<h4>Chapter 456: The Hidden Invitation</h4>


    If they had realized the bride wasn’t E, Eric would have naturally found a way to stop Carl.


    Now, with the bride and groom already back, ess to the ninth floor of the hotel was tightly controlled.


    At the stairway entrance, security guards stood in formation, and only those with invitations were allowed through.


    When Vivian and her group arrived at the Nelson Group Hotel, Eric and E were already entertaining guests on the ninth floor.


    "What do we do now? They’ve already had the wedding! Damn it, I’m furious! You’re all useless!" Vivian fumed, her face contorted in anger as she jabbed the elevator button for the ninth floor, as if willing it to arrive instantly.


    Carl wore a guilty expression. "I’m sorry, Vivian... I didn’t know Eric would be this cunning. A man like him doesn’t deserve you. Maybe we should just let this go..."


    Vivian shot him a re, silencing him instantly. "If you’re tired of this, then why did you bothering with me?"


    Carl quickly raised his hands in a cating gesture, apologizing profusely until Vivian turned away and stopped scolding him.


    When they reached the ninth floor, Vivian froze at the sight of the imposing guards stationed at the entrance.


    "I’m here for Mr. Nelson’s wedding banquet. I’m a close friend of his, Miss Vivian. Could you please inform him of my arrival?" Vivian said loudly, trying to sound confident.


    The guard blocking her path shook his head apologetically. "I’m sorry, Miss, but no one is allowed in without an invitation."


    Vivian began pacing anxiously, while Carl stiffened and adopted a stern tone. "Miss Vivian is a very important friend of Mr. Nelson. I suggest you ry this message to avoid trouble—you wouldn’t want to risk your job over something this trivial."


    The guard remained unmoved. "I apologize, sir, but we have explicit orders from Mr. Nelson himself: no invitation, no entry."


    Desperate, Vivian pleaded with the guard, but he waspletely unyielding. Realizing that begging was futile, she grew frantic and began shouting Eric’s name at the top of her lungs.


    Unfortunately for Vivian, the banquet hall on the ninth floor was equipped with soundproof doors. None of her cries reached inside.


    "SHIT! What do we do now? Carl, think of something!" Vivian’s eyes reddened with frustration, her voice hoarse from shouting.


    Carl lowered his head helplessly. "I... I don’t know what to do either, Vivian. Maybe we should just go back."


    As he reached out to console her, Vivian shoved him away in exasperation. Just as she was wracking her brain for a solution, a tall figure in ck emerged from the elevator.


    "Brother!" Vivian eximed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.


    David, his expression dark, stared at her. "Why are you here embarrassing yourself?"


    His tone was filled with exasperation. His sister was far too stubborn, perpetually obsessed with Eric despite Eric’spleteck of interest in her.


    When Eric returned to Country W, he had devised a way to dissuade her. He convinced Vivian to stay in Country W, promising that if she focused on earning her degree, he would give her an answer. Vivian had believed him and spent three years working hard for her degree.


    But when those three years ended and Eric returned to Country W, he rejected her outright. Enraged, Vivian had secretly meddled with E’s phone in a failed attempt to drive her away.


    Her petty tricks hadn’t fooled Eric for a second. Once David caught wind of her schemes, he had kept a close watch on her, forbidding her from bothering Eric.


    Now that Eric and E were getting married, Vivian still refused to give up. David had intended to attend the wedding but missed his flight, arriving toote to intervene.


    "Brother, how can you treat me like this? I’m your sister! I have to attend Eric’s wedding!" Vivian wailed, clinging to his sleeve desperately to stop him from entering.


    David sighed, his patience running thin as Vivian’s grip tightened on his arm.


    David was utterly exasperated. Vivian’s obsessive stubbornness seemed incurable—she would only stop once she’d been hurt.


    Realizing that refusing her entry would mean missing Eric and E’s wedding entirely, David reluctantly called Eric and asked him to allow Vivian in. To his surprise, Eric agreed.


    When Eric personally opened the doors to the hall, Vivian cheered in delight. "Eric! I knew you wouldn’t do this to me! Brother, let’s go!"


    Vivian eagerly linked arms with David and marched inside, with a dejected Carl trailing behind them like a defeated puppy.


    Inside the ninth-floor banquet hall, eight tables were already upied, though many more remained empty.


    Given E’s pregnancy, Eric had deliberately kept the guest list small to avoid any potential risks in a crowded setting. Extra precautions were taken to prevent harm, especially from malicious individuals like Vivian.


    The moment she stepped into the hall, Vivian raised her voice. "Eric! How could you just cast me aside? You told me to wait three years! I got my degree, and now you’re throwing me away again?!"


    E was seated with her family, enjoying the meal. Hearing Vivian’s outburst, she raised her brows slightly, while Lucas frowned deeply. "Why would anyone invite a guest like her? She’s clearly here to cause trouble."


    Eric’s expression darkened instantly. This was his wedding day—thest thing he wanted was an unpleasant scene.


    "Vivian," Eric said sharply, his tone like a de. "If you don’t want to be dragged out of here, you’d better shut up."


    David, equally displeased, shot Vivian a stern look. "Vivian, you’re an engaged woman. How can you behave so shamelessly? Where is your sense of family dignity?"


    Vivian’s face flushed with embarrassment, alternating between red and white as all the guests stared at her with ridicule. Their scornful gazes made her feel deeply ufortable, but her fear of Eric kept her fromshing out further.


    She knew his temperament well, having served as his assistant for a time. If she pushed him too far, the consequences would be severe.


    "Fine... I’ll shut up," Vivian muttered, taking a deep breath to suppress the tears threatening to spill over.


    At that moment, E approached them with a ss of red wine. She knew how important David was to Eric—Eric owed much of his sess to him.


    "David, Vivian, you’ve arrived. Wee," E said with a serene smile. Her demeanor wasposed and gracious, as if Vivian’s earlier outburst and past scheming hadn’t affected her at all.


    Vivian’s face filled with resentment as she scrutinized E closely.


    E had changed out of her earlier simple yet elegant wedding gown and now wore a floor-length, off-shoulder white evening dress. The new outfit didn’t diminish her aura of nobility and elegance in the slightest.


    Carl, seeing E for the first time, couldn’t help but be impressed. This woman was undeniably beautiful. No wonder Eric had chosen her. Her refined grace andposed presence were leagues beyond anything Vivian could emte.


    "Wee? Is that why I was stopped at the entrance?" Vivian retorted coldly, her words dripping with sarcasm.


    David shot her a re. "Vivian, don’t me Eric and E. I was the one who hid your invitation card. I didn’t want youing here and causing trouble. I didn’t expect you to catch wind of the event so quickly..."


    Vivian turned to David in shock. "You... hid my invitation?"