correctly about what had taken place in the past week.

She turned her head behind and glared at her brothers who had been lying to her.

'This is payback for all the times you made us watch those horror movies!' Wayne playfully stuck his tongue out and chuckled when he saw her annoyed face.

Lina knew that there were too many eyes on her right now so she could not retort to his provocation but she would certainly get them back for tricking her.

"My Nana has been away for almost ten years and has finally decided to come back. I am sure that she would love to make your acquaintance tonight." He then looked at Ace who was smiling at him like a proud father.

"Nana, would you like to say something?" He abruptly put her on the spot.

Lina's panicked face and her wide-opened eyes were too adorable for a few older ladies as they immediately chuckled.

Hearing those chuckles, Lina's face turned a bright red but she could not run away.

So she bravely stepped to the mic and after clearing her throat she spoke up.

"Hi… I might not know everyone present here but hopefully, I will by the end of the night." Her soft yet clear voice resounded in the silent room.

Once again the crowd broke out into a loud cheer but this time it was the group of ladies who had once seen Lina at Cecilia's salon.

She smiled at the crowd and then holding onto her uncle's hand she walked down the stairs.

Today's first dance was supposed to be with her father however due to his absence, Patrick was glad to take over.

While Lina and Patrick had begun dancing, there was a certain someone who was frozen in his spot.

'My kitten… No, Lina is Lina Yang?' Reuben Ming's eyes followed the dancing pair.

His feet which had just entered the room took a step back and strode out of the hall.