Chapter 177
Roy thought to himself, โNo wayโฆ This must be an illusion. No way Joshua would lose to that Trance guy. But damnโฆ Trance is actuallyโฆ pretty handsome. Also the King of Football? Damn, heโs got more fans than me.โ
Shermaine took the painting Trance had been carrying and handed it to the maid, who then carried it upstairs. She then asked Trance to sit with Danielle before going to pour him a glass of juice.
The party was packed with guests and short-staffed. With everyone swamped and the pre-made orange juice already gone, Shermaine headed straight to the kitchen to make a fresh batch herself, not wanting to trouble the other staff.
When Trance saw Danielle, they greeted each other with a warm hugโthey were already acquainted and on good terms. As he leaned in close, he whispered in her ear, โDanielle, could you introduce me to Shearyโs family?โ
Danielle smiled and said, โSure thing.โ
Janice had to admit, Trance was dashingly handsomeโhis looks alone were certainly appealing. But with Joshua already lined up, she couldnโt possibly consider a second candidate.
Danielle started by introducing Ross.
Rossโ face remained impassive.
Trance blurted out, โHey, bro! Iโm Trance, Shearyโs friend.โ
โHello,โ Ross replied coolly.
Trance wasnโt just the sunny, handsome image he projected. Born into aristocracy, he had been taught from childhood to read peopleโit came as naturally as breathing. He could tell that Shermaineโs brother, Ross, didnโt like him. Otherwise, why would he be so cold? Logically speaking, most men adored him, even saw him as an idol. After all, his football skills spoke for themselves.
โDamn, how do I get her brother to like me?โ Trance was itching to grab his phone and ask the family group chat for advice.
Then came Janice.
Naturally, Janice understood Ustranasian. Back when the Jean family conducted business with foreign clients, she served as the interpreter.
Trance was absolutely thrilled when he realized Janice could not only understand Ustranasian but also communicate with him effortlessly. He started showering her with sweet talk, soon having her beaming from ear to ear.
Next, Danielle turned to Ruth and Jameson, her tone noticeably cooler as she made the introductions.
Trance picked up on the shift.
After exchanging greetings, he didnโt say much.
Ruth stayed invisible all night, silently soaking in the spectacle. When Ruth saw Jameson getting humiliated, she thought to herself, โServes him right! Heโs finally getting a taste of his own medicineโexactly what he once did to me. Heโs always calling me stupid, but isnโt he just as bad? Hopelessly dumb himself. This is so damn satisfying!โ
Ruth had already given up trying to please Shermaine. Her past misdeeds had completely turned Shermaineโs heart cold. More than anything, she hoped Shermaine wouldnโt focus on her deep down; she was terrified Shermaine might dig up secrets she desperately wanted to keep hidden.
Ruth thought to herself, โIโm done with Jameson. But as for being Mrs. Jean, Iโll never let that vixen Natalie take my place. Iโm determined to remain the wealthy lady of this household, living in comfort and luxury for the rest of my days!โ
As Jameson watched Trance make his entrance, he felt as if another invisible slap landed across his faceโthe sting of humiliation burning hot.
It was common knowledge that the renowned painter Oliver Green had a nephew who was none other than the King of FootballโTrance. And as for Tranceโs family, they were bona fide Ustrana aristocracyโa noble house with centuries of history.
For the Jean family, this association was a huge social boostโif word got out, theyโd be the envy of everyone. But somehow, Jameson just couldnโt bring himself to feel happy.
Jameson couldnโt help but wonder, โCould the daughter Iโve always looked down upon actually beโฆ outstanding?โ
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he immediately dismissed it.
Jameson thought to himself, โNo way. Shermaine must have used some underhanded means to win Oliver and Tranceโs favor. Honestly, with her looks and figure, she could easily get by on her appearance abroad. Thereโs no way she actually impressed them with real talent.โ
Darkly twisted thoughts churned in Jamesonโs heart.
Shermaine was making fresh juice in the kitchen when Summer slipped in unnoticed from outside, watching her with a mischievous grin.
Shermaine asked, โHey, are you hungry?โ
Summer shook her head.
โNot hungry,โ Summer replied. โAlready ate a ton of snacks.โ
Shermaine said, โThatโs good. If you get hungry, feel free to come down for some snacks and desserts. Or just let the chef knowโhe can whip up whatever youโd like.โ
โHey Sheary,โ Summer said, โthe guys in our class sent me down to askโwould it be okay if they got Tranceโs autograph?โ
โSure,โ Shermaine replied. โTrance never turns down autograph requests from soccer fans. They can just go ask him directly.โ
โThatโs awesome!โ Summer grinned, clearly shipping Shermaine and Trance. โTrance is so dreamy! He even rented billboards all over the city to declare his feelings for you. But too bad, Shearyโyou already have a fiancรฉ.โ
Summer simply had a thing for gorgeous mixed-race guys like Tranceโno wonder she was head over heels.
Hearing this, Shermaine paused mid-squeeze, surprised. โHow did you guys find out?โ she asked.
Summer grinned and said, โItโs trending!โ
Shermaine thought to herself, โI really underestimated how fast news spreads in the digital ageโand just how obsessed the gossip-loving crowd can be with a confession like this.โ
Shermaine wondered to herself, โSo, does Joshua also know that Trance confessed to me? Now it makes sense. No wonder Joshua had been giving me this vibe that something was off. But true to his character, heโd been remarkably restrainedโnot a word about it since we met.โ
Shermaine was lost in thought.
โHey, Sheary,โ Summer asked curiously, โdo you really like Mr. York?โ She didnโt know much about Shermaine and Joshuaโs marriage, but online rumors said it was just a business deal. In her experience, marriages like that usually meant there werenโt any real feelings involved.
Summer couldnโt help but think, โShermaine is so remarkableโshe really didnโt need to go through with that business marriage to the York family at all. With her abilities, she couldโve just chosen to be with a man she truly loved.โ
Summer got her answer right away.
Because Shermaine said she did.
Shermaine repeated firmly, โJoshua is wonderful. I love him.โ
Trance was great too, of course, but she just didnโt have feelings for him.
It was an unexpected answer.
Though a bit disappointed her TranceโShermaine ship didnโt sail, Summer was even more thrilled when Shermaine openly admitted she liked Joshua.
Shermaine pressed her lips, her eyes showing a hint of tenderness. โIโm planning to make it official with him.โ She just hadnโt found the right moment to tell Joshua yet.
Summer thought excitedly, โSo they actually have feelings for each other! So Trance is the major obstacle standing in Mr. Yorkโs way to winning Shermaineโs heart!โ
Summer couldnโt help but click her tongue at this revelation, a mix of amusement and resignation flickering in her eyes.
โThe juice is ready,โ Shermaine said as she poured it into a glass. โGet a pen and paperโIโll take you to get his autograph.โ
โGreat!โ
In the living room, Owen looked troubled. Trance, Joshuaโs rival suitor, was quite impressiveโwith looks and physique that could rival Joshuaโs, and he was even more silver-tongued and charming.
Owen couldnโt bring himself to say anything that might discourage Joshua at this moment. After all, if Shermaine truly didnโt have feelings for his grandson, there was simply nothing he could do about it.
Matters of the heart grew especially tangled when three souls were caught in the web.
In the end, it all hinged on who captured Shermaineโs favor.
Joshua walked in without saying a word, a cigarette clenched between his lips as he flicked his lighter and lit another.
Shermaine came out just then with a glass of orange juice and handed it to Trance. He accepted it with a beaming smile and said, โThanks, Sheary!โ
Trance took a sip of his juice and said, โSheary, I just had a great chat with your grandmaโwe really hit it off. So, what do you think I should do now?โ
Ross smirked coldly. โWhat a carefully crafted verbal trap. He seems carefree, but every word is calculated.โ
Between the two suitors pursuing Shermaine, Ross clearly favored Joshua, a known quantity, who would treat Shermaine exceptionally well.
Shermaine chuckled, โYou could just adopt my grandma as your own.โ Then her gaze shifted to Joshua, who stood apart from the crowd, a cigarette between his fingers, exhaling slow streams of smoke, his detached indifference making him seem utterly out of place here.
Shermaine thought to herself, โHe was chain-smoking by the entrance earlier, and heโs still at it. How many has he had tonight? At this rate, it must be quite a few.โ
Trance clearly wasnโt satisfied with that answer and was about to say more when he saw Shermaine walking straight toward Joshua. In that instant, he felt as if his heart shattered into pieces all over again.
Trance thought bitterly, โTearing Joshua to pieces wouldnโt be enough. Right now, I just want to challenge him to a duel and steal Shermaine away!โ
Shermaine stepped beside Joshua and plucked the cigarette from his fingers. โThatโs enough,โ she said gently.
Joshua let her take the cigarette away. Looking up at her with deep, intense eyes, he teased, โSheary, are you trying to boss me around?โ Before Shermaine could reply, he added with a smirk, โI only take orders from my woman.โ