Divorced Heiress
Chapter 35

I finished greeting and exchanging a few words with the representatives of the brands tonight, some were friendlier than others, but it didn't stop the smile from disappearing from my face.

My ankles were starting to hurt and Jack and I decided to return to the table after congratulating Emma on her Spring-Summer collection, her company was the most qualified for the collaboration, after Lancaster Collection.

Being a few meters from Doinel's table, a slight bump on my leg made me stop in my tracks and turn around to confront whoever did it. I looked down at the person in the wheelchair, finding myself once again looking into their hazel eyes, but something was off. This wasn't the man I spoke to about an hour and a half ago.

This man was the one I bumped into at the entrance with his mother and the one I saw on the other side of the runway, I knew it from the sparkle in his eyes, from the tenderness in his gaze that sent shivers down my spine.

There were no traces of that cold and arrogant Alexander, in fact, now that I was looking at him more closely, I realized his hazel eyes had hints of green, his skin was paler, just as Abby said, as if he hadn't seen the sun in his life.

I pondered my words more than I should have before letting them out, I felt perplexed, very confused.

"Mr. Lancaster. Is there something that you don't understand?" I asked, feeling nervous under his intense gaze. He then moved his trembling hand away from the wheelchair's control to extend it towards me, waiting for me to shake it with mine.

"Sarah Doinel." He said in a hoarse and deep voice, barely audible. My body shivered before becoming completely still, while I looked at him with a furrowed brow.

Definitely, he was not Alexander.

Who was he?

How did he know that my real last name was Doinel?

"Who are you?" I muttered with a strained voice, feeling like my heart was about to burst out of my chest at any moment.

I looked at him, waiting for an answer, but it seemed like he struggled to say a word. His hand was still extended, and I didn't dare touch it, thinking that a Lancaster I didn't know seemed to know who I really was.

"Oh, no, don't even think about it. You won't ensnare my brother. There are plenty of candidates for you tonight, but don't you dare set your eyes on the Lancaster family. You're not welcome." Gina appeared, taking control of the wheelchair from behind the dark- haired man, preventing him from operating it with the buttons.

I looked at Gina, catching my breath, and although I wanted to defend myself once again against her, my mind went blank. I didn't even know what to say. I didn't know who this man was, even though I initially thought he was Alexander. Did Alexander have a twin?

How did I never know?

I cleared my throat, dismissing the questions in my mind, and became agitated when I heard the voice of the unknown man.

"Gina, shut up!"

Gina's body tensed up and she looked surprised at the dark-haired man next to her, incredulously looking at his face.

"If you disrespect her again, you'll get to know me." He snapped, his face turning red, showing his annoyance with the woman by his side.

Something inside me stirred, leaving me unstable for a few seconds. I didn't know if I should feel satisfied with Gina's indignant expression or uncomfortable because the stranger was defending me from his own sister.

"Brother, you... you. I can't believe it."

I took a deep breath that helped me fully recover.

If I stayed close to the Lancasters, I would go crazy.

"Ms. Lancaster, again with the same topic? What makes you think I would be interested in your family again? Why don't you mind your own business instead of following me everywhere? I'm starting to think you've missed me." I said playfully, giving her an indifferent look. Gina looked at me angrily and let out a bitter laugh.

"Of course! I missed you, but only to clean every corner of the house, because that's all you're good for, huh? What would people think of you if they found out that you were nothing more than a servant for the Lancasters? I assure you, they wouldn't even have considered you as Vice President of Doinel."

Gina had a smile on her face, as if she had hurt me with her words.

I raised one of my eyebrows and looked behind her with amusement on my face, then I looked back at the man in the wheelchair who was struggling to speak, holding Gina's hand tightly. But I didn't want to listen to him again; this was none of his business. I didn't even know who he was or where he came from, but at least now I knew he was Alexander's twin, someone I didn't know existed.

"That speaks poorly of the Lancasters, not of me, and at least I'm good for something, unlike you who is good for nothing but humiliating yourself." I said, feeling calmer after calming the nerves that the Alexander clone had stirred up. I half-smiled and looked at the figure behind Gina.

"Mr. Alexander, you're late to join the pleasant conversation."

Gina's smile vanished immediately and she turned to face Alexander's cold and hard gaze, the real Alexander, who had heard enough to answer the question he asked me hours ago.

"So, is that how you treated Ms. Petit?" Alexander asked, his voice as cold as ice, causing Gina to shiver and take a step back in fear.

"Alexander, no, let me explain to you, I wanted to apologize to her for what happened at the bar, but she started to attack me..." Gina blatantly lied in front of me and Alexander's twin, but she was interrupted by a stern voice.

"How dare you lie in front of me? Who has been responsible for this girl's education all this time? It's obvious that they have done a terrible job, what a disappointment, Gina." The stranger spoke with difficulty but so clearly and rigorously that it left his siblings speechless, not to mention Gina, who looked miserable and clearly affected by his words.

"What a relief to know that there is a sensible Lancaster." I said calmly, intervening in the touching family scene, with a hint of amusement in my voice. I had had enough of them, although I never knew the name of the third Lancaster. "Excuse me."

I continued on my way to the table and this time I was not interrupted by a wheelchair, nor by a hand on my arm, nor by the voice of any of them.

I couldn't help but think about the twin who seemed to know more about me than I knew about him, and I didn't know if that could be detrimental to my father's plans.

The time to introduce myself as his daughter was near and we all wanted him to be the one to break the news. We had to take precautions or change our plans drastically.

As soon as I sat in my chair, Paul's worried voice caught my attention.

"Did they do something to you? Are you okay?" I nodded, pushing away my thoughts. I could only talk to my father about the matter and find a solution.

"Yes, I'm fine, don't worry." I glanced at the seats at the table and only Jack was focused on his cell phone, there were no traces of the others.

"When you tell me, I'll get you out of this suffocating place for you." I looked at him, putting aside the nerves that were bubbling in my system, and when I was about to tell him "right now." A male voice echoed throughout the banquet hall, grabbing everyone's attention.

I looked at the stage and saw Alexander next to his twin, furrowing my brow in total confusion and irritation.

How many more times would I have to see him?

He greeted everyone present through the microphone as he began a speech of gratitude and blah blah blah. "Would you like to leave right now?" I asked when Paul took my hand on the table.

"Your wish is my command." Said a smiling Paul, as he stood up from his chair and pulled mine to help me.

I got up from my seat, ready to grab my things, say goodbye to everyone, and get lost with Paul to God knows where, when I listened carefully to Alexander's words from the stage.

"Anyway. Tonight, I publicly present my twin brother, who was in a coma for thirteen years. Alexis Lancaster."

What?

He was in a coma all this time?

Alexis.