The Return Of the Invincible Heiress
Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Chapter 186

It was nine o’clock in the evening. This high-end performance, which seemed to be a joyous occasion for both the host and the guests, was finally over.

Alexander refused to send Anabel back. As soon as he walked out of the door of the Moran family’s home, he got into the car and stopped smiling, his expression turning fierce. "Notify Jaylin that starting tomorrow, he’ll be by my side," he said.

Tonight’s party had made him feel utterly disgusted. Everyone had put in a lot of effort to perform a skit called "Getting Alexander and Anabel Together," coming up with conversational topics, pretending to be sincere and humorous, and casually making jokes that did not match their status and age. They went on about how outstanding Anabel was, how compatible she was with Alexander, how close they had been as children, and so on. Anabel even pretended to be an innocent girl, feigning shyness.

He had watched until he was almost sick and had barely eaten anything. ’Since they want to disgust me, I naturally have to give them an eye for an eye’, he thought.

Louis asked, "Jaylin in men’s clothes or Jaylin in women’s clothes?"

Alexander revealed a cold smile. "Women’s clothes. There’s no need for him to hide his identity."

Just like that, at ten o’clock the next morning, Alexander brought a tall and beautiful woman with long blonde hair into the company. Her charm and sultriness instantly caught everyone’s attention.

Someone whispered, "Isn’t... isn’t that Madalyn?"

"She really looks exactly like Madalyn. What the hell..."

Madalyn, Alexander’s rumored girlfriend, had once enjoyed a brief period of glory. Two months ago, she had suddenly disappeared mysteriously. Her corpse later appeared in the waters of a famous scenic spot on Lani Island and was subsequently washed away by the tide. To this day, her body had not been recovered.

Now that this beauty who looked exactly like Madalyn had appeared here, it naturally caused quite a commotion. Those who worked at Moran Group’s headquarters were all elites, so they weren’t foolish enough to think she was a ghost. Still, the situation was undeniably strange.

Someone made an excuse to walk past her, secretly sizing her up, and was shocked to discover that the beauty had no breasts. Not only that, but there was also an Adam’s apple—clearly a man’s characteristic. Yet aside from that, Jaylin’s skin was flawless and delicate, his frame light and well-proportioned, his figure alluring, with refined features and seductive eyes. It was hard to tell if he was male or female.

When this discovery was shared with colleagues, everyone was stunned. ’Suspected to be Madalyn... but is it a man or a woman?’

The entire company was buzzing with curiosity, but no one dared to ask outright. They could only observe and whisper among themselves.

At noon, "Madalyn" went downstairs to buy coffee. Someone gathered the courage to greet her: "Hello, I’m Janet from the front desk. How should I address you?"

"Madalyn" smiled sweetly. "I’m Jaylin Acevedo."

Janet hadn’t expected such a friendly response. Flustered, she replied, "Hello, Miss Acevedo—"

"No, no, no!" Jaylin stretched out a manicured index finger and shook it playfully. "I’m ’Mr.’ Acevedo."

Everyone was stunned—not just because he was truly a man, but because he admitted it so readily.

Someone composed themselves and boldly asked, "Mr. Acevedo, do you know Madalyn?"

"Madalyn? I’ve never seen her, but I’ve heard of her." Jaylin’s eyes flickered with mischief. "She was Mr. Moran’s most beloved ex-girlfriend, and she died on Lani Island two months ago."

Noticing he didn’t seem bothered by the topic, the crowd grew bolder. "What’s your relationship with Mr. Moran?"

Jaylin raised a slender finger to his lips, smirking. "Isn’t it obvious? I look like Madalyn, so Mr. Moran took a fancy to me. I’m her substitute."

Regardless of gender, the onlookers felt a jolt at his enchanting gaze, their skin tingling. ’Strange—technically, a "woman" like him should be a pervert, but his manner is so natural and elegant, as if he was born this way. It’s hard to feel disgusted.’

At the same time, they were shocked. ’Alexander, that distinguished, handsome, and cold-blooded man, actually replaced his dead girlfriend with a man? Is he unwell?’

Someone else ventured, "Mr. Acevedo... do you ’like’ Mr. Moran?"

"Of course." Jaylin trailed his fingertips from his chin to his slightly open collar, his voice dripping with flirtation. "You all only know Mr. Moran’s face is handsome. You’ve no idea the parts you ’can’t’ see are even more enchanting, right?"

He threw a smoldering glance at the crowd. Regardless of gender, everyone blushed, looking away or staring at the ground.

Hiding behind the crowd, Louis grimaced. ’I knew it. Once this pervert Jaylin lets loose, there’s no stopping him.’ He quickly stepped in. "Jaylin, go up. Mr. Moran is looking for you."

Holding his coffee, Jaylin sauntered off, tossing one last tease over his shoulder: "Next time, I’ll tell you all about Mr. Moran in bed—"

Louis shoved his glasses up, snapping, "Get lost!"

Soon, the entire building knew about Alexander and Jaylin—and then, the entire Moran family found out.

Nicolas’s family was enraged. Anabel smacked the table, furious. "Has Alexander gone mad? First, he gets involved with an orphan, and now a ’man’? What is he thinking?"

Juliet remained calm. "I doubt Mr. Moran loved Madalyn that much—or even likes men. He’s likely doing this to resist the family’s marriage arrangements."

Anabel sneered. "If he’s forgotten how Madalyn died, I’ll remind him." She turned to her subordinate. "Have someone watch Jaylin. Teach him a lesson when the chance arises."

"To what extent?"

A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. "Make him leave Alexander voluntarily... just like Madalyn did."

"Understood."

For the next few days, Jaylin accompanied Alexander everywhere, living and dining together—until Alexander had to inspect a confidential military enterprise and couldn’t bring him along.

Late that night, Jaylin drove back alone. At an intersection, a small car rammed into his diagonally, damaging his vehicle. He stepped out, ready to confront the driver—only for burly men in suits to emerge from all directions, surrounding him with menacing glares.

Jaylin’s eyes gleamed. "Brothers, I’m terrified of pain. Let’s discuss this in the alley, hm?"

Swaying his hips, he led them into the dark, unmonitored alley. The men followed, underestimating him entirely.

Minutes later, screams echoed continuously.

Then, Jaylin strolled out, humming cheerfully. His clothes, hair, and makeup were pristine—but his smile was brighter than ever.

Instead of calling a ride, he walked the ten miles back to Alexander’s apartment... in high heels.

When Louis reported the incident, Alexander merely said, "It’s fine. If others pick a fight with him, ’they’re’ the ones in danger."

Louis gaped. "Just ’what’ is his background? How is he so—’twisted’?"

For the next month or so, Jaylin was like a pendant on Alexander. Alexander had to bring him to work, social events, and even business trips. If they stayed in a hotel, Alexander would get a room for him too. It was as if he couldn’t live without Jaylin.

Jaylin clearly enjoyed this kind of treatment. He wore a charming smile every day, stepping out in different hairstyles, outfits, shoes, and accessories. Someone had even tracked his wardrobe, noting that he never repeated a single piece—except for his battered hard-shell bag with holes. No one understood his obsession with that bag.

Their strange relationship sparked heated discussions in the media, with passive observers treating it like a drama. Online, theories swirled: Alexander was allegedly suffering from psychological issues and rebellion due to family pressure over marriage and the mysterious death of his ex-girlfriend. Psychologists and relationship experts emerged, dissecting their dynamic in elaborate analyses.

Netizens debated how long Jaylin would last before meeting his end.

[I know people from the Moran family. They despise Jaylin now—they’ve even secretly issued a bounty on him...]

[After what happened to Madalyn, this Jaylin is still so bold. Is he brave or just stupid? Does he really think Mr. Moran can—or will—protect him?]

[I just want to know which resort his body will turn up at this time.]

The speculation soon turned grimly real. Photos and videos of Jaylin being attacked and humiliated surfaced in episodic releases every few days.

In one clip, masked men shoved him into a bathroom. Half an hour later, they walked out calmly. Jaylin crawled out over ten minutes later, hair disheveled, clothes torn.

Another showed him stripped naked as a group of men, their backs to the camera, urinated on him.

Then came the footage of his wig ripped off, his head shaved, a knife pressed to his face.

A blurry video even captured a voice snarling, "How dare you steal someone else’s man? Watch yourself, or your body’ll end up in the open sea."

The brutality stirred pity even from those who despised cross-dressers. Viewers condemned the attackers as "scum."

Jaylin tearfully complained in livestreams: "There’s no way I’d marry Mr. Moran—let alone bear his child! Why can’t she spare me? If I disappear one day, it’s because of that person..."

When asked who "that person" was, he hugged his shoulders, eyes wide and evasive. "I... I can’t say. In any case, someone doesn’t want me near Mr. Moran."

Pressed on why he didn’t leave Alexander, he broke down, banging his shaved head against a table. "Because I love him! Even if it kills me, I won’t give up this chance!"

Louis, watching off-camera, muttered as he wiped fake tears, "This pervert’s acting is scarily good. Has he actually lived through this?" Then he froze. "Unless... it’s not acting anymore. Could he really love Mr. Moran?"

The stream cut off. Jaylin sneered, then flirted: "If I ever try men, you’d be my first pick. After all, Mr. Moran would never let me dominate him."

Louis shuddered. "Keep acting. I’m out."

Some attacks were real, but most were staged—Jaylin reveled in the chaos. The videos went viral, forcing police to investigate. He claimed ignorance: "The men were masked. They didn’t name anyone."

Authorities questioned Anabel, and though she was released, the footage of her interrogation leaked. The internet erupted.

[Of course it’s Anabel. She’s vicious.]

[Even as a kid, she said she’d destroy anyone in her way. No one dared cross her.]

[Only someone like her could make Madalyn ’vanish’ without a trace...]

[If she marries into the Morans, the company will become the Powells’ in no time.]

Anabel’s reputation crumbled. She issued a statement: "False accusations are harming me. I’m innocent and will sue rumor-spreaders."

Netizens taunted: [Just admit it! You’re obsessed with Alexander. Is Jaylin your latest ’rival’?]

[Say you’ll never marry him!]

[Admit you never met Madalyn in secret!]

Anabel, knowing Matthew orchestrated the smear campaign, enabled comment filters, then disabled them entirely—fueling perceptions of guilt.

Amid the uproar, Jaylin reappeared—dressed as a man, face gaunt. "I’m done with this game," he said, forcing a smile. "I’m returning things to their rightful owner. I’ll live abroad in peace. Don’t worry—I’ll be safe."

Then, silence. His accounts deactivated. All traces of him and Alexander vanished; even mentions of Madalyn were censored.

Netizens raged:

[First a missing girlfriend, now a fake one? Terrifying...]

[Poof—gone without a trace. How tragic.]

[Queenpin indeed. She erases people on a whim.]

Anabel, now synonymous with "vicious," was livid. She’d used family resources to scrub Jaylin’s presence—but hadn’t harmed him. His "farewell" video framed her as his tormentor, and now, he’d disappeared.

Smoking alone at night, she laughed bitterly. "Alexander, you hate me this much? Enough to go this far?"

He did. But open war with the Powells wasn’t wise—so he’d let Jaylin’s theatrics humiliate Anabel first. Now, with Avery returning, Alexander ended the charade. He couldn’t risk Avery seeing him with a cross-dressing Jaylin.