Chapter 215

Chennaine pressed her lips together. “I’m not that fragile.”

Joshua said, “Then tonight…”

“No,” Shermaine cut him off immediately.

Joshua’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Sheary, I haven’t even said what I was going to ask!”

She gave him a serious look. “I knew it.”

Joshua’s thoughts raced. ‘Alright, fine. Sheary is too smart for her own good. Yeah, I do want more. Last night wasn’t nearly enough.’

After Joshua finished wiping the sweat from Shermaine’s forehead, he let the handkerchief trail down to her neck.

“Hey, be careful with that,” Shermaine warned. She was afraid Joshua would wipe off her foundation.

“Don’t worry. I promise I won’t expose any of Sheary’s hickey,” he said with a grin.

Shermaine fell silent, suddenly feeling the urge to make Joshua sleep on the couch tonight.

As five o’clock approached, the hotel staff began serving dinner. The Jean and York families had been seated together at a large round table.

When Shermaine spotted Sarah, she noticed a stunning woman sitting beside her–pale skin, golden curls cascading down her shoulders. She had to be from the Bynes family.

“Joshua, I’d like you to meet my granddaughter, Kylie,” Sarah said warmly.

She’d always carried a hint of regret about not giving her current husband children of her own, but thankfully, his younger son had passed on some incredible genes. Kylie was the pride of the Bynes family, and everyone knew it.

Joshua took his seat with barely a reaction. He didn’t even glance in Kylie’s direction, just offered a brief smile and murmured, “Mm.”

“Kylie, this is your cousin, Joshua,” Sarah introduced them. She wouldn’t dare ask Kylie to call Owen by any family terms, but having her address Joshua as cousin was different. As the elder here, she knew Joshua would at least give her that much respect.

Kylie extended her hand gracefully. “Nice to meet you, Joshua.” Up close, she couldn’t help but notice how unfairly gorgeous this man was. It was like the universe had played favorites when creating him.

Joshua glanced at her but didn’t reach for her hand. “Welcome to the Republic of Wallington,” he said simply.

“Thanks.” Kylie pulled her hand back, thinking to herself that this Joshua guy wasn’t exactly a gentleman.

But then Joshua turned to Shermaine and spoke in that deep, magnetic voice of his, so tender and gentle. It was like nothing else in this glitzy world existed for him except her.

Sarah didn’t bother introducing Shermaine, but Shermaine didn’t mind. She hadn’t eaten much at lunch, and after all that socializing, she was starving.

Kylie’s eyes soon found Shermaine, sizing her up. When Shermaine looked back at her, Kylie smiled sweetly, “You’re pretty.”

Shermaine didn’t think the compliment was sincere. Kylie radiated arrogance from head to toe, like she thought she was better than everyone else. Shermaine just said thanks in a flat voice.

The soup arrived, and the dishes started coming out.

Joshua ladled some soup into her bowl. “Careful, it’s hot.”

I know. Shennaine sipped her soup. “Just worry about yourself.”

Joshua didn’t seem bothered. “Tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll get it for you.” All he wanted right now was to take care of his eater… way.

Sarah watched them and frowned. She thought, ‘Joshua’s being so good to her, and she’s acting like she doesn’t appreciate it.’

But anyone who knew Shermaine would understand she wasn’t being ungrateful at all. She was looking out for Joshua, wanting him to eat his meal properly without worrying about her. Yet the man simply wouldn’t listen.

At the table, only Clyde looked genuinely miserable. His scores had come back disappointing, crushing his dreams of getting into his top choice university. Andrew was already making plans to send him abroad for his education instead.

When Andrew learned that Sarah had married into foreign nobility, he saw an opportunity. Thinking about Clyde’s future, he approached her for advice about studying overseas–which universities were worth considering, and what she might recommend.

Sarah’s voice carried a note of pride as she replied, “You should ask my granddaughter about that. She’s a visiting professor at Harrod University…”