Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Hayden Crawford and Anabelle Rathborne’s Engagement Banquet
Whenever Serena Sterling is mentioned, Zelda Willow’s expression turns cold. She already has a grudge against Serena, and recently, she heard about Serena being involved with several men. Such a girl is simply a stain on Zane Crawford.
"My Zane has nothing to do with Serena Sterling, Annette, you shouldn’t say such things. My Zane is engaged, and once we find Zane’s fiancée, we’ll make Zane marry her immediately." Zelda Willow said with a smile.
Anabelle Rathborne knows Zelda Willow has high standards for choosing a daughter-in-law. Aurora has been trying hard to win over Zane Crawford, but Zelda Willow has consistently blocked her, obviously dissatisfied with Aurora as a choice for her daughter-in-law.
Watching Zelda Willow proudly speak of Zane’s engagement and his fiancée, Anabelle Rathborne was utterly shocked.
"Aunt Crawford, who is the second son’s fiancée from? You seem so satisfied, yet we’ve never heard of her."
Zelda Willow blinked mysteriously, "Well... you’ll find out in due time."
She was playing it coy, which made Anabelle Rathborne even more curious.
At this moment, Jude Crawford led Hayden Crawford downstairs, and Jude Crawford spoke, "Let’s eat."
"Alright, dinner is ready, let’s dine." Zelda Willow maintained an elegant and graceful smile.
Everyone entered the dining room, and the maids began serving dishes. Anabelle Rathborne sat beside Hayden Crawford, "Hayden brother, your right hand is injured. Let me feed you."
Anabelle Rathborne picked up a small spoon, ready to feed Hayden Crawford.
Hayden Crawford avoided it slightly and used his right hand to pick up chopsticks, "I can do it myself."
His right arm is severely injured and can’t exert force anymore, but his hand wasn’t incapacitated. There’s no issue with him eating with chopsticks.
Rejected, Anabelle Rathborne’s hand froze in mid-air. They were already engaged, and even if he can use chopsticks, her feeding him wasn’t excessive. Yet, he still refused.
In front of Jude Crawford and Zelda Willow, with so many servants watching, Anabelle Rathborne felt embarrassed.
Then Zelda Willow laughed, "Jude, look at how well these young lovers get along. We’ve all had a taste of their affection."
Zelda Willow cleverly provided an out, and Anabelle Rathborne accepted the gesture graciously.
Everyone started eating dinner, and Hayden Crawford remained silent throughout, not uttering a word. Then a series of melodious phone chimes sounded; Zelda Willow received a call.
Zelda Willow took out her phone and saw that it was Zane Crawford calling.
"Jude, it’s Zane calling." Zelda Willow displayed her first genuine smile of the evening and stood up, "Take your time eating, I’m going to answer the call."
Jude Crawford nodded, "Go ahead."
Zelda Willow walked into the living room and answered the call, "Zane, you still remember to call Mom? What have you been busy with these days?"
"Mom," Zane Crawford’s clear and cold voice transmitted over, "I found the engagement token, I found my fiancée!"
"What?" Zelda Willow paused, her voice rose sharply, "Zane, what did you say? You said you’ve found... your fiancée?"
Zelda Willow quickly turned around, looking at Jude Crawford in the dining room.
Jude Crawford raised his head, his deep and somber eyes fell on the phone in Zelda Willow’s hand. Seraphina Linden’s daughter has finally appeared, after twenty years!
Another person froze too. At that instant, Hayden Crawford heard Zelda Willow’s words and abruptly froze, lifting his handsome eyes to look at her.
Zane Crawford’s fiancée is the little baby girl from years ago, who once gripped his finger tightly, a little girl his mother jokingly promised would be his bride.
The little baby girl whom his mother adored, the daughter of an old friend, has finally been found!
Hayden Crawford’s heart wavered, knowing it was a familiar return, everything related to his mother, the little girl his mother loved, instantly rippled through his heart.
"Mom, I’ll fly back in the next couple of days, we’ll talk then." Zane Crawford said softly from the other end.
"Alright, alright, that’s wonderful Zane, come back soon!"
Zelda Willow hung up the phone with a joyful face, she turned back to the dining room, looking at Jude Crawford with surprise, "Jude, did you hear that? Zane actually found the engagement token from back then, and found that girl!"
Jude Crawford’s handsome face didn’t betray any emotion, but his deep and profound eyes sparkled with something inscrutable, "Then we’ll wait for Zane to return."
"From Zane’s tone, he seems very fond of the fiancée. Hayden and Annette, once your engagement is done, we might just go ahead and hold a wedding for Zane. The Crawford family has every reason to celebrate, happiness is doubling!" Zelda Willow was the happiest among them.
...
Dinner ended, and Hayden Crawford left with Anabelle Rathborne.
In the bedroom, Jude Crawford took a cold shower, wearing a deep blue silk nightgown, he stood on the carved balcony, smoking cigars. The black of the night almost blended him into it, chilly winds fluttered his clothes, and he finished one cigar after another.
At Westerley Estate, the elder Mrs. Crawford received the celebratory call from Zelda Willow. She hung up the phone and sighed deeply.
Beryl walked over, "Madam, what’s wrong?"
Mrs. Crawford rose and went upstairs, "Nothing, the truth has come out, this day has finally arrived. Tell Hayden I won’t attend his engagement party tomorrow; he should look after himself."
Hayden Crawford took Anabelle Rathborne home, Anabelle felt Hayden was a bit absent-minded, "Hayden brother, what are you thinking?"
What is he thinking?
Hayden Crawford’s slender index finger on the steering wheel moved slightly. That little baby girl’s soft hand had tightly gripped this finger.
Twenty years have passed, and he wonders how she has grown.
The entire Crawford family is filled with various thoughts.
...
The next day.
Serena woke up, Iris Blue helped her sit up and fed her millet porridge, "Serena, the doctor said you can only eat light millet porridge recently; eat more and recover soon."
Serena obediently took a few bites, "Mom, I’m full."
"How can you be full? You’ve eaten so little."
"Mom, I can’t eat anymore now. Leave it here, I’ll eat when I’m hungry later."
Iris Blue sensed Serena’s low mood, perhaps because today was Hayden Crawford and Anabelle Rathborne’s engagement day.
"Serena, how about we watch some TV?" Iris Blue turned on the TV.
The TV was on, coincidentally airing a financial news report; the host switched between Chinese and English, reporting that at seven o’clock tonight, Aethelgard’s leading business tycoon Hayden Crawford and the richest Rathborne family’s heiress Anabelle Rathborne would host a grand engagement party at The Grand Court Hotel. All high-society members of Aethelgard would attend to witness the extravagant Crawford-Rathborne union.