Suzy, as if nothing had happened, fluttered like a butterfly through the crowd, entertaining guests as the hostess.
Ethan frowned and glanced at her. His handsome face was overshadowed by dark clouds, thin lips pressed tightly, a chill emanating from his icy eyes.
He looked up at the clock on the wall.
It was already half past six.
Samantha hadn't arrived yet.
She said she would be back tonight.
Could it be that she changed her mind?
Ethan clenched his sharp thin lips, and just as the anger in his chest was accumulating, Alexander and Noah ran over.
Alexander grabbed his hand and said with a gloomy face, "Daddy, you said Mommy would come back tonight? Why hasn't she come yet? Is she really coming?"
As soon as she spoke, Anna's voice suddenly sounded behind them.
"Didn't your mommy come?"
Alexander's eyes lit up, and her gaze directly bypassed Suzy beside Anna, shuttling back and forth in the venue.
"Where's my mommy? Where is she? Why haven't I seen her?"
Suzy's pretty face suddenly looked ugly like a color palette. She clenched her back teeth, suppressed the full rage, and smiled reluctantly, "Aren't I here?"
At the words, Alexander finally shifted her gaze to Suzy.
The moment he saw Suzy, his little face collapsed instantly, showing no mercy, "Who are you? Do I know you? If I remember correctly, Daddy has already canceled the engagement with you and banned you from entering the Steele family. Why are you here?"
With these words, all attention was suddenly focused on Suzy.
"Yeah! Mr. Steele has canceled the engagement with her, right? How can she still appear here?"
"It seems that Mr. Steele's two sons don't seem to like her as their biological mother, huh?"
"A woman with such a malicious mind, canceling the engagement is the right thing to do! Otherwise, who knows what scandalous things she might do to tarnish the family's reputation."
Their words, without missing a word, reached Suzy's ears, making her small face alternately red and white, extremely unsightly.
She tried to maintain a smile on her face, "Alexander, I know you didn't grow up with me and have no feelings for me, so I don't blame you! Don't worry, I will make you accept me sincerely one day."
Alexander couldn't be bothered to deal with her. He felt that every word spoken to her was a waste of time.
Shifting his gaze back to Ethan, he said displeased, "Daddy, quickly call Mommy and ask when she's coming. I'll go to the entrance to pick her up."
Ethan took out his phone, ready to dial.
But then, Anna said, "If she wants to come, she will. There's no need to force her. If she really cares about you, there's no need to call."
With just a sentence, Alexander was instantly depressed. He lowered his head, looking aggrieved and almost in tears.
What he feared most was this.
If Mommy really liked him, she would definitely come.
If she didn't come, it meant she no longer liked him.
Ouch...
Mommy didn't like him anymore.
Thinking of this possibility, Alexander ran away in sadness.
Noah, fearing he might get into trouble, immediately chased after him.
Ethan gave Anna a cold glance, then turned away expressionlessly.
Nick and Oliver exchanged a glance.
They also followed Ethan and left.
After leaving the venue, Ethan went to the backyard terrace and dialed Samantha's phone number.
At that moment, Samantha was already on the way back.
Receiving Ethan's call, without saying a word, she hung up, gripping the steering wheel tightly, almost wrenching it off.
The call disconnected, and Ethan's face was frosty.
Patiently, he dialed again.
Samantha was about to hang up again but was stopped by Yurika.
"Sammie, don't be angry first. Let's hear what he has to say! Maybe he couldn't answer the call just now! Him calling now shows sincerity."
Her words successfully calmed Samantha's irritable mood. She gave Yurika a meaningful look.
Yurika answered the phone and turned on the speaker.
Samantha asked impatiently, "What's up?"
Ethan's thick eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly, his voice low as he asked, "Where are you? How much longer?"
"Huh..." Samantha chuckled sarcastically, "How much longer? That's for you to answer! What do you mean by asking Jade to send me a fake invitation? I was stopped by your servant outside the door, enduring his ridicule and disdainful glances. I call you, and you don't answer. You're obviously doing this on purpose, not wanting me to attend the banquet."
"The invitation is fake?"
"That's what your servant said! Do you think I'm lying to you?"
"I'm waiting for you at the door to personally escort you in!"
With that, Ethan didn't give her a chance to refuse and hung up.
Samantha's face flushed with anger. "Who does he think he is? The emperor? Always ordering me around."
Yurika lazily leaned back in her chair, teasing, "Whether he's an emperor or not, I don't know, but! I think he likes you."
Samantha was startled by her sudden words, swerved the steering wheel, almost hitting the roadside guardrail.
Thankfully, she managed to steer back in time, patting her chest, still shaken. "Don't scare me, okay? I'm easily frightened."
Yurika gave her a meaningful look and deliberately changed the subject. "So what now? Turn back?"
Although reluctant, Samantha still turned the car around.
She wanted to figure out whether Ethan was playing with her or if the servant deliberately didn't let her in.
Ten minutes later.
Samantha and Yurika reappeared at the entrance of Lì's old mansion.
From a distance, they saw Ethan standing at the door with a cold expression, as if it were written on his face, ‘Strangers keep out.’
People who were about to approach him for a chat dispersed, afraid of angering this Hades from The Underworld.
Standing behind him were Nick and Oliver.
For the first time, Yurika looked at the three of them squarely, her gaze shifting between Ethan and Oliver before settling on Nick's face.
As if discovering a new continent, she excitedly tugged at Samantha's clothes. "Sammie, the man in the white suit standing behind Ethan, have you seen him? Have you noticed that he looks a bit like Justin?"
Samantha was startled by her words. She carefully scrutinized Nick.
Today, Nick was wearing a white suit with a blue and white striped shirt, exuding a charming and handsome aura all over, especially those long legs, comparable to top international male models.
Undeniably, this appearance, even in today's entertainment circle known for its beautiful people, would overshadow all the young idols.
But, does he look anything like Justin? Not at all!
Seeing her gaze linger on Nick for a full minute, Ethan's handsome eyebrows furrowed, a hint of bloodthirsty coldness suddenly appearing in his eyes.
Like a Rakshasa emerging from hell.
Chilling.
***