Turning at the sound, Aria saw Owen approaching in a trench coat that perfectly inatched hers.
He gave her a slight smile before taking his seat in the second row.
Shortly after, Kim entered the hall and sat down beside his younger brother. He let his gaze briefly sweep over Aria, then leaned in and asked quietly. “Are you dating Aria?”
Owen shot him a sidelong glance. “Since when did you get so pedantic?”
That remark was a subtle way of explaining that he and Aria wearing trench coats was just a coincidence.
“This isn’t just any party, it’s a charity gala,” Kim said. “As a member of the Shaw family, you should dress more formally”
Kim believed that format attire signified respect.
Kim was raised by his grandfather, Aiden Shaw. By the time Owen was born, Kim was already six and fully immersed in business training, leaving him little time for childhood play.
Owen had zero interest in business or economics. Aiden barely noticed him, and his parents only wished for his happiness. As a result, Owen grew up free–range, enjoying complete freedom throughout his childhood.
The two brothers spent little time together, but their relationship could be summed up as mutual respect.
“The whole point of a charity gala is doing good,” Owen retorted. “That custom suit of yours costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. You might as well just donate all that money instead.”
Kim couldn’t find anything to refute. He was used to this way of talking with his brother, fully aware that his brother thought he was too conventional.
Clad in a violet strapless gown, Hannah made her entrance alongside Elena.
Hannah had learned that Martin would be attending today.
If she really took the job at Mandino University, she wouldn’t be able to return to Erenoland anymore.
She was more inclined to stay, her mind was made up.
Ever since that day, Albert hadn’t reached out to her. Perhaps Martin would invite her personally today.
Suppressing the secret thrill within, Hannah let her gaze sweep over Aria, a faint smirk playing at the corners of her lips.
Liam had told her that Aria was a shareholder of the Stars Group. But she didn’t feel jealous. After all, they were from completely different worlds.
Hannah said to Elena, “Our seats are in the fourth row.”
Liam, representing the Cole Group, was seated in the second row, separate from them.
The swelling on Elena’s face had finally gone down. Even after applying extra foundation to cover up, the stinging sensation still lingered beneath. Despite her foul mood, she forced herself to maintain the dignified air expected of the Cole family matriarch.
Following the seat numbers, Elena spotted Aria ahead of her. Her expression hardened as she muttered under her breath, “How on earth did she manage to sneak into the third row?”
Elena clenched her fists, the sting of that slap still fresh. One day, she would return it.
Hearing someone call out, “Professor Schmidt is here,” Hannah immediately stood up and walked over with a smile. “Hello, Prof
chmidt, I’m
Hannah Gibson.”
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Chapter 160
Martin replied, “Hello.”
He nodded, his gaze sweeping across the room. When he spotted Aria, his face brightened with a smile.
Hannah turned to Albert with a faint smile. “Professor Clinton.”
Albert pressed his lips together and nodded, forcing a tight smile.
That day, when Martin arrived, he excitedly said, “I’ve found Professor Colton!” But unexpectedly, Martin simply nodded and said he knew, and that the professor had declined his invitation.
Albert had thought Hannah’s enrollment at Mandino University was a done deal, but unexpectedly, she declined.
He believed that Martin hadn’t given up. This time, he came specifically for Hannah.
Just as Albert was about to speak to Martin, he realized Martin had quietly walked away and stopped deliberately at the third row, saying, “Ms. Saxon.”
Aria looked up and recognized the distinguished gentleman from Larkridge High School. With a polite smile, she greeted him, “Hello.”
Without another word, Martin walked over and took his seat in the first row.
Albert followed with a puzzled look on his face.
‘Wasn’t Professor Schmidt here today specifically to persuade Hannah to accept the invitation? Why is he giving her the cold shoulder while being so attentive to Aria instead?‘ he wondered.
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