Alec, El and Ricky stepped inside the venue.
As Ricky predicted, most of the guests did have their eyes fixed on El when they saw her entering.
"Is that Mrs. Wilson? I never saw her dress so well."
"She looks so regal in that dress." The crowd was gossiping.
"Of Course she will, after all it's Mr. Ford's event." A lady jeered.
"I hope all of you have read the rumour about both of them." She winked evilly to her friends.
Their words were faintly audible to the trio.
"Mr. Wilson." They heard a firm voice from behind.
It was Daniel Ford, he walked with his wife Lyla towards them. The affluent middle aged couple had a superior aura around them.
"Congratulations Mr. Ford on your new business launch. Thank you for inviting us." Alec said.
"What?" El asked in a low voice.
"This is your business launch party?" She asked directly to Daniel.
Lyla nodded.
"You look so beautiful dear." She complimented El.
They could still hear people gossiping around, Alec was infuriated while everyone else ignored it.
"I hope you'll also plan to clear the rumours in this event Mr. Ford." Alec tried to keep his voice calm but he was getting impatient.
El felt a sense of unrest expanding within her.
"Yes," Daniel replied.
"I plan to clear everything once and for all." His voice was firm and El understood what he meant.
All colour from her face drained and all hell broke loose around her.
Looking at her pale and sunken face, "You don't need to worry about anything dear. We've got everything arranged, no one would dare to lay a finger on you." Lyla assured her.
Clearly she was referring to Dwane and not the rumours.
"You don't need to be afraid of anyone." Lyla continued.
Michelle realised that her truth would soon be revealed and she had to face the consequences of it head on, be it Alec's reaction or Dwane's.
At Least she had her family backing her. She firmly nodded at Lyla's word ready to let everyone know about her true identity.
Yet fear of Alec's reaction resided deep in her heart.
"Please make yourselves comfortable." Daniel said and excused himself and Lyla.
While Alec's attention was still on the gossip. El couldn't care less about them, her heart was pounding loudly as she got more anxious with every passing second.
Alec was also restless about how Daniel Ford intended to clear the rumours. He feared Daniel might say something that he would find unpleasant.
Dwane was also at the event. He was looking around as if he was finding someone. His wandering eyes stopped when they landed on El.
Forgetting his course of action, Dwane couldn't help but continue staring at her.
She looked enticingly beautiful, captivating all his senses. Noticing her standing alone in a corner, Dwane walked towards her.
"Good evening Miss El."
Michelle stood still baffled, when she sensed his presence.
"I didn't see you there Mr. Farehya." She said plainly.
"Call me Dwane." He himself was surprised at his words. Currently, Only his grandfather and his close friends called him Dwane.
He always carried an authoritative and aloof aura around him, not letting his guard down around anyone.
"I don't think you'd like that Mr. Farehya." Her reply confused him. However his eyes were still fixed on her,
"You look like an angel from heaven." His voice was soft and chivalrous.
Michelle let out a low self-deprecating chuckle knowing that he would literally be at her throat by the end of the day.
She wasn't terrified of him as before. Given that he was invited, her father might surely have made arrangements for her security.
Michelle realised how her life was completely going to change after the revelation, how everyone would look at her differently. Until now, she was only thinking how Alec would react.
"Excuse me" she absentmindedly excused herself from Dwane and walked towards Alec. Dwane watched her walk away.
After several seconds he remembered what he was upto before he saw El. He shook his head disapproving of his intuitive actions.
Meanwhile, "Alec, I need to tell you something." Her words made Alec anxious, he feared she'd say something she didn't want to know.
"I'm sorry Alec, I should have told you this before."
His body stiffened when he heard her words.
"Tell what?" His voice turned cold, scaring El.
"Alec, I.." she started stammering as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I.."
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen." El was interrupted by the announcement.
"It gives me immense pleasure to have you all at my business launch event." Daniel said.
"This day is also incredibly special for me because today.." Daniel exhaled softly before he continued.
"Because today, the Ford family reclaims my beloved daughter, Michelle Ford."
The crowd burst out into whispers. Michelle lowered her face dejectedly and prepared herself.
Her hand was still on Alec's hand, and her eyes were still filled with tears. She clutched his hand out of guilt and anxiety.
Alec was surprised with what Daniel announced, this is not what he was expecting. But this was exactly what Dwane was expecting.
With a smirk he looked around to find her. He was looking for her from the moment he entered.
Everyone else in the crowd looked around to find Michelle, including Alec and Dwane.
Ricky on the other hand had his eyes fixed on her as his Adam's apple bobbled nervously.
Daniel cleared his throat to get everyone's attention,
"I name my new business to my dear daughter Michelle." He unveiled the new brand logo, it read 'Michelle Designs'.
Everyone gasped at Daniel's elaborate gesture.
"Please put your hands together for the heiress of Ford enterprises, Michelle Ford."
Everyone looked behind to find her. El sat still in her place unwilling to respond.
"Michelle, could you please join us on the stage?" Daniel said, looking directly at her.
She made a low whimpering sound grabbing Alec's attention.
He looked at her, a strange uneasy feeling dwelled within him.
"I'm sorry Alec." she said as she slowly let go of his hand.
He felt more and more restless, Michelle got up from her seat and walked towards the stage.
Everyone present was shocked to see El Wilson join the Fords as their daughter Michelle Ford.
She had a faint smile on her face as she pressed her finger on the corner of her eye to suppress her tears.