Transmigrated Into The True Heiress-Chapter 119: Unreadable

Q"Everyone, please do not leave yet. There is an important announcement regarding the school banquet," the voice from the loudspeakers boomed, drawing everyone’s attention. The excited murmurs of the crowd quieted as the announcement continued. "As you know, the banquet is traditionally held in the middle of the academic year, but this time it was shifted to the end of the year. However, there’s been another development—the banquet will now be sponsored by none other than Aelion Laboratories."

The air grew electric with a mixture of shock and curiosity. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, and a wave of animated whispers swept over students and parents alike. The name Aelion Laboratories carried undeniable weight—a powerhouse in global research and innovation. Anytime it was mentioned, it commanded attention, no matter the audience. To hear it associated with the school was beyond unexpected.

"What could this mean?" someone murmured.

"Why would Aelion Labs care about our school?" another wondered aloud.

The announcer resumed, cutting through the speculation. "We understand your surprise, as the school administration was just as astonished. To provide some clarity: Aelion Laboratories recently partnered with Latham Laboratories after winning a prestigious Global Research Competition. As part of their goodwill celebration, Aelion proposed hosting a grand banquet to mark this achievement. Upon discovering that the CEO’s son is a

student of this very school—and that he recently became engaged—they suggested merging these celebrations with our school banquet."

The crowd hung on every word, stunned by the magnitude of what was being announced.

"To put it simply," the voice continued, "this event will now be a threefold celebration: a banquet for our graduating students, a milestone celebration for Aelion and Latham Laboratories’ partnership, and the engagement party for Alan Latham and Myra Allen. As you can imagine, this means the event has been elevated far beyond what any of us initially anticipated."

The speaker, one of the school administrators, paused, allowing the weight of the news to settle over the courtyard. Gasps and murmurs swelled again, some students and parents exchanging astonished glances.

"To accommodate this," the administrator continued, raising their voice slightly, "the banquet will now be held at the Grand Meridian Hall downtown, with Aelion Laboratories fully covering the costs."

The crowd’s murmurs turned into whispers of disbelief. The Grand Meridian Hall was one of the most luxurious venues in the city, often reserved for political galas and international conferences. Hosting the school banquet there was not just unusual—it was practically unheard of.

"Details will be sent via email to all attendees, including seating arrangements, dress codes, and security protocols. Please note that this event will require formal attire, and a guest list will be strictly enforced. We encourage all students to RSVP as soon as possible, as attendance will now include high-profile guests and representatives from both Aelion and Latham Laboratories. Thank you for your attention."

The announcement ended, leaving the courtyard buzzing with excitement and speculation.

"Wow," Malia whispered, her eyes wide. "Aelion Laboratories? That’s like... next-level. What does our school even have to do with them?"

"Nothing, apparently," Orla replied, her voice dripping with dry humor. "Except that one of their executives went here once and decided to turn their engagement into our party."

"I don’t know," Cyran said, his brow furrowed. "This feels... off. Why would a company like Aelion go through so much trouble for a high school banquet? It’s not like they don’t have their own venues."

Ephyra, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. "Maybe they’re just showing off. Partnering with Latham Laboratories might mean they’re trying to make a statement about their global reach."

Malia snorted. "Or it’s just corporate billionaires doing billionaire things. Either way, we get an upgraded banquet, so I’m not complaining."

Cyran laughed. "Aren’t you also a billionaire?"

Malia scoffed, "I’m not, my family is. And there are different grades to being a billionaire."

Cyran crossed his arms. "Really? And what are they?"

Orla sighed, muttering, "Not again," while Sophia watched them both with a smile.

"There is the ’new money billionaire,’" Malia began, raising her hand as if lecturing, "who spends on yachts, parties, and pointless things just to show they’re rich. Then there’s the ’old money billionaire,’ the ones who have estates, investments, and pretend they don’t care about money—while actually caring a lot. And then, there’s the ’corporate overlord billionaire,’ the ones who treat everything like a PR stunt, which brings us back to Aelion Laboratories." She paused dramatically.

Cyran raised an eyebrow. "And which one are you?"

Malia smirked. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

Sophia chuckled softly as Orla groaned. "We don’t have time for Malia’s ’Billionaire 101.’ What I want to know is what they’re not telling us."

Cyran nodded in agreement. "Exactly. There’s no way this is just about showing off. Companies like Aelion don’t move without an agenda."

"Maybe they’re scouting talent," Ephyra suggested thoughtfully. "They’ve sponsored scholarships before. The banquet could be an excuse to mingle with promising students."

"Or," Malia countered, "they’re here to flaunt their success, flex their money, and rub it in the faces of their competitors."

"Your reasoning is simply shitty, Malia, and didn’t you hear that Alan and Myra are the ones they’re holding the engagement party for?"

"Yeah, I heard it, but I forgot about—what?! They’re holding an engagement party for those pieces of trash?! Why the hell would they do that? Just when I thought we’d dealt them a great blow..." She muttered the last part with a scowl on her face before turning to Ephyra.

Ephyra waved her hand. "It’s alright. I don’t give a fuck, and besides, you never know what might happen."

"You might not want to get revenge after getting your heart broken and getting insulted, but I do."

Ephyra laughed. "Who said I don’t?"

"What do you mean?"

"Wait till tomorrow and you’ll know. For now, let’s go." She turned to Cyran. "Is your mom not back yet?"

At that moment, Mrs. Carver rejoined the group, her expression curious. "I heard the announcement. Aelion Laboratories... that’s quite a name to be tied to this school. Did any of you know about this beforehand?"

"Nope," Cyran replied, shaking his head. "This is news to us too. Guess we’re going to a much fancier banquet than we thought."

"Well, this means I’ll have to get a new dress," Mrs. Carver said with a small smile. "And so will you, Cyran."

Malia elbowed Cyran with a grin. "Don’t worry, Cyran. We’ll make sure you don’t embarrass yourself in front of the Aelion crowd. Fancy tux, maybe a haircut—"

"Alright, enough," Cyran interrupted, though he was laughing.

Ephyra, meanwhile, wasn’t affected by this news as her facial expressions didn’t change. She spared a glance at Myra and Alan, whose expressions both revealed their surprise and confusion.

As the crowd gradually began to leave the courtyard, the air was charged with excitement and intrigue. Parents and students alike speculated about what the evening would entail, already planning outfits and imagining what the party would be like as the three events were combined.

...

Alan closed the car doors and Myra stepped out but he held out a hand for her to wait as he wasn’t sure if his mom would want to see Myra because everyone knew that Leandra would never want them both engaged if it were up to her which was why the announcement puzzled Alan from the moment he heard it.

Why would Aelion Laboratories host an engagement party for him just because he was the son of Latham Laboratories CEO? It couldn’t just be because they became partners or his mom requested them to so it was very confusing.

"Mom?!" Alan called as he stepped out of the elevator and entered the penthouse. The soft sound of his shoes against the polished floor echoed faintly in the luxurious space, but there was no immediate response. Myra followed him hesitantly, glancing around with her usual careful deference, though her eyes gleamed with nervous excitement.

"Mom?" Alan called again, walking further into the living room. He paused when he noticed the faint sound of voices coming from the study. Narrowing his eyes, he gestured for Myra to stay back before moving toward the partially closed door.

Through the crack, he could hear his mother’s unmistakable voice, sharp and clipped. She sounded angry, though she was clearly trying to control her tone.

"You have no idea what’s at stake here," Leandra hissed, her voice low but seething. "Do you think I wanted this engagement to go public like this? It wasn’t my decision—this came from the top. Aelion Laboratories is using this to solidify their dominance. We’re pawns in their game, and so are you. That’s why I agreed to this arrangement."

There was a pause, followed by a deeper voice that Alan couldn’t quite recognize. "And you think involving Alan in this farce won’t come back to bite you? You’re exposing weaknesses, Leandra. Your obsession with control—"

"Enough," Leandra snapped, her composure breaking. "This isn’t about my control. This is about survival. Latham Laboratories can’t afford to lose this partnership, not after everything we’ve invested. And Alan—he has his role to play, whether he likes it or not."

Alan stepped back from the door, his jaw tightening. Myra watched him curiously, tilting her head. "What’s going on?"

"Nothing," he muttered, though his mind raced with questions. What was his mother hiding? Why was this engagement so critical to their partnership with Aelion Laboratories? He had known his mother was ruthless in business, but this felt different—desperate, even.

Before he could say anything else, the door to the study opened, and Leandra stepped out, her expression hardening the moment she saw Alan and Myra. "Alan," she said sharply, her tone cold. "I didn’t realize you were home."

"Clearly," Alan replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We need to talk."

Leandra raised an eyebrow, but her gaze flickered briefly to Myra. "About what?"

"The announcement," Alan said evenly. "Why is Aelion Laboratories hosting an engagement party for us? This doesn’t feel like something you would’ve approved of."

Leandra’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she seemed to weigh her words carefully. "The decision wasn’t entirely mine," she admitted. "Aelion wanted a public event to celebrate the partnership. They saw an opportunity to tie it to your engagement, and I agreed—it benefits us all."

Alan’s expression darkened. "And what happens if it doesn’t? You’re throwing me into the spotlight for your business deal. What happens when this blows up in your face?"

"It won’t blow up," Leandra said firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "Because you will do exactly what’s expected of you. This engagement ensures our position with Aelion Laboratories. You know how important that is."

Alan opened his mouth to argue, but Myra stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. "Alan," she said softly, her voice soothing. "Your mother’s just trying to do what’s best for you—and for all of us. Let’s trust her judgment."

Leandra’s gaze shifted to Myra, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she nodded. "Myra’s right. This isn’t just about you, Alan. It’s about securing our future."

Alan clenched his jaw, clearly unconvinced but unwilling to press further in front of Myra. "Fine," he said curtly. "But don’t expect me to smile for the cameras."

Leandra’s smile was thin and sharp. "Just be present, Alan. That’s all I ask." She turned to Myra, her tone softening slightly. "You should head home for now. Tomorrow will be a long day."

Myra hesitated but nodded, glancing at Alan for reassurance. He gave her a brief nod, and she excused herself, leaving the penthouse.

Once she was gone, Alan turned back to his mother, his voice low and tense. "This isn’t just about Aelion, is it? What aren’t you telling me?"

Leandra’s expression hardened. "You don’t need to know everything, Alan. Just trust that I’m doing what’s best for our family."

Alan stared at her for a long moment, his frustration evident. Finally, he turned and walked away, leaving his mother alone in the quiet Mansion.