Breaking Free, Loving Again -The Flash Marriage with Mr. CEO

"Philip," Arwen called, pausing in her steps. The man turned toward her, a hint of bashfulness on his face.

"Ma'am, I did what I was asked to," he said.

Arwen nodded —she knew that. But that wasn't what she wanted to know.

"Who asked you?" she asked plainly, though the answer already danced at the edge of her thoughts.

Philip glanced at her and was about to speak, when a calm voice interjected from a distance.

"It was me."

Arwen turned to look, and Margaret approached with a composed smile.

"Aunt Margaret!"

"Yes, it was me," Margaret confirmed with a nod, sparing Philip a brief glance. "I asked him to walk over to you and announce your identity. We can't let them look down on you. So, for that, it was needed for your identity to be revealed."

Arwen took that in and gave a nod. "I no longer intended to hide it anyway. It just happened to come out in the most perfect way. Thank you, Aunt Margaret."

"It was the old lady's instruction," Margaret said with a soft smile. "I was just executing it just the way she wanted."

Arwen smiled. Of course! That was so her Granna's style.

"Now, go on," Margaret said, gesturing towards the grand door of the hall. "Enter … as the Vice President of Davies Internationals."

Arwen nodded and then turned to face the towering doors at a distance. "I am ready to embrace it fully then," she muttered to herself before taking her steps forward.

Margaret remained behind with Philip. "Chairman Davies will be entering later," she said quietly. "Until then, arrange everything as it's been asked."

Philip understood and gave a respectful nod.

Margaret turned and left, disappearing into another corridor.

Meanwhile, inside the banquet hall, the air buzzed with low whispers.

"I just heard someone say it's definitely the Vice President of Davies Internationals," a guest murmured, confirming the doubt everyone held.

"So, it's true. I can't believe it … I am really curious to know who it actually is."

"Yes, even I am interested to find out," another voice chimed in. "Anyone who could work in the shadows all these years and still make the company thrive has to be exceptional. He —"

The air shifted suddenly. A subtle hush fell over the room as the grand doors creaked open.

"He is here," someone squealed in anticipation.

Catrin, who had turned away in boredom, paused again. She had decided to ignore, thinking it was beneath her. But now, curiosity clawed its way back. Slowly, she turned around.

A lean figure stepped through the doorway, casting a long shadow on the polished floor.

All eyes followed the silhouette.

But then —something shifted in the room.

The figure they expected of a man didn't quite look like one.

The graceful poise, the confident stride, the delicate silhouette of the gown flowing behind her …

"Wait! Is it a woman?" someone whispered in disbelief.

Catrin's eyes narrowed, her heart skipping a beat. A pang of pain of betrayal spread across her heart.

Not because she hated the idea of a woman rising at the top, but because she hated the idea of her mother supporting it when she didn't support her. Why was everyone else capable in her mother's eyes, except her?

"Could it be the Vice President of the company is a woman?" another guest said, voice thick with astonishment. Not because they considered women to be any less. But they still associate success with the man.

They have modernized themselves, but some prejudices still clung to their bones.

Then, as if the crowd collectively held its breath —

Arwen appeared.

Her presence, bold yet elegant, cut through the room like a knife through silk. Her gown shimmered under the crystal chandeliers, her gaze was steady, and her lips curved in the faintest, most assured smile.

"This … isn't this Arwen Quinn, the daughter of Catrin and Idris Quinn?"

"Is she the Vice President of Davies Internationals?"

Gasps echoed through the hall.

And gazes turned to search for Catrin and Idris in the crowd. They all had noticed them earlier, so finding them wasn't difficult. Their gazes were filled with curiosity as if asking the two to confirm it.

While Idris stood somewhere towards the back of the hall, looking equally surprised, Catrin stood closer to see Arwen more clearly.

Though she looked surprised at the front, her clenched jaw and stiff fingers had a different story to tell. Her gaze was fixed on Arwen as if demanding an answer. An explanation for her.

However, Arwen walked in nonchalantly. She didn't even turn to glance her way. Her ignorance was so natural that it felt like she hadn't seen her at all.

And that ignorance only further intensified Catrin's fury. She burned from inside, but then suddenly a voice of doubt calmed her down.

"Could we have misunderstood?" She heard someone whisper. "Maybe she entered just at the same time … Maybe the Vice President is someone else and is yet to enter?"

And Catrin found herself grasping that possibility. It did make sense to her.

After all, how could Arwen be working at Davies Internationals?

Wasn't her interest always been in ballet?

Catrin thought to herself and remembered how Arwen had always loved and busied herself with dancing.

Of course, after putting her passion into dance, there was no way she would have gotten spare time to learn the business and make a success there. Business learning needs equal efforts. It was not an art anyone could master on a whim.

It was impossible …

However, just as she was proving herself, she saw a man in a crisp suit appear on Arwen's side.

He was not an unknown face.

He was the Head Marketing Executive at Davies Internationals. She had seen him before.

But why did he appear beside Arwen?

Did she know him?

Before the crowd could puzzle it out, they saw Philip move forward with practiced ease, standing just beside Arwen.

Then, in a clear yet respectful voice, he spoke, "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you all to our company's Vice President —Mrs. Arwen Quinn."