Chapter 214 The Only One He Sees
Scarlet’s brow furrowed in deep contemplation as she considered the situation. This young lady before her was known for her stubbornness and unpredictability. Now, she’s claiming that Sebastian would indeed make an appearance. Can we trust her?
Yet, certainty was a luxury they did not possess at the moment. No one could definitively say whether Sebastian would grace them with his presence or not.
Amidst the swirling doubts, the Sherrits managed to maintain a facade of politeness as they greeted Madelyn. “Ms. Thornton, please come in.”
With a subtle smile playing on her lips, Madelyn, clutching her evening gown, sauntered into the room with a poised and confident air.
Trailing closely behind was Janessa, her voice tinged with hope as she inquired, “Madelyn, are you sure Sebastian will be here?”
A chuckle of satisfaction escaped Madelyn. You wish.
Nonetheless, she reassured Janessa aloud, “Relax, Janessa. Sebastian will surely be here. He has given me his word, after all.”
“Oh… that’s a relief.” Janessa exhaled, her tension visibly easing as she responded.
Then, her smile sweet and sincere, she added, “Madelyn, you truly are a best friend to me. In this vast world, you alone treat me with such kindness.”
“Of course,” Madelyn responded, her smile barely concealing the insincerity. Privately, she was nearly overwhelmed by distaste for Janessa’s two-faced demeanor.
The evening’s banquet was a lavish affair. The Sherritt family, pillars of high society, and Rupert, with his extensive network of influential friends, had attracted a considerable crowd.
Of course, many were drawn by the rumor that Sebastian, a prominent figure, would be in attendance, hoping to glean some advantage from his presence.
As the hours slipped by, the absence of Sebastian grew increasingly conspicuous, stirring a wave of discontent among the assembled guests. Murmurs of dissatisfaction spread, with some guests openly criticizing the Sherritt family’s credibility, deeming them unreliable.
The pretense of hosting a gathering under the banner of Sebastian’s name, only to fail in presenting the man himself, was undeniably humiliating.
Rupert, upon overhearing such discussions, felt a surge of anxiety wash over him. His expression hardened as he turned to Janessa, pressing her for reassurance with a stern voice, “You mentioned Sebastian would be here, didn’t you? When exactly is he supposed to arrive?”
Janessa’s anxiety mirrored her father’s. Yet, clinging to Madelyn’s earlier assurances, she could only stammer out a hopeful excuse, “Dad, it’s Sebastian who’s managing everything at Lockhart Group. His schedule is always packed; he’s likely to arrive later than planned. Please, don’t worry.”
But how could Rupert not worry? The family’s reputation was at stake, and the fear of public embarrassment gnawed at him.
Meanwhile, Madelyn watched the father-daughter duo’s growing desperation with an air of detachment. As she leisurely enjoyed her meal, sipping the rich, exquisite champagne, a thought crossed her mind. This moment couldn’t possibly get any more perfect.
As the event drew to a close, the anticipated arrival of Sebastian never materialized.
Rupert was left with no choice but to approach each guest personally, offering apologies. “Please bear with us for a little longer,” he urged, “Mr. Lockhart is tied up with work, but he will join us shortly.”
This, however, did little to quell the restlessness among the guests. Their curiosity peaked, and they pressed for specifics, “Mr. Sherritt, could you at least give us a specific time? The banquet is nearly over: when exactly is Mr. Lockhart arriving?”
The sentiment was echoed by others, “Exactly, we came here just to catch a glimpse of Mr. Lockhart. Mr. Sherritt, you better not be fooling us!”
“Exactly!”
“Is he coming or not?”
The clamor for Sebastian swelled, overwhelming Rupert. In a moment of desperation, he turned to Madelyn, hoping her presence might soothe the crowd. “Look everyone, this lady here is Mr. Lockhart’s fiancée. With her here, Mr. Lockhart will surely make an appearance later!”
All eyes suddenly fixed on Madelyn, making her the focal point of the room. Although the criticism was veiled in politeness due to her status as Sebastian’s fiancée, it was palpable.
“So, you’re the lady of the Lockhart family,” one guest remarked, “my apologies for the oversight. But may I ask, when will Mr. Lockhart be arriving?”
Another added, echoing the inquiry, “Right, Mrs. Lockhart, we’ve been waiting all night for Mr. Lockhart. We can’t possibly let it be in vain, can we?”
Madelyn found the entire situation ironically amusing. Who would have imagined I’d end up as Rupert’s shield in this debacle?
Addressing the crowd, she reassured, “Rest assured, Sebastian will indeed arrive. He’s merely caught up with some business, and we’re not certain of the time. However, since you all are eager to see him, I’ll try calling him right now.”
With that, she stepped aside to make her call.
Meanwhile, in a noisy club across town, Sebastian and Wesley were seated at the bar, drinks in hand, accompanied by Harriet.
Harriet, who Wesley had brought along, had just shared a drink with him. Refilling her glass, she turned to Sebastian, inviting him, “Sebastian, let’s have a drink together.”
After she downed her drink in one smooth motion, Sebastian simply nodded and took a conservative sip, clearly moderating his intake.
Wesley, observing this, couldn’t contain his curiosity and exclaimed. “Sebastian, since you’re here, why aren’t you drinking? We three have shared countless experiences over the years, even life-threatening ones. It’s rare for us to gather like this; it’s no fun if you’re not joining in properly.”
Sebastian, feeling compelled, set down his glass and responded coolly, “I have to drive later to pick up Madelyn. You guys go ahead and continue.”
“Huh? Didn’t you say she moved back to her parents’ house? Why the sudden need to pick her up now?” Wesley was genuinely puzzled, his thoughts betraying his confusion. Madelyn truly is no ordinary troublemaker.
Sebastian remained silent in response, a hint of annoyance possibly flickering across his face.
Interestingly, Harriet’s expression darkened slightly.
Throughout the evening, Sebastian hadn’t said much, but Madelyn’s name seemed ever-present in his few words.
Harriet couldn’t fathom what was so captivating about Madelyn, that seemingly unremarkable woman.
What does she have that I don’t? Why does Sebastian revolve his world around her?
As the night progressed, Harriet, steeped in her thoughts, consumed more alcohol than intended and soon found herself in a daze.
Noticing her condition and knowing she’d want Sebastian to take her home, Wesley saw an opportunity. Standing up, he addressed Sebastian with a calculated tone, “Sebastian, I have another engagement. Could you take Harriet home later?”
After his words, Wesley prepared to leave, effectively leaving Harriet in Sebastian’s care.
Just then, Sebastian’s phone rang. It was Madelyn. “Sebastian, I’ve finished my drink here; you can come and get me now,” her voice floated softly through the phone.
Acknowledging her with a hum, Sebastian ended the call. He then turned to Wesley, his tone indifferent as he handed over the responsibility, “Since you brought her here, it’s your duty to take her back. I’m heading out first.”
With those words, Sebastian quickly rose and made his way out.