Suddenly getting so emotional, Claire Prescott almost didn’t react.
She chuckled, jokingly said, "A lab rat treating a doctor as a confidant never ends well."
Zara Leighton pouted, "I’m heartbroken, can’t you just comfort me a bit?"
Claire thought for a moment, "If someone can easily discard a long-term partner for their own interests, then I don’t think they’re worth missing. The earth will still turn without Milton Rivers. You’re already thinking in such a positive way, I have nothing to worry about."
Zara immediately noticed something was off, "Hearing this, it feels like I’m the one comforting you."
"Exactly."
"You really..."
Zara couldn’t find the exact word to describe her, but with Claire’s quip, the gloom in her heart was significantly lifted.
Seeing them laughing so happily, Milton Rivers’ face instantly darkened on the podium, his phoenix eyes seemed to glimmer with a cold light.
"Milton."
His fiancée’s voice pulled him back, he then picked up the pen and signed his name on the marriage certificate.
Thunderous applause erupted in the hall, mixing with the loud congratulations that echoed through the entire banquet hall.
Zara and Claire both turned their heads to look at the newly engaged couple receiving blessings from everyone.
This desolate corner was in stark contrast to that lively scene.
Claire listlessly said, "This engagement party is quite boring."
Zara responded, "An engagement party in a wealthy family is also a large social arena, some people would go to great lengths to get in."
As she said, when the crowd gradually dispersed, amidst the toasting and laughter were all social interactions.
Claire inadvertently glanced at the second-floor, her eyes unexpectedly met someone’s gaze.
He stood there, hand resting on the railing, wearing a white shirt that clung to his frame, exuding a cool elegance, yet his gaze pierced gently like the wind, stirring her heart.
She wondered how long he had stood there, had he been watching her before she noticed him?
Unable to help it, Claire smiled at him.
Her pair of magnificent eyes carried a gentle rhythm, pure to the point that one couldn’t look away.
Keane Lowell raised his hand and pointed to his lips.
Seeing his gesture, Claire immediately understood what he meant.
She awkwardly lifted a hand to wipe away the crumbs at the corner of her mouth, asking Zara across from her, "Is there still something on my face?"
Zara shook her head, "Nope."
Just as Claire was puzzled about how he could see so clearly from such a distance, Serena Thorne approached with a glass of champagne.
"I haven’t seen you two before, are you friends of Milton’s?"
"No." Claire immediately interjected.
Serena was momentarily taken aback.
The atmosphere became subtly awkward.
Claire casually added, "We’re friends of his brother."
"I see, no wonder I haven’t met you two before."
Serena turned and looked toward her approaching fiancé, "These two are friends of your brother."
Milton Rivers met Zara’s gaze, then glanced at Claire, "Which brother’s friend are you? I didn’t know they had friends like you."
Claire coldly stared back at him, "Does that mean you don’t believe we’re your brother’s friends and want to kick me out?"
Milton chuckled lightly, "It’s my and Serena’s engagement party today, there’s no reason to kick guests’ companions out."
"Mr. Rivers, there’s no need to trouble my friend." Zara said in a low voice, her icy eyes carrying a hint of resentment.
The atmosphere paused for a moment.
Serena quickly noticed something amiss among the three of them and realized she was an outsider in this situation.
"It’s my pleasure to attend Mr. Rivers’ engagement party. I sincerely wish you both a happy engagement." Zara then toasted them, and the clear wine slid smoothly into her mouth, emptying the glass.
Claire also slightly lifted her glass, her smile not reaching her eyes, "Wish you both happiness."
"Thank you." Serena responded casually, smiling as she met their toast.
Milton, however, didn’t express anything further, his smile froze at the corners of his mouth as he looked at the two of them with a blank expression, a cold sheen reflecting in his eyes under the dazzling crystal lights.
Shortly after, without saying a word, he put his arm around Serena’s waist and turned away.
The affectionate address, the intimate actions seemed deliberate.
Claire averted her gaze, muttering under her breath, "Scumbag."
As if hearing her words, Milton flinched slightly, turned half his face, then walked off nonchalantly.
Claire couldn’t help but wonder.
How could someone be so composed about matters of the heart, having not long ago just broken up, yet showing love with his fiancée in front of his ex, without a hint of guilt?
"Zara, let’s head back."
Zara lowered her eyes, caught in a bout of hesitation.
After a while, she replied, "Wait for me a bit, I’m going to the restroom."
"Alright."
After she left, the food in Claire’s hand suddenly lost its flavor.
Claire glanced up at the upper floor, but there was no sign of Keane Lowell.
She gathered her thoughts, vaguely overhearing a conversation between two women.
"Didn’t you say Keane Lowell was here? I’ve looked around and didn’t see him."
"Shelby, I’m not lying, I really saw him just now, he went into a room with a date."
Claire happened to turn around, making eye contact with one of them.
The woman in the blue dress pointed at her, "Look, it’s her."
Shelby Thorne’s gaze fell steadily on Claire, watching her for a moment, "Are you sure she’s the one Keane brought along?"
"Yes."
She was the only one in the banquet hall not wearing a dress or makeup, natural and beautiful, purely elegant, unforgettable at a glance.
So, it won’t be mistaken.
Shelby strode over with an aggressive air, eyes filled with challenge and disdain, "Where’s Keane now?"
Claire found it funny, not understanding how she had offended her, "And you are?"
Shelby crossed her arms, her superior attitude as a rich lady immediately surfacing, "The sister of the engagement party’s star."
Claire calmly replied, "Do I owe you money?"
"I... you...," Shelby was tongue-tied, angrily glaring at her, "Don’t be ungrateful."
The woman in the blue dress quickly restrained her, "Today is Sister Serena’s engagement party, let’s not cause trouble and add to her burden."
Shelby was instantly displeased, "Wasn’t it because she ignored me first, and who knows where she came from, reeking of poverty, can’t even afford a proper dress."
Upon hearing this.
Claire simply tugged at the corner of her mouth, saying nothing.
Not wanting to waste words on such unreasonable people, nor to stir up trouble, she bowed her head, took out her phone, and sent Zara a message.
Then she stood up and gracefully walked out of the banquet hall door in their full view.
The two of them stared dumbfoundedly as her figure disappeared.
No way...
Did she just walk away like that???
Shelby snapped out of it, scoffing, "She doesn’t even know her place, daring to clash with me."
The person next to her broke out in a cold sweat, reminding, "But she’s someone Keane brought along. Will she complain to Keane that we drove her away?"
"Today is my sister’s engagement party, who can attend and who can’t is decided by the Thorne family."
This scene, was fully observed by Ethan Lancaster from a distance, but he didn’t intervene.