?Chapter 1053:


    Were it not for his feelings for Chloe, Aelfric wouldn’t have even considered swallowing his pride to befriend Everett. But that gesture had been snubbed, tossed aside like yesterday’s news. Who did Everett think he was, looking down on him like that?


    The insult gnawed at Aelfric’s ego, the humiliation simmering into a cauldron of anger. He red daggers at Everett’s retreating back. If Everett dared to stand in his way, he’d make the Brock family theughingstock of Blebert and see what power Everett had left to stop him then.


    Everett, on the other hand, didn’t spare Aelfric so much as a backward nce. When he reached Paul, his demeanor softened, and his voice became respectful. “Mr. Nash, I’ll be taking my leave for the day.”


    Marissa still had to keep up the pretense of Tiffany, and Everett had no intention ofplicating things for her. Since he nned to marry Marissa, Paul’s other daughter, he knew it was crucial to nip any misunderstanding about his rtionship with Tiffany in the bud.


    Paul, catching on to Everett’s intentions, gave a knowing nod. “Very well,” he replied with quiet approval.


    Everett turned toward Marissa, his gaze meaningful—a silent reminder of the engagement and the promise she had just made to him.


    Marissa met his gaze, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. She gave a slight nod, equally eager to avoid any unnecessary drama.


    Get thetest gα?ησν???s


    Acknowledging her response with a subtle tilt of his head, Everett made his exit, his entourage trailing behind like a well-oiled machine.


    Meanwhile, Aelfric, who had been stewing in his embarrassment, decided it was high time to cut his losses. The longer he lingered, the greater the risk of his facade crumbling. He hastily excused himself, realizing the day had gonepletely sideways. He hadn’t just failed to curry favor with Paul; he was lucky to have avoided stepping on andmine.


    With Aelfric gone, Dennis saw no reason to linger and quietly followed suit.


    As he left, his face wore the unmistakable look of defeat. Deep down, Dennis had clung to the hope that Marissa was pretending to be Tiffany. If that were true, his past grievances with Tiffany would no longer matter, clearing the way for him to pursue Marissa with a clean conscience.


    But that fragile illusion had been shattered. Even though his feelings for Marissa lingered, the thought of chasing her now felt reckless, even dangerous. All that remained was the bitter taste of regret.


    Not that it mattered. Dennis was but a small yer in the grand game of high society, his inner turmoil invisible to those around him.


    No one noticed when he felt secretly ted, nor when he was utterly crushed. In fact, few even realized he had attended the banquet at all.


    Zayn was no better off emotionally. Like Dennis, his hopes had been kindled and snuffed out in rapid session.


    But Zayn was different. As the only son in his family, without an elder brother to overshadow him, he had grown bolder and more determined, his recklessness unchecked.


    .


    .


    .