Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Openly Calling Him Hubby
Suddenly, it was as if shards of sand had seeped into Ann Vaughn’s eyes, causing unbearable stinging pain.
"Annie!" came the sudden shout from Susie Sommers not far away. Instinctively, Ann Vaughn glanced towards the flower bed in a panic, and unexpectedly locked eyes with his deep and dark gaze.
Even with some distance between them, the cold detachment emanating from him clung like a shadow, making it impossible to ignore.
When his gaze met Ann, standing not far away, no ripples appeared in those pitch-black eyes, and his face remained as indifferent as a still well, as if she were no different from the plants around her.
In a mere instant, he withdrew his icy gaze, inclined his head slightly towards the girl before him, then turned and left without pause.
Even his retreating figure exuded an air of aloofness and indifference that deterred anyone from approaching.
Throughout, his gaze lingered on Ann for no more than a second.
It was as if... he’d merely glimpsed an inconsequential stranger by accident.
The pang of sour ache from her heart immediately drained the color from Ann’s delicate face, her tightly pressed lips taking on a faint pallor.
She pressed hard against her heart, trying to suppress the overwhelming emotion threatening to shatter her.
But the growing desolation and helplessness seeped through her limbs, gradually sapping her strength, even causing her body temperature to drop slightly.
"Annie?" Susie, holding up her skirt, ran over and grabbed Ann’s arm, panting with concern at her pallor, "What’s wrong? Who bullied you?"
Ann slowly returned to her senses, her tear-filled eyes dully focusing on Susie, "Susie..."
Under Susie’s anxious gaze, she lowered her eyes, her slender fingers clenched tightly against her heart, murmuring, "It still hurts, after all..."
"Where does it hurt? Did you fall or bump into something? Is it your stomach because you didn’t eat dinner?" Susie glanced at her fingers resting atop her heart, then guessed her stomach was probably unsettled.
"The party has already started. Let me take you to get something to eat. The Master Moore Family’s chefs are unparalleled!"
Ann pursed her lips, about to decline, but Susie insisted she was simply hungry, and dragged her towards the banquet hall.
The banquet hall was set in the circular hall on the first floor of the Master Moore’s main house. On stage, a band was playing romantic ballads while off-stage, the mingling guests exchanged toasts amid sumptuous elegance.
Despite the lavish array of delicacies on the long white table, Ann had little appetite. She absently picked a glass of fruit wine and sat in the rest area.
"Aren’t you unable to drink alcohol? I brought you some snacks. Eat this," Susie returned, placing two platters of pastries in front of Ann, observing her still pale face, and scoffed, "Anyone seeing you like this would think you’re broken-hearted."
It was identical to how she looked after a breakup.
But Susie’s words struck directly at Ann’s heart, sending a sharp stab of pain through it, dimming the light in her eyes.
She forced herself to brighten up, shaking her head at Susie, "No, I’m just a bit tired. Have you resolved your matter?"
Susie, naturally forthright, relaxed upon Ann’s denial and broke into a grin, her earlier grave demeanor vanished.
"Silas Master Moore must’ve thought I wouldn’t dare hit him. Rhonda Pierce kept signaling me, but Youngest Uncle Moore blocked them all!"
"Three slaps, he was so stunned, he wanted to retaliate but guess what? A few words from Youngest Uncle Moore, and he was too scared to even squeak!"
"It felt amazing, I’m here to announce that from now on, Youngest Uncle Moore is my idol and the love of my life!"
They say girlfriends are often alike, perhaps even mastering the art of talking incessantly, the kind you can’t stop once they start.
Seeing Susie genuinely recovered, a soft smile graced Ann’s lips.
She’d worried Susie wouldn’t bounce back from the blow, but little did she know Susie was already lost in beauty, forgetting her own surname.
After all, Youngest Uncle Moore’s face and demeanor... graceful, refined, full of integrity, yet exuding a strong sense of security, matching Susie’s ideal type all along.
Before meeting "Wintertide" in real life, Susie had imagined him based on his eloquence online.
But the disparity between reality and the internet turned out to be quite significant.
"Ahem." Suddenly, a soft cough from behind Susie interrupted, instantly closing her lengthy discourse as if someone had flipped a switch, leaving her as limp as a fish.
Ann glanced up at Julian Master Moore, who had appeared unknowingly and saw Susie’s flushed and stiff ears, a gleam flickering in her eyes.
"Uncle Moore, are you here to find Susie?"
Julian nodded slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes, clearly having overheard Susie’s "heartfelt confession."
"Susie, come with me."
"Alright... okay, Youngest Uncle," Susie became obedient, skillfully moving behind Julian’s wheelchair, then left with him.
Watching this, Ann couldn’t help but chuckle softly. In all her years of knowing Susie, she’d never seen her as behaved, let alone obedient.
In high school, Susie was the assertive queen bee, leaving many who wanted to bully Ann to merely dream about it.
Though Ann herself wasn’t someone easily bullied.
Perhaps because of an incomplete family from a young age, Susie was fiercely independent, optimistic, and resilient.
Willing to let go when needed.
As she mused, Ann lowered the fork in her hand, took a small sip from the fruit wine, and was involuntarily drawn to the commotion behind her.
"It’s Mr. Hawthorne! I can’t believe I have the privilege of seeing in person the big shot normally only on financial shows or business news!"
"Oh no, why doesn’t Mr. Hawthorne venture into entertainment? Then I could openly call him hubby!"
"Dream on, how many women in the world could stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Hawthorne?"
"..."
Amidst the exclamations, the distinguished man entering the hall wore a pure black suit, occasionally nodding to greetings with a cool expression, carrying himself with elegance and nobility.
Like a European noble from centuries ago, his innate grace and etiquette left no room for fault.
Not until he settled in the burgundy sofa in another resting area did those intimidated by his icy, dangerous aura dare not approach him for conversation.