"Get in the car."
Nora Ainsworth opened the car door, got in, and asked bluntly, "What’s up?"
"A lot of prominent families are holding a huge ball tonight, and many parents are bringing their children. I didn’t want to go originally, but my mom is forcing . It’s not just , either. Ethan Ellsworth, Quentin, Leon Lynch, and even your forr older brother Nicholas Ainsworth will be there. Even Jean couldn’t get out of it. That’s why Quentin asked to bring you with ."
"This is your rich people drama. Why drag into it? I don’t want to go." As she could well imagine, she wouldn’t just be seeing Mr. Ainsworth, Sharon Ainsworth, and Nicholas Ainsworth, but also Mrs. Lynch. It was even possible that Mrs. Lynch’s pig-headed nephew would be there.
"This only happens once a year. You can go as my date. Besides, a lot of people already know you’re my girlfriend. And it’s a masquerade, so no one will recognize you."
"Do I have to go?"
Herman Hawthorne answered firmly, shooting her a sidelong glance. "No. What, you’re not willing to be my date for one night?"
"I’m not willing to attend this kind of party. It’s not that I’m unwilling to be your date."
"Quentin arranged this, so you can figure it out yourself. By the way, did he go to your place last night?" He gave a deep, aningful smile.
"Yeah... I guess... I didn’t open the door, but he sohow got a key from who-knows-where and let himself in." Nora Ainsworth rolled her eyes. "I resisted to the bitter end."
Herman Hawthorne turned the steering wheel. "Looks like Quentin has no intention of letting you go."
Nora Ainsworth changed the subject. "Where are we going now?"
"I’m taking you to get changed."
He drove to a high-end won’s clothing boutique in a VIP district and parked.
Just from the look of the exterior, Nora Ainsworth knew the clothes inside had to be ridiculously expensive.
The two went inside, and Herman Hawthorne personally selected a short, white dress and handed it to her. "Try it on."
She glanced at the price tag first. Seeing that the dress cost over a hundred thousand, she quickly waved her hands in refusal. "It’s too expensive."
Herman pushed it into her hands. "Stop with the nonsense and go change."
Nora Ainsworth had no choice but to take it and walk toward the fitting room.
After changing, she found the dress was a bit too short, only reaching her upper thigh.
She opened the fitting room door. "The dress is too short. Do you have anything longer?"
Herman Hawthorne’s eyes lit up. He reached out and pulled her right out of the room. "It looks great. No need to change."
Next, they went to a shoe store, where he picked out a pair of crystal sandals with eight-centiter heels.
The final step was makeup.
Her hair was styled in a high updo, personally handled by a famous makeup artist. When Nora Ainsworth ca out, Herman Hawthorne felt his judgnt had been spot on.
Once in the car, he placed a half-mask he had prepared beforehand on her face. "Nora, believe it or not, even Quentin won’t recognize you."
Nora Ainsworth wasn’t the least bit modest. "It’s a well-known fact that this girl is gorgeous."
Herman Hawthorne chuckled. "As expected of Quentin’s woman. You even talk just like him."
Nora Ainsworth looked a little embarrassed.
The car pulled into the parking lot. In sumr, the days are always long, and there was still no hint of evening in the sky.
From the mont she stepped out of the car, Nora Ainsworth felt countless eyes on her. It was only because she was wearing a mask that she could fearlessly walk beside Herman Hawthorne.
She strode confidently into the hotel lobby.
They took the hotel elevator all the way up to the exclusive VIP ballroom.
Quite a few people had already arrived inside, and all the won were wearing masks.
Herman Hawthorne rarely attended such gatherings, so his presence was a surprise to everyone.
Herman Hawthorne’s mother was already there.
It was only when a lady next to her pointed it out that she noticed her son had brought a woman with him.
Mrs. Hawthorne’s face imdiately darkened. She instantly understood what her son was up to.
But with so many people around, she couldn’t make a scene.
She could only call out, "Son, over here."
Herman led Nora Ainsworth over to her. As they got closer, he casually put an arm around Nora’s shoulder. "Mom, this is my dance partner."
Herman Hawthorne gave an awkward laugh. His mother said to him in a low voice, "Did you forget why I told you to co? Did you bring this woman here to throw it in your mother’s face? I told you in advance, you’re here to find a match today."
"Mom, how desperate am I for a wife that I have to attend this kind of party?"
Mrs. Hawthorne warned him, "You’re already in your late twenties, and you’ve never brought a single girlfriend ho for to et. How can I not be anxious? The other day, I was reading a magazine, and soone even suggested you might like n. You tell , how is a mother supposed to feel hearing that?!"
Hearing Mrs. Hawthorne’s words from the side, Nora Ainsworth was inwardly amused.
Herman Hawthorne coughed dryly. "Mom, keep your voice down. People will hear you."
Mrs. Hawthorne declared, "I don’t care! Don’t even think about bringing so random woman to pass off as your girlfriend. You have to be the first one to get married, before Quentin and Ethan! Hmph, I want to be able to hold my head high and proud in front of Quentin’s and Ethan’s mothers!"
Herman Hawthorne said in a low voice, "Mom, watch your image. You’re a society lady. Don’t worry, your son will definitely be the first to get married. I’ll be on the lookout tonight. If I see a nice girl, I’ll report back to you imdiately."
Only then did Mrs. Hawthorne nod in satisfaction. "Now that’s more like it. Those two rascals are already here. They’re inside. Go find them."
Herman Hawthorne gave his mother a hug. "Okay, Mom. You keep an eye out and pick so girls you like. I’ll co choose from your selection later."
"You don’t have to tell that. When your mom takes charge, one is as good as two."
Herman Hawthorne shot Nora Ainsworth a look, and then they headed further inside.
Crossing past the dance floor, they saw Quentin Grant and Ethan Ellsworth leaning against a railing on a raised platform further in. Jean Grant was standing not far away, but Chloe Marshall was nowhere to be seen.
"Well now, who’s this beauty?" Ethan Ellsworth straightened up. "A new fla?"
Herman Hawthorne grinned. "Take a guess."
Ethan pouted. "Showing off so beauty you found sowhere in front of us."
Quentin Grant narrowed his eyes but said nothing. There was no mystery at all; he could tell who it was at a single glance.
’That body... he’d had her countless tis. He’d be damned if he couldn’t recognize it.’
"You’re the one with bad eyes, and you’re blaming the woman for being beautiful," Herman Hawthorne scoffed.
Ethan paused and looked at Nora Ainsworth carefully. His mouth opened slightly, as if he’d discovered a new continent. With a look of disbelief and a mischievous glint in his eye, he nudged Quentin Grant. "Looks like soone’s a lucky man after all."
Jean Grant didn’t seem to hear their conversation. She stood there, looking very anxious, pulling out her phone from ti to ti to check it. It was clear she didn’t want to be there at all.
Ethan’s gaze fell on her, lingered for a second, then moved away.
Quentin Grant turned around. "Jean, turn off your phone. Did you forget our mom is here too?"
Jean Grant shot him a mournful look. "Brother, I don’t want to be here."
"Go tell Mom that. I know you don’t want to be here, but, Jean, so things are not up to you." His tone was a subtle reminder that for those born into wealthy families, many things were out of their control.
Jean Grant pouted. "This is no fun at all."
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