Chapter 229: It’s Stollen

The next day, a grand perfume launch event was held in the event hall of one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. Mia was busy overseeing the final preparations, her energy reflecting the importance of the occasion. The perfume was the debut product of her newly founded cosmetics company, and invitations had been sent to influential figures from various walks of life.

Each guest had their own reasons for attending. For some, it was the allure of Mia’s Wilson family background. Others were drawn by the involvement of Victor and Silvia as the brand ambassadors. Recent controversies surrounding the perfume launch and Natalie Ford’s involvement only added to the intrigue.

But the most compelling reason was the connection to NextEra, the major investor in Mia’s company. Many guests hoped to capitalize on the opportunity to network with someone from NextEra, with the faint hope that the elusive CEO might make an appearance—though such chances were slim.

Natalie arrived just before the event was about to begin. Without delay, she headed straight to Mia, who was busy instructing staff. Natalie’s entrance turned heads. She was dressed sharply in a stylish white shirt and trousers, topped with a bottle-green jacket and complemented by chic sneakers. Her outfit radiated effortless confidence.

"Mia," Natalie called with a smile, approaching her.

"Oh, look! My VIP guest has finally arrived," Mia teased playfully as she turned toward Natalie.

"You’re early," Mia said with mock sarcasm. "A little more delay and you’d have missed the whole event."

"You should be grateful I made it here at all," Natalie quipped in response.

"Let me guess, your husband didn’t want you to leave?" Mia chuckled, her tone mischievous.

"You could say that," Natalie replied, her mind drifting back to the scene from an hour ago when Justin had been adamantly against her attending the event.

"You’re still not fully recovered, and going to an event will only exhaust you...Although I’m you to go, make sure not to stand for too long—or I’ll have Ryan follow you with a chair in his hands... And forget the heels. I’ve already arranged comfortable sneakers that match your outfit.... And don’t forget to come straight home after the event and rest..."

Justin’s nagging voice was still echoing in Natalie’s ears.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Mia’s parents arrived, their presence lighting up the room.

"Mom! Dad!" Mia cheered, hurrying to greet them.

The middle-aged couple, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, smiled warmly at their daughter. "That’s quite the grand arrangement for your company’s first event," her mother commented proudly, glancing at her husband, who nodded in agreement.

"Well, you should know your daughter managed to bring in NextEra as an investor," Mia bragged with a playful grin.

Her parents exchanged knowing looks. Having NextEra involved in any company was a significant achievement that commanded admiration. They were clearly proud.

Mia’s mother turned to Natalie with a kind smile. "How have you been, dear?"

"I’m fine, aunty," Natalie replied politely. "It’s good to see you after so long." She greeted Mr. Wilson as well, who responded with a polite nod.

Despite the rumors surrounding Natalie, Mia’s parents had never objected to their friendship. In fact, they treated Natalie with warmth and respect, much like a second daughter, which meant Mia never had to tread carefully around them.

Mia glanced behind her parents. "Mrs. Hitler isn’t here?" she teased, referring to her grandmother with a mischievous grin.

"She’s not feeling well," Mia’s mother explained. "But she did ask us to pass on her regards. She’s happy for you."

"But," she added, her tone brightening, "there’s someone else here you might want to meet."

Mia raised an eyebrow in curiosity, only to see a man stepping into view. Her eyes widened, and she nearly ran toward him. "Brother! You’re finally here!"

The tall, handsome man caught her effortlessly, steadying her. "Be careful," he said softly, his voice carrying a gentle warning. "It wouldn’t look good if the CEO of a company and the host of this event fell flat on her face."

"I don’t care," Mia retorted, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "I just want to hug my brother."

The crowd around them couldn’t help but take notice of the striking man. It was none other than Morris Wilson, the heir of the Wilson family. In his late twenties, Morris was tall, with perfectly styled blond hair, sharp and refined features, and an air of nobility about him. Dressed in a tailored dark suit, he exuded a presence that was both commanding and radiant.

As Mia finally let go of him, he patted her head fondly. "You’ve finally achieved what you’ve been fighting for. I’m proud of you."

"Thank you, brother," Mia said, beaming with happiness.

Morris’s gaze shifted to Natalie, and he greeted her with a warm smile. "How have you been, Natalie?"

"I’m good, Morris," Natalie replied politely. "It’s good to see you after such a long time."

He hummed in acknowledgment, and the three of them exchanged a few words before Mia turned to Natalie. "We need to go," she said.

Their parents nodded in understanding, while Mia leaned closer to whisper something to her brother. Morris looked surprised, his eyes darting between Mia and Natalie.

"Just look after our parents if the need arises," Mia added with a smile.

Morris sighed lightly, shaking his head, but nodded nonetheless. "Fine."

As the two women left, Mia’s mother turned to her son, her curiosity piqued. "What did she say?"

"She told me to take care of you both," Morris replied with a faint smile. "Now, let’s have a seat."

The Wilson family moved to the main part of the hall, where a crowd of guests eagerly surrounded them, all hoping to engage with the prominent family.

The event officially began, and it quickly became a focal point in the city’s news coverage. Various media outlets were present, eager to capture the gathering of well-known figures under one roof. With Natalie Ford’s presence, the reporters were particularly excited—her name alone guaranteed a potential scoop. They waited in anticipation, sensing that something noteworthy was bound to happen.

On stage, Mia and Natalie stood alongside Victor and Silvia, all poised and confident. Mia addressed the audience, explaining the theme of the perfume:

Meanwhile, Victor leaned closer to Natalie, his voice low as he whispered, "Where did that man take you?"

Natalie didn’t turn to look at him, replying in an equally quiet tone, "At least not to a drain hole."

Victor frowned. "Would it hurt to give me a proper answer?"

"You should’ve thought about that before showing up at my home uninvited," Natalie shot back.

"I’m used to doing things my way," he retorted. "I didn’t know you’d change so much after getting a husband."

"Yeah, I changed," she replied, her tone sharp as she gritted her teeth. "Now stop talking and focus on the event."

Victor huffed but complied, leaning back slightly. Natalie, meanwhile, maintained her professional composure, refusing to let the exchange distract her.

Mia concluded her explanation about the perfume, her enthusiasm shining through. As her words came to an end, the hall erupted into applause, the audience clearly impressed.

From a distance, a pair of eyes followed Mia closely, ignoring everything else in the room. Steve Davis stood silently, his gaze fixed on her, his attention unwavering. Though he had received the invitation like everyone else, he wasn’t here for business or networking. He had come purely to witness a milestone in Mia’s journey as a businesswoman.

"...So let me introduce our latest creation," Mia announced with a bright smile. The stage floor shifted, and a beautifully decorated display emerged, revealing an intricately designed perfume box. Inside were two elegantly crafted perfume bottles—a couple’s set—that sparkled under the stage lights.

At the same moment, servers began moving through the hall, placing perfume boxes on the tables of the guests.

"We’ve prepared this perfume as a gift for all of you," Mia continued. "Please feel free to try it."

The audience was intrigued, their curiosity piqued by the stunning packaging and presentation. The guests eagerly examined the boxes, impressed by the craftsmanship and the luxurious feel.

Meanwhile, across the city, live advertisement boards lit up with Victor and Silvia’s posters promoting the perfume. The captivating visuals caught everyone’s attention, further building excitement.

Fans of the two stars, particularly the younger crowd with limited budgets, were thrilled to discover that pocket-sized versions of the perfume had been crafted just for them. Many expressed their gratitude toward Mia and Natalie for thinking of everyone.

Back in the event hall, just as the guests were about to try the perfume, a commotion erupted at the entrance. A woman entered, flanked by a team of lawyers, her sharp heels clicking against the polished floor.

"This perfume is my creation!" she declared loudly, her voice cutting through the hum of the room. "Natalie Ford and Mia Wilson have stolen my formula."

Gasps rippled through the audience, and a wave of whispers filled the hall.

"Who is this woman?" people murmured, their confusion evident as all eyes turned toward the unexpected intruder.

On the other hand, the reporters were delighted. They had come for drama, and this was the kind of scoop they had been hoping for.

The woman, appearing to be in her late twenties, strode confidently toward the stage, her expression defiant. Once there, she faced the guests and repeated her accusation.

"This perfume you all hold in your hands," she said, her voice steady and loud, "is originally my creation. It was stolen from me."

The entire hall fell into a dead silence, along with the some whispers.