Audrey’s mind was racing, but before she could piece things together, she heard Keith say, “Honestly, if it weren’t for that little “advantage‘ Hardy! never would’ve made it onto the national e–sports team. Otherwise, his patents would have just pushed him into reonomies
Quentin frowned in disagreement, asking. “You really think that’s an advantage
Keith raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it, though?”
Audrey looked over at Yann, gestured to her own thinat, and gave a quick glance at Hardy, who hadn’t said a word.
Yann pulled her aside and said, “Hardy is not mute. He’s just not much of a talker.”
Audrey thought, “Right, not much of a talker, huh? When everyone was wishing Mr. Winifred a happy birthday just now, Hardy didn’t s Being that quiet in front of all the elders? That takes guts!
“Hey, you two need alone time even at a party like this?” Keith saw them slipping away and quickly caught up. “Are you into gaming, Audrey? Hardy’s Arena just got new gear Want to try it out?”
Audrey locked at Hardy. He gave a small nod, clearly on board.
Then, she asked, “I’m actually not that good… Am I going to mess up their trainin
Keith replied, “Not at all. The team is in the middle of tryouts for new members. The veterans are all off at training camp and won’t be back until next
month.”
With that, he clapped Hardy on the shoulder and added, “It was actually Hardy’s idea. He just didn’t want to say it himself.”
For the first time, something shitted in Hardy’s expression. He averted his eyes and took a quiet sip from his wine glass.
Yann turned to Audrey, voice gentle, “Want to go check it out later? She then nodded in response.
Before long, a group came over with glasses in hand, surrounding them. “Oh, there you are, Mr. Winfred.”
Yann responded with his usual cool distance, lifting his glass in a noncommittal gesture. Sometimes, he didn’t even bother taking a sip. People didn’t expect him to respond much. They just wanted to make their presence known in front of him.
A few who were good at playing the social game turned to Audrey with a smile, handing her their business cards. “Mrs. Winifred, we would appreciate your support.”
Yann kept his hand gently on her back, and whenever there was a card she should accept, he gave her a light double tap to signalit
The people whose cards Audrey accepted started treating her with extra respect, while those she ignored didn’t dare give her any attitude.
Out of nowhere, Keith spotted Talia approaching from across the room. He leaned in to whisper something to Quentin before walking over and pulling her aside. “Don’t stir things up tonight,” he warned.
Once they were at a quiet corner, she shook Keith’s hand off and irritably asked, “What are you talking about? Everyone else gets Winifred. Why can’t I?”
Mr. and Mrs.
Keith frowned, “You think I don’t know what you’re up to?” He glanced back to make sure fann wasn’t looking before lowering his voice. “Forget it. He’s not into you. So, go pick someone else.”
“Who then?” Talia looked up at him. “You?”
Keith shot her a look of disgust.” every woman on the planet vanished and you were the last one left, I would rather drop dead.”
Tabia let out a dry laugh. “Then it’s mutual. If you were the last guy alive, I would get a girlfriend instead”
109:00 FM, 13 Jun 115
Chapter 254
“You…” Keith was momentarily at a loss for words. He glanced around before asking, “Where’s Jocelyn is your backup plan of ste
The moment he said it. Talia flung her glass of red wine straight at him,
Keith dodged just in time, sidestepping with an infuriating smirk. “Well, looks like you’re out of wine to need for a toast now. Go affattain yourtall
somewhere else”
With that, he walked off looking way too pleased with himself talis glared at his retreating figure, teeth clenched tight in frustration.
Once the crowd around Yann began to thin out, he calmly explained to Audrey the nature of each person whose card she had accepted–ther personalities, their current projects, and how she could use those connections if the opportunity arose.
th, sitting nearby, let out a dramatic sigh. “Back in school, he wouldn’t even help me study. Now he’s teaching his with how to manage people, step by step. What happened to bros before romance?”
Yann handed him a glass of wine to shut him up. Then, looking up and spotting Margot across the room, he turned to Audrey and said, “Til be back in a
ы
Audrey had noticed Margot too. Margot gave her a slight nod before walking off with Yann to talk somewhere more private.
Quentin clinked glasses with Audrey and said, “Honestly, I wouldn’t mess with his aunt. She’s tough.”
He pondered, ‘Margot is sharper than Logan If Yann hadn’t stepped in and turned things around, she would’ve taken over the company for sure!
As Keith and Hardy got caught up in their conversation, Audrey nudged Quentin and asked quietly, “Hey, do allergies run in families?”
She pressed her lips together before continuing, mean, I get drunk off a glass of red wine, and Hardy is allergic to pecan pastries. Could stuff like that get passed down to our kids?”
Luna was not actually Valerie’s daughter from her first marriage and having the same pecan allergy as Hardy was not proof of any blood ties. Plus, the Moonridge’s golden boys and Valerie’s social group were totally unrelated, but that did not stop Audrey from wondering.
Quentin then explained some basics of genetics. Generally, if one parent had an allergy, the chance of it being passed on was around thirty percent. If both parents had it, the probability could go up to eighty.
But he added that some allergies might just be temporary reactions triggered by environmental changes or the body’s condition at the time–not true inherited conditions or anything contagious.
Then, Quentin motioned for Audrey to step aside with him. “Is there something you’re not comfortable saying out loud?”
She hesitated, unsure how to begin. She wondered, ‘Well, I can’t just ask if Hardy has ever dated anyone or it he knows Valerie, right? That would sound way too forward.”
Quentin studied the slight shifts in Audrey’s expression and assumed she wanted to ask about Clayton’s surgery but was hesitant because of his connection to Yann.
Clayton’s case had been handled entirely by Quentin himself, but he wasn’t sure if Audrey knew that. Since she didn’t bring it mention it either.
Just then, Lucia appeared, smiling brightly as she walked over. “Hey, Audrey. Hope I’m not interrupting.”
“Not at all,” Quentin replied with an easy smile,
Lucia to
took Audrey’s hand and said, “Some guests are leaving Come help me see them off”
id no heason to
Once they were out of Quentin’s sight, Lucia lowered her voice to say, “Don’t go throwing yourself at every man you see. Yann’s buddies aren’t the kind of Guys you can just mess around with.”
Chapter 254
Audrey yanked her hand away so abruptly that I ucis stumbled into a nearby tree,
Audrey shot back. “So, by your logis, greeting men at the door means you’re info ati of them??
“What on earth are you saying?” Lucia’s face turned pale with anger,
Audrey sneered, “But if said the exact same thing about you, suddenly it’s off limits?”
Still massaging her aching elbow, Lucia forced down her anger and said, “I’m just looking out for you, Vann is doting on you now, sure. But if he ever get tred of you, he’ll throw you away just as easily.”
daunt at his age. You
She stepped closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. “That boy managed to wrest control of the family fortune from his uncle and a really think someone like that is soft–hearted? His methods are brutal–more than you could imagine.”
Audrey stared her down, seeing right through her act. “So what’s your point?”
Lucia
glanced around to make sure no one was nearby and then said quietly. “The point is, you need to distance yourself from him as soon as possible
“I help you find someone better, yeah? Someone who’ll make sure you never have to worry about anything again for the rest of your life
Right then, a deep, cold voice cut through the air from behind them. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
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