Could it be that Thomas Shannon already knew she’d staged the aphrodisiac incident herself? Then why... why could that maniac still dress up so glamorously and accompany him to the banquet?
Amelia Shaw was stunned. Everything she had firmly believed in seemed to have shattered. The very thing she had refused to believe was actually happening, and it seemed to be escalating. What should she do? She couldn’t let that maniac steal Thomas Shannon’s heart, she absolutely couldn’t! Losing to Minimus Hart was unacceptable, but losing to a disfigured woman like that maniac? That was even more unbearable! How was she inferior to that maniac? Was it just because she had rejected his pursuit all those years ago? Was he still trying to get revenge on her now? Hadn’t she already admitted her mistakes? Hadn’t she already returned to his side? Couldn’t Thomas Shannon cherish her properly? Couldn’t they go back to how things were, back to those wonderful times?
Many images flashed through her mind, and Amelia Shaw’s expression was a tempest of emotions.
Sophie Sullivan watched for a moment, then averted her gaze. Young Master Shannon wasn’t known for his patience, and she couldn’t keep him waiting.
In front of the fountain, Thomas Shannon stood with a cigarette between his fingers, its tip glowing red.
The sound of high heels approached from the distance.
He turned, exhaled a plume of smoke, his narrow eyes squinting slightly. "What took you so long?"
Sophie Sullivan smoothed her freshly styled curls, then casually twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "I ran into Amelia Shaw. She threatened me. How could I possibly back down?"
Back down? Her, looking like that, and she’d back down?
He gripped her jaw with one hand and murmured, "Behave yourself, understand?"
"That ’behave yourself’ is rather broad," Sophie countered. "Could you elaborate on the specific dos and don’ts?"
"Don’t cause trouble!"
Sophie extended her index finger, wagging it playfully. "No, no, no, you must have misunderstood. It’s not me who causes trouble; it’s others who provoke me first. I’m the kind of person who’d feel terrible for half a day just for accidentally stepping on an ant. How could I possibly go around actively harming others?"
Feel terrible for stepping on an ant? She actually dared to say something like that! Isn’t she afraid of being struck by lightning for such a blatant lie? Thomas Shannon mused.
"Maniac," Thomas Shannon said, a smirk playing on his lips as he took a deep drag from his cigarette.
Sophie blinked. "Hmm?"
"Be careful on rainy days."
Before she could finish, Sophie instantly understood. He was telling her to watch out for lightning!
She glared at him. "Female companion from hell! I’m not going!"
Sophie, full of indignant pride, spun on her heel and stormed off, her high heels CLACKING sharply on the pavement.
Thomas Shannon leisurely tossed his cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it out with the tip of his shoe.
Sophie kept walking, not looking back. Thomas Shannon strode forward quickly and pulled her into his embrace. "Are you trying to rebel?"
"I don’t want to rebel, and I don’t want to be your female companion anymore."
Thomas Shannon was amused by her anger. He reached out and pinched her cheek hard. "Quite the temper you’ve got!"
Sophie’s cheek was maliciously pinched and pulled by him. "And where did you learn such a nasty habit?" she muttered.
He did, after all, have a habit of pinching her cheek at the slightest disagreement.
"Alright, enough chitchat. Get in the car."
Charlie River opened the car door. Thomas Shannon pushed Sophie into the car, then got in himself.
The banquet was being held in the hotel banquet hall owned by William Guillen’s company.
Inside the banquet hall, the air was filled with the scent of perfume and the sight of elegant attire. Wine glasses clinked as guests mingled, their laughter and conversations filling the room.
Thomas Shannon brought Sophie into the banquet hall. Charlie River and the man in black followed closely.
William Guillen, holding a glass of Champagne and accompanied by his female companion, approached them. "Shannon, you’re here."
This time, William Guillen had a different taste in companions.
It wasn’t the pure woman from last time.