Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Who Seduced Whom First?
"Am I just deluding myself? What does it have to do with you?"
Serena Sinclair spoke softly, "President Lockwood..."
Adrian Lockwood’s smile froze.
A voice sounded behind him, "Senior..."
Adrian Lockwood turned around and saw Wyatt Hawthorne appearing at the entrance of the banquet hall.
As if he couldn’t see Adrian, his eyes were unwaveringly fixed on Serena Sinclair, "Come over, let’s toast Elder Rivera."
"Okay!"
Serena responded, glanced no more at Adrian, and turned away.
Unable to gauge Serena’s attitude toward Wyatt.
Simply couldn’t decipher what identity Serena was assuming today.
Tasting Wyatt’s "Senior" in his mouth, Adrian seemed slightly relieved.
Serena brushed past him.
Adrian turned, "Serena..."
Senior.
Serena.
Even a fool could tell who was close and who was distant.
Adrian’s intention was evident.
Yet Serena didn’t pause her steps, gracefully moving forward, reaching Wyatt’s side.
Words stuck at his lips halted because of her disregard.
Adrian lifted his gaze again, meeting Wyatt’s look toward him.
Containing a smile.
Carrying provocation.
A light glance, casually fell on his face.
Wyatt’s lower arm rested around Serena’s waist.
Serena, however, showed no change in expression.
Adrian was taken aback.
Wyatt laughed and withdrew his gaze, nonchalantly wrapping his arm around Serena, walking to Elder Rivera’s main table under the watchful eyes of the guests around.
Wyatt and Serena were toasting.
The banquet hall was abuzz with conversation.
Every comment about a match made in heaven fell into Adrian’s ears, his face turning grim.
"Honey..."
Chloe Lynch’s gaze came over despondently.
She had merely gone to the restroom, and upon returning, Adrian was nowhere to be found.
After searching around, she saw him speaking with Serena Sinclair.
Yet uncertain, who seduced whom first.
"I asked you to talk with Mrs. Carson, did you manage to?"
Adrian preemptively asked.
Chloe immediately looked disheartened, "...No."
She put on a smiling face, but those noblewomen seemed not to regard her at all, not engaging with her.
Some female celebrities managed to converse, but a few words soon shifted to when she’d marry Adrian, their eyes on Adrian seemed hooked.
How could Chloe not understand?
Avoiding them at all costs, she’d rather not speak to them.
The rest were young ladies accompanying their families. Despite being of similar age, each held their heads high.
As if there was a wall with all women present, she simply couldn’t fit in.
Not to mention Serena Sinclair, the center of attention wherever she went.
Chloe felt completely mismatched with the atmosphere of this banquet.
Adrian furrowed his brows, "Let’s go inside."
Sighing inwardly, he couldn’t help but recall the past.
Serena’s background was no better than Chloe’s, yet she never hesitated at such occasions.
Even when those ladies didn’t initially know her or engage, Serena always found a way to integrate herself.
By the end of a party, some would invite Serena for facial treatments, others ask if she’d play cards.
Those unaware might think they were long-time sisters.
Occasionally when he faced a headache, without thinking of a solution, Serena would probe insights from the wives’ group, providing him with new ideas and directions.
Quickly turning major issues into minor concerns and then resolved.
But Chloe...
Watching as Chloe returned to the banquet hall and approached those similarly-aged ladies, awkwardly and diligently attempting to fit in.
Adrian’s brows knit tightly.
The luncheon concluded, guests split into several groups.
Some related by blood, extending birthday greetings then leaving.
Others came with intentions, hoping to expand connections or forge collaborations.
Groups clustered together, smoothly transitioning the scene from a banquet to a business gathering.
By the time Adrian reached the reception hall, many people had already arrived.
"...Lot 3 has already been acquired by the Hawthorne Corporation, Young Master Hawthorne won’t compete with us for Lot 19, will he? Such a small piece of land, Young Master shouldn’t fancy it, right?"
"Indeed. The entire Aethelgard is such a big cake, Young Master should try a new flavor."
Lot 19 is the area where Old Town Lane is located.
Its advantage lies in its excellent location, making residential or commercial apartments, once built, a guaranteed profit project.
Its downside is evident, the plot is too small.
Not mentioning other real estate companies in Aethelgard, even among those present, competition would be fierce.
Wyatt Hawthorne’s expression was indifferent, "No matter how small, meat is still meat. If it can’t be a braised pork chop, am I not allowed to chop it up for a bowl of stewed pork rice?"
Everyone: ...
"President Hawthorne, is construction on Lot 3 starting? What’s the new design after you withdrew the previous one?"
Someone brought up Lot 3.
Wyatt seemed invigorated, "Everyone here is fortunate, about to witness the largest technology museum complex in Auranos."
Technology museum complex?
Adrian suddenly raised his head.
That was his idea!
The notion that Hawthorne Corporation plagiarized just surfaced before Adrian himself suppressed it.
He indeed thought about it, but only as an idea, never shared with anyone.
Including Chloe Lynch.
That left only one possibility.
Adrian raised his gaze again, seeing Serena Sinclair.
And Wyatt, slightly turned, speaking with Serena.
Clearly with half a space between their bodies.
Yet observing Wyatt’s gentle eyes, Serena’s serene beauty in profile, Adrian felt...as if the air was filled with glue.
Wyatt’s every "Senior" was clear, but his gaze toward Serena was clearly not that of a boss to a subordinate.
It was... a man’s gaze toward a woman.
In Adrian’s mind appeared another pair of eyes.
Under the dormitory building of the Aethelgard University girls, Wyatt tapping a basketball, walking farther and farther, then turning to look at him with those eyes.
Cold.
Arrogant.
And... a cold spark.
As if the moment he flinched, those sparks would gather entirely.
Then explode in a towering flame.
The two pairs of eyes merged into one, converging on Wyatt’s current presence.
Adrian’s heart surged with waves, panic arising for no apparent reason.
Even he couldn’t clarify where this panic originated, or where it would lead.
Before the gathering even began, several collaborations were already established.
Including quite a few connections introduced by Elder Rivera.
"Rather than celebrating a birthday, it’s more like everyone finding an excuse to gather... As I grow older, you young people should enjoy yourselves."
As the sky darkened.
The gathering was at its peak.
Following Elder Rivera’s departure, the banquet hall reached its climax of excitement.
Adrian was torn between leaving and staying.
Then he noticed Wyatt saying something, Serena got up, and looped her arm through his heading outside.
Serena wore a long black gown today.
From the front, captivatingly beautiful, alluringly shaped.
The rear view was even more enchanting.
Graceful and alluring as she moved.
Intently watching Serena’s gradually receding silhouette.
Uneasily matching the figure fleetingly glimpsed in his mind.
Alike.
Yet unalike.
With a squinting gaze, an absurd conjecture suddenly blossomed in Adrian’s mind.
The one in Wyatt’s arms that night at "Nightfall," who exactly...was she?
Eager to find out, Adrian seemed to forget to even bid farewell to those beside him.
Dropping the champagne glass in hand, he dashed outside.
"Honey..."
Chloe Lynch hurriedly chased after him.
Only to see Adrian halted at the doorway.
And the Maybach speeding away in the distance.
"Honey, what’s wrong?"
Chloe stepped forward, clinging to Adrian’s arm.
In the night, Adrian’s face looked incredibly grim.