Chapter 91
What else but love would make a man feel sorry for a woman?
Joshua’s eyes grew inscrutable. Feel sorry for her? That phrase had never existed in his vocabulary—not before, not now, and probably not ever.
Still, he couldn’t deny that just now, he did feel a trace of compassion for Shermaine. But there was a clear difference between compassion and pity.
“You’re my fiancée,” Joshua said. “It’s only natural I’d look out for you.”
Shermaine finished her glass of fruit wine, licked her lips nonchalantly, and said, “Just kidding.” She never expected Joshua to feel sorry for her anyway. Their relationship was perfectly balanced right now, just the way it should be.
Joshua studied her closely. Her eyes were clear and bright, and her words carried no trace of romantic undertones; it really was just a simple joke, nothing more.
He followed suit and downed the fruit wine in one go, ignoring the strange feeling rising within him.
Then, Joshua turned to Shermaine and said, “I didn’t get a chance to introduce you to my family earlier. Come with me.”
Shermaine nodded.
The York family was a large and influential clan. Owen had three sons and two daughters. Among the grandchildren, Joshua ranked third, with two older brothers, an older sister, and a younger sister.
As the handpicked heir to the family business, he took over the family business, and much of its current success was thanks to him.
Despite the York family’s size, the brothers maintained remarkable harmony. There was no scheming over inheritance; instead, each excelled in his own field.
For example, Victor York, the eldest son, was now a popular movie star—a real heavyweight in the film industry with countless fans. The second son, Jack York, was an adventurer, always roaming the world and rarely at home.
As for the fourth son and the fifth daughter, one had joined the military while the other was studying abroad; neither had returned.
Joshua’s parents were also absent. His father, a scientist, was rarely home, and it was said that his mother passed away when he was very young. Thus, he was raised by Owen from childhood.
Joshua’s two uncles and two aunts were exceptionally warm toward Shermaine, even preparing special engagement gifts for her.
When Ruth stepped out of the restroom, she saw Shermaine chatting merrily with the Yorks. Her eyes darkened with unreadable emotions.
Just now, she’d spent ages in the restroom psyching herself up. Honestly, she still didn’t like Shermaine, but even she had to admit that the girl’s talent was obvious to everyone. Not that she’d ever say it out loud, of course.
Without Wendelyn in the picture, Shermaine might just be… acceptable.
Just then, Jameson answered a call, his voice filled with urgency. “What? Jason’s in the hospital? What happened? I’m coming right now. Wait for me.”
After hanging up, Jameson spotted Ross socializing not far away. He walked straight up to him and said directly, “There’s an emergency; I have to leave now. You’ll handle this.”
“Got it,” Ross said calmly.
With that, Jameson left in a hurry.
The guests exchanged curious glances. What on earth could be more important than his daughter’s engagement party?
The party continued to its final ritual: the exchange of engagement rings. The couple stepped onto the stage and slipped the rings onto each other’s fingers.
The rings were simple and understated. Shermaine took the men’s ring from the host and, without hesitation, slipped it onto Joshua's finger. Then, Joshua did the same for her.
Applause erupted from the audience below.
Amid the dazzling lights and lively party atmosphere, Shermaine held her wine glass, mingling with Joshua and the guests. As a true lover of wine who hadn’t indulged like this in ages, she drank quite a bit. Her glass emptied and refilled in endless cycles.
Finally, as the party was coming to an end, she let out a small burp.
Joshua looked down at Shermaine.
Shermaine’s eyes glistened with moisture, like a clear spring veiled in mist. Her cheeks flushed pink as she licked her lips, looking every bit the enchanting siren. If she weren’t his fiancée, half the men here would be utterly bewitched, lining up to take her home.
Shermaine had an incredible alcohol tolerance. After countless drinks, only now was she finally starting to feel tipsy.
Just then, Lily asked with concern, “Sheary, let me help you back to the lounge to rest.” If she hadn’t been running interference all night, blocking those toasts for her, she wouldn’t have had to drink so much.
Little did they know, it was Shermaine who actually wanted to drink. She had a high tolerance for alcohol, but she’d rarely ever been drunk.
Now, though, her head was spinning a little, and after wearing high heels all night, her feet were killing her. She just wanted to kick off her shoes and let her feet relax.
Hearing Lily’s offer, Shermaine frowned slightly, sized her up with a tipsy gaze, then pushed her away with exaggerated seriousness. “I don’t want your help,” she declared. Pointing imperiously at Joshua and tilting her chin up, she added, “You, give me a piggyback ride.”