After all, she was speaking on behalf of the Morrison family. Any misstep would reflect poorly on all of them.
But Khloe shook her head.
She clenched her hands once, steadied her breath, and whispered, “Don’t worry. I won’t make any mistakes.”
When they had first entered the hall, she had spotted Veronica and Winnie with their parents, surrounded by a fawning crowd.
The two sisters had offered her a fleeting, dismissive greeting before rushing off. Soon, the banquet’s spotlight had shifted entirely from the Morrisons to the Olsons.
Libanon 25
Even with Michael by her side, whispers still slithered into her ears.
“Illegitimate daughter.”
“Just living off the family name.’
“An embarrassment.”
If she lacked the courage to step up now, those sneers would solidify into accepted fact.
“Khloe, don’t pay them any mind. None of them are worth your attention,” Michael said, his gaze sweeping the hall with a trace of disdain.
To him, even if she was labeled “illegitimate,” Khloe was a Morrison. Their coldness was nothing more than thinly veiled envy.
Khloe met his eyes, a quiet gratitude shining in her own as she nodded.
Soon, it was her turn.
The host handed her the microphone, and the spotlight locked onto her.
Dressed in a stunning sapphire-blue gown embroidered with crystals and adorned with millions in jewels, Khloe looked like a movie star descending onto the stage.
For a moment, every eye in the hall was fixed on her.
Yet the room remained eerily silent. Not even a ripple of perfunctory welcome applause broke the stillness.
Before her, this stage had been reserved for seasoned moguls and industry titans. In years past, not a single representative had looked like Khloe-
So young. So beautiful. An unfamiliar face.
And, above all, a woman.
It was Khloe’s first time facing such a high-stakes crowd, and no matter how hard she tried to steady herself, nerves clawed at her insides.
“Who is she? Shouldn’t Ethan or Clarice be representing Marrison Group?”
“Haven’t you heard? She’s Niel’s illegitimate daughter. Word is she lucked into a fortune worth hundreds of billions.”
“Have the Morrison family lost their minds? What does she know about business? Letting her give a speech is a joke.”
“Looks like Morrison Group is in chaos. An unqualified outsider as the heir… they’re finished.”
“Look at her, all dolled up like she’s treating this place as a runway show.”
Whispers swirled through the hall, growing louder and more brazen. Khloe stood frozen before the microphone, her mind a blank slate, her hands stiff at her sides.
Then, a single, sharp sound cut through the murmur-firm, deliberate applause.
It was Michael.
He led the clapping, and a handful of others, seeing his cue reluctantly joined in. The scattered, hesitant applause was enough to jolt Khloe back to herself.
She forced her nerves into check and glanced toward the teleprompter for her opening line. The screen was completely blank.
Her heart sank. Someone had sabotaged it. They had set a trap for her, hoping she would fail spectacularly in front of everyone.
As the brief applause died, a heavy silence reclaimed the hall. Khloe took a steadying breath and, without missing another beat, launched into a flawless, confident opening in Celosian.
Her accent was crisp, her tone assured. Within seconds, the whispers ceased entirely.
Whoever tried to humiliate her clearly hadn’t done their homework. Khloe had a degree in finance, a field demanding not just analytical skill but superior communication. Her command of Celosian was excellent; her ability to think on her feet was even better.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.