At a little distance from the scene, Lilith observed the scene coolly.
"What are you thinking?" Eli had co to stand by his side at so point.
Lilith looked in the direction in which the waitress had left, "I think it’s ti to dig deeper into the Yu Family. For an ordinary and warm family of four, they have quite a lot of skeletons in their closet."
...
Almost on instinct, Ella wanted to rush after the waitress. The girl looked way too uncomfortable and scared when she ran away.
However, she hadn’t even taken a step when she saw her reflection in the mirror.
The wine had completely soaked into her dress, seeping through her undergarnts. And the white gown clung to her body in a way that had Ella frown.
Without even looking around, she could feel countless gazes lingering on her as if she was so live show.
Ella felt a headache pressing behind her temples.
Almost on instinct, she looked around. Her gaze scanned through the crowd before she spotted Kade in a discreet corner, flirting with a waitress.
Ella’s lips twitched. Such a brother-in-law, one cannot tell if it’s a blessing or a curse.
As her eyes road again, she spotted Ronan talking to the man from earlier, Luca. Both the n were also imrsed in their own worlds.
Ella braced herself to cross the hall in such a manner when the crowd stirred.
"Who is that?"
"I don’t rember seeing her in any of my circles before!"
"This year’s ball is indeed special. There is no lack of stunning won at all!"
Ella turned around but because of the people who were crowding over, she could not spot the new guest.
Taking the opportunity of everyone’s distraction, Ella turned to leave.
"Stop!"
A familiar voice rang from behind.
Ella halted, her eyes wide in disbelief as she turned around. In the center of the hall, one could see a beautiful woman donned in a forest green gown. Her long red hair was set free, wild and untad.
And her cold expressions imdiately lted away when her eyes t Ella.
Before Ella could recover her senses, a white fur shawl was draped around her.
Ruby secured the front, adjusting it over.
Ella blinked, still quite astonished by Ruby’s presence here but before she could utter a word, another voice chid in.
"You don’t seem quite well, Ella. What’s the matter?"
Ronan, who was talking to Luca, on another floor had already co to stand beside Ella.
Ella: "_" I haven’t been quite well for a while now. How co you chose this mont to notice it?
Once away from the crowd, Ella turned to Ruby, "How did you end up here?"
Ronan, who had shalessly tagged along with both the ladies, decided to interrupt at this mont, "It doesn’t matter, does it?"
Ella shot him a suspicious look.
"I received an invitation from Adrian," Ruby still rembered when a maid delivered the invitation box to him and repeated what the servant had said: Our Second Master and Mistress would be glad to see you there.
And that was all it took for the Ambrose Mansion to get chaotic. Mr. Ambrose, who had freshly recovered and could already walk by now had already started to plan his outfit when the maid made another declaration.
’Only the Young Miss is invited!’
Although Mr. Ambrose was displeased about that, he still lectured Ruby for half a day about how to make connections and bring profits.
Hearing Ruby’s words, Ronan narrowed his eyes, rembering the hour-long negotiation he had with Adrian so ti ago.
’What do you think of inviting the Ambrose Family?’
Adrian did not reply to that.
’I think you should invite Ruby in any case.’
Adrian only looked up at the man with a quirked brow.
’I am not saying it with any ulterior motives. You should know that this is the first ti you are exposing Ella to your circle. Having her friend around would make her comfortable as well...’
However, till the very end, Ronan did not get an affirmative response from Adrian.
Half a day later, he left the place, grumbling.
But looking at the scene now, Ronan was inwardly speechless. He couldn’t agree to my request but the mont I ntioned Ella, he really invited Ruby?
That too, with such words? What a great friend indeed!
Ella, on the other hand, was delighted, "My baby truly cares about the most!" Her words unknowingly rubbed so salt on Ronan’s fresh wound.
"It’s a good thing you are here anyway... I was bored out of my wits anyway,’’ Saying that, Ella hugged Ruby.
Ruby patted her back, smiling gently.
Ronan, who was watching the scene, felt another bout of salt in his wounds. His brows tugged together.
At this mont, there were sounds of approaching footsteps.
When everybody turned, they spotted Adrian making their way towards them. The man’s face was enshrouded in a layer of gloom.
The mont he saw Ella, he held her shoulders and scanned her from head to toe. His gaze landed on the red patch near her chest and his eyes darkened further.
Afraid that he would misunderstand, Ella quickly explained, "This is wine..."
"Who did it?" Adrian’s voice lowered dangerously.
Ella held his hand, gently stroking his knuckles as she spoke, "It was an accident..."
Before she could even finish speaking, she felt herself floating in the air as Adrian carried her horizontally.
"What... Where are we going?" Ella asked when Adrian started walking in the opposite direction.
"Out of here."
"But..." Ella was about to speak when she spotted a few familiar faces at the distance.
Old Master King, Old Madam King, and Lilith’s parents were walking out of a room.
Mrs. Quinn had a very gentle countenance. When she smiled, calm seed to settle in her surroundings.
Her voice was exceedingly soft as she spoke, "This ti, we did not just co to attend the ball but also discuss so other matters that have been put off for a long ti."
"Other matters?" Old Madam King asked, montarily confused.
Mrs. Quinn smiled as she exchanged a glance with her husband, "How long has it been since the children have known each other? Isn’t it ti we give them a nudge? Adrian and Lilith should now..."
"You unfilial grandson, where are you running off to?" Mrs. Quinn’s words were cut off by Old Master King who was frowning by now.
Everyone’s gazes shifted and when they witnessed the scene in front of them, a weird silence settled over the place.
Adrian remained still, holding Ella in his bridal carry.
Ella also remained frozen in his arms, acting like a mannequin.
Adrian looked at Old Master King and uttered one word, slowly and softly, "Ho."
Ella, the said mannequin, lifted her gaze to glance at the man, feeling her heart stir uncontrollably.
Ho.
Ho.
Ho.
"Adrian, you are leaving already?" It was Mr. Quinn who spoke up.
Ella snapped out of her daze and looked at the man when she heard his voice. But unlike before, her voice seed to have no impact on her. His face was also completely unrecognizable.
And it made her wonder if her mind was conjuring things earlier, making her hear those voices.
"And this lady is...?" Mrs. Quinn glanced at Ella briefly before gazing at Adrian.
Adrian addressed the couple with a small nod, "My girlfriend is not feeling well."
One sentence and he answered both their questions.
His girlfriend is not feeling well so he won’t stay here any longer.
Ji Yan, who had caught up to his Second Master, after dealing with a few guests, nearly tripped when he heard that!
Ella had heard the discussion between Lilith’s parents and Adrian’s grandparents. And if she did, she was sure Adrian heard it as well.
But his words... seed to intend to dispel any sort of doubt from lingering between the elders.
But Adrian did not spare anyone any more attention. He gave a brief nod to his grandparents.
All the four people remained there like statues while Adrian walked past them.
Ella wanted to offer them a smile but the people seed to be too shell-shocked to look at her face.
The atmosphere was so awkward that she wondered if she should pretend to faint.
But at that mont, a thought crossed her mind suddenly and she hurriedly looked at Adrian, "Baby, wait, there are so many guests out there..."
However, her worries fell short when Adrian took an unfamiliar route that led to a desolate and empty path.
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