"James!" Amber Whitman squeezed herself between Evelyn Clayton and James Grant, half-tilting her body towards him: "James, your speech on stage just now was really amazing!"
"His speech was written by his secretary." Evelyn Clayton sneered: "You should compliment his secretary."
Amber turned her head and rolled her eyes at her: "But James’s delivery was great too, that poise and demeanor have nothing to do with the secretary, right?"
"Amber, mind your words."
James Grant’s smile didn’t drop from his face, but it didn’t reach his eyes, making Amber feel uneasy.
"James, I just want to stand up for you."
"I’m just standing up for my fiancée. Instead of standing up for me, you should focus more on looking after yourself." James’s tone was unwavering.
Amber’s eyes started to well up with tears: "James, you’re scolding me because of her!"
"Alright, Amber, stop making a fuss. Your face won’t look pretty with tears all over it."
During their conversation, Evelyn Clayton stood by silently, watching.
James Grant’s attitude towards Amber seemed to be of brotherly affection and lenience.
But Amber didn’t see it that way. Her infatuated gaze and doting words indicated her special feelings.
"Miss Whitman, can’t you see your cousin and his fiancée are having a moment? Don’t you have any sense, insisting on being a third wheel?" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel(ꜰ)ire.net
A mocking female voice came from behind them.
Amber turned her head, only to see Olivia Calder standing behind them.
Olivia Calder was Amber’s nemesis, they were the same age, and had been in the same school since childhood, yet never became friends. Instead, they developed a never-see-eye-to-eye relationship.
The Whitman and Calder families had similar assets and status, which led to constant comparisons between the two, gradually fostering mutual dislike.
"Olivia, what does Whitman family business have to do with you? Do you really have to add fuel to the fire here?" Amber pouted: "James, look at her—"
"James, I’m just stating the truth. Don’t you find your private time interrupted annoying?" Olivia asked confidently.
Evelyn Clayton found Olivia intriguing, her voice was clear and bright, appearing straightforward and composed, a rarity among high-born ladies.
James didn’t spare Amber’s feelings, answering without hesitation.
Amber’s face turned pale with anger: "James, I’m not speaking to you anymore!"
She turned and ran out of the banquet hall, seemingly to find a place to cry.
Olivia always had an eye for beautiful women, and upon seeing Evelyn, she promptly introduced herself and made acquaintance.
In a few short minutes, they were chatting animatedly, as if they had known each other for ages.
"Evelyn, can I visit your studio next time?"
Seeing they had completely forgotten about him, James cleared his throat: "You continue chatting, I’ll head over there."
As soon as James left, Olivia mysteriously pulled Evelyn to the side.
"Evelyn, be careful of Amber. She’s unhinged, she misunderstood that I liked James before and did a lot of bad things to me, that’s why we fell out. She seems gentle but in reality..." Olivia trailed off, leaving Evelyn’s imagination to fill the gaps.
Evelyn twitched her mouth: "Aren’t they cousins?"
"That’s a long story, it’s a private Whitman family matter, so it’s not my place to say. Just be cautious of her. Also, keep an eye on James, you see, even after he introduced your status on stage, there’re still so many women around him."
Following Olivia’s direction, Evelyn looked over.
Not far away, James was indeed surrounded by a group of women, appearing to enjoy every moment of it.