Everyone looked over and saw a young man standing next to the restaurant manager. With the manager bowing slightly to the man, it was clear that the man was very noble.
"Nick!" Ian shouted happily. Out of all of Derek's friends, Nick was Ian's favorite.
Nick bent down and picked Ian up. Both of them looked happy as if Nick was Ian's father.
Rose faked a sad voice and said, "Nick, how can you call me like that? Derek is a good friend of yours, and you're humiliating his fiancée in public?"
Rose was sowing discord, and Nick had already seen too many times of that. He felt speechless and rolled his eyes.
He ignored Rose and walked up to Derek.
"Derek, what are you doing with Miss Mermaid?" Nick asked nosily.
"Miss Mermaid? You mean Emily?" Ian asked curiously.
"Ian, let me tell you something..." Nick said excitedly.
"Nick!" Derek shot Nick a warning look. Though reluctant, Nick had to shut up.
Nick knew it was inappropriate to say that in front of kids. Therefore, he shrugged helplessly, motioning to Ian that there was nothing he could do.
They ignored Rose, so she had to think of a way to remind others that she was still here. She reached for Derek's hand, but he dodged, seemingly casually. She stamped her foot angrily.
Nick addressed Rose as an old woman while calling Emily Miss Mermaid. As a woman, Rose felt her dignity had been challenged.
"Playa Nick, you think I'm old? Emily is older than me. So, tell me, what are you going to call her?" It looked like Rose was expecting a show.
"I called her Miss Mermaid. You heard it, didn't you?" Nick glared at Rose impatiently and thought, 'I fancy beautiful things. What does age have to do with it?'
"What..." Rose was furious because she felt it was a double standard.
Ian and Diane couldn't help but snicker.
Nick's wit also made Aaron smile.
"Is it for real, Aaron? Are you smiling at me?" Nick shouted in surprise. "I'm so touched. You're finally responding to what I'm saying."
Nick deliberately wiped the corners of his eyes, indicating that he was moved to tears.
Aaron put away his smile and turned his face away from Nick. He thought, 'Bad Nick.'
Nick had enough fun teasing the two kids. And he believed that kids were supposed to be like this, fun and cheerful.
Nick winked at Derek as if he was saying, "See? I'm the master here."
Emily didn't want to get involved in their mess. Unfortunately, Nick was standing in the corridor in front of them, making it impossible for her to go past them. So, she witnessed the whole thing.
Suddenly, Nick turned to Emily.
"Beautiful Miss Mermaid, let me introduce myself. My name is Nick, Derek's good friend." Nick suddenly turned into a gentleman. He extended his hand, wanting to kiss the back of Emily's hand.
Suddenly, a chubby little hand reached for Nick's outstretched hand.
"Hello, Nick. I'm Chris. Mommy is carrying Aaron, so she doesn't have a spare hand. Let me," Chris said with a smile, but his eyes were flickering with anger.
The scene was somehow funny since a handsome man was holding a little boy's chubby hand.
Nick was stunned for a second, but he reacted quickly. He held Chris' hand.
"Hello, Chris. I only do that to beautiful ladies, so I'm afraid that you won't be in for a treat." Nick gently shook Chris' hand and then let go.
The cheeky Nick made Chris mad and his face turned red.
Nick was overjoyed, thinking, 'Children are so fun.'
"Why does Chris look so familiar?" Nick was confused.
Rose got nervous at Nick's words. She must stop this dangerous topic.
"Derek, let's go home. Ian has just recovered. He should go to bed early," Rose said with concern.
Derek didn't know why Rose suddenly changed the topic. However, she was right. It was indeed getting late. Therefore, he walked up to Aaron.
"Aaron, you've promised me. Let's go back. I'll make your wish come true when Ian gets well." Derek reached out and grabbed Aaron. This time, Aaron did not resist.
"That's too much! Mommy hasn't agreed yet," Chris muttered.
It seemed that Derek did not hear Chris, but when he passed by Chris, he reached out and rubbed Chris' head.
Chris blushed again. This time, he was shy.
"Derek, it will be my birthday in a few days. You promised that you would show up at the banquet," Nick said to Derek as they walked.
"I hear you. I've already prepared the gifts for you," Derek said helplessly.
"I have a gift for you, too. It's from me and Aaron," Ian said seriously.
Nick raised Ian happily, making Ian laugh.
After that, Nick remembered something. He put Ian down and walked back to Emily.
"This is for you, Miss Mermaid. Make sure you'll come, OK?" Nick handed the invitation to Emily.
Emily glanced at Nick and hesitated. Then, she took the invitation.
Seeing that even Emily had an invitation, Rose said disdainfully, "Who knows? A scandalous woman can actually receive an invitation from the Field family."
"My invitation is for the eldest daughter of the Hopkinson family. I don't need to explain myself to you, the second daughter of the Hopkinson family." Nick stressed the words "the second daughter". He didn't care at all if Rose would feel embarrassed.
Rose could barely keep the smile on her face, and it began to twist.
With the invitation in her hand, Emily looked at Nick as he went after Derek and the others. She suddenly smiled.
She thought, 'Nick is indeed an interesting guy.'
The attendees of Nick's birthday banquet this time included both his friends and those of his age from every family.
Therefore, though Nick didn't invite Rose, she still received an invitation from the Field family after she returned home.
Nick was aware of that. He simply disliked Rose and wanted to humiliate her.
Rose didn't know about this yet. On the way home, she felt bitter about the fact that she hadn't received an invitation. Before today, she thought that she was doing better than Emily in every aspect. However, what Nick did evoked the memories that annoyed her the most. When they were kids, Emily was always at the center of attention. On the contrary, Rose was a miserable nobody. Even Bennett was so nice to Emily.
Rose looked at Derek. She was Derek's female companion today. She didn't think Derek was completely fine with Nick's behavior.
Derek also felt that Nick was a bit out-of-line today. After all, the kids were also present.
"Nick." Derek's voice carried with a warning.
Nick knew he was a little too excited today because he saw Emily, Miss Mermaid again.
"Fine. I apologize, Derek," Nick said perfunctorily. "Rose, just go home. There is a surprise waiting for you at home."
He was practically saying that Rose would receive the invitation when she got home.
Rose smiled and said goodbye to Derek gently. When she wanted to stroke Ian's head, Ian deliberately ran to Aaron to get away from her. Her hand froze in mid-air, but she quickly collected herself and kept her ladylike image in front of Derek.
As she turned her head, the smile on her face vanished instantly.