Chapter 214: Chapter 212: How About I Offer Myself to You? (4)

The reception was held at a seven-star hotel, making the wedding an affair of boundless splendor. When it came to keeping up appearances, both the Hawthorne and Ellsworth families perfectly demonstrated the ostentatious display expected of the wealthy elite.

Headlines like this soon appeared in the media: "Both Daughters of Elite Families, But Jean Grant’s Wedding is a Hundred Tiers Below."

The articles thoroughly compared the two weddings—from the venues and level of pomp to the guests and even the hospitality of the in-laws.

Jean Grant saw the news while she was eating, and the comments below made her heart clench.

A user by the name of ’TearDownTheWall’ commented directly: "Who can she blame? All you can say is that Jean Grant has terrible judgment. Look at the man Zoe Ellsworth found. He’s clearly in a different league from the guy Jean Grant married. They’re both socialites from wealthy families, so how can their taste in men be so different? I bet Jean Grant will live to regret this!"

The comment was upvoted more than ten thousand times, becoming the top-rated post.

Reading it made her feel utterly sick.

Then, she tossed the phone to Marlon Marshall. "Take a look."

Marlon Marshall’s expression changed after reading it. He said in a low voice, "The media is so pathetic. Is this even a valid comparison? The Hawthorne family is incredibly wealthy; of course my family can’t compete. It’s not a fair comparison."

Jean Grant admitted he was speaking the truth. "So, if you treat me well, other people won’t have anything to say. But if you don’t, you’ll just prove that comment right, and it’ll mean I really was blind."

Marlon Marshall put down the phone and tried to console her. "Honey, don’t overthink it. You’re pregnant, and dwelling on useless things like this will just upset you."

His words helped Jean Grant rein in her irritation slightly. Just then, the newlyweds arrived at their table to propose a toast.

Ethan Ellsworth and Quentin Grant each took a glass and downed it. Marlon Marshall also took one, finished it, and placed the empty glass back on the tray.

Zoe Ellsworth was wearing a long-sleeved qipao. The room was as warm as a spring day. Jean Grant smiled. "Zoe, are you cold?"

She shook her head. "Not cold at all. I’m burning with happiness."

The happiness on her face was irrepressible. As Jean Grant watched that natural, unfeigned joy, her expression flickered.

’Why have I never looked like that?’

Nora Ainsworth was sitting next to Chloe Marshall, who was sitting right next to Ethan Ellsworth, who in turn was next to Quentin Grant.

So, there were two people sitting between them. When someone stomped hard on Nora Ainsworth’s foot, she knew immediately who the culprit was.

’He’s getting back at me for what I said to him earlier,’ she thought. ’So petty.’

Nora Ainsworth pretended not to notice and kept eating with her chopsticks.

But then, he decided to push his luck!

He just kept stepping on her foot.

Chopsticks still in hand, Nora Ainsworth finally snapped. She raised her foot, brought it down hard, and gave it a firm twist.

"Ow!" Ethan Ellsworth cried out in surprise. Nora Ainsworth glanced under the table and realized she had stomped on the wrong person.

She said sheepishly, "Are you okay? I’m so sorry."

Ethan Ellsworth shot a look at Quentin Grant, then back at Nora Ainsworth, and cried out to the heavens, "Oh, Lord, just take me now!"

Chloe Marshall placed some food in his bowl. "The Lord is busy right now; He doesn’t have time for you. Boss Ellsworth, eat up. We have to get back to the film studio this afternoon." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Ethan Ellsworth rapped her on the head. "Eat, eat, eat. Why don’t you just change your name to ’Idiot’? It’s practically synonymous with ’moron’ anyway."

Looking utterly wronged, Chloe Marshall turned and said, "Nora, look! Boss Ellsworth hit me again. It’s an outrage against gods and men, isn’t it?"

Nora Ainsworth agreed. "It is."

Chloe Marshall shot a glance at Ethan Ellsworth. "See that, Boss Ellsworth? You’re forbidden from hitting me ever again. If you actually knock me silly, you’ll be stuck with me for life."

Ethan Ellsworth was unfazed. "Fine by me. I happen to need a wife, so I’d just marry you. Besides, a dimwit like you... I’m probably the only one who’d have you."

Chloe Marshall didn’t speak. She just gazed at him and gave a silly, happy smile.

The sight was a painful eyesore to Jean Grant.

’Still, she didn’t believe Ethan Ellsworth would actually marry Chloe Marshall. At least, not anytime soon.’

The wedding banquet ended.

Outside the hotel, departing guests praised the Hawthorne family’s excellent hospitality. He was their only son, after all; they had to go all out for him.

Herman Hawthorne and Zoe Ellsworth came out to see their friends off. Not even waiting for Quentin Grant, Nora Ainsworth slipped into Ethan Ellsworth’s car. To her utter surprise, however, Quentin Grant pulled the door open and sat down right beside her.

"I’m heading back to the film studio to shoot."

"Uh-huh. I’m visiting the set."

Nora Ainsworth panicked. "In what capacity are you visiting?"

Quentin Grant gave her a smug look. "Panicked, are we? What are you so afraid of? You’re the internet’s latest rising goddess, aren’t you?"

"Lord Grant, your company is so busy. Why waste your time on something so trivial?" Nora Ainsworth tried to reason with him. "Wouldn’t you agree?"

"I would not," Quentin Grant said definitively. "How is this trivial? No matter how busy the company gets, I still have the right to take a break. It won’t collapse if I’m gone for a day or two, so don’t you worry."

Nora Ainsworth sat up straight. Looking at the reporters outside, she added, "Having you sit next to me like this is going to get me on the front page."

"I’m not afraid, so why should you be?"

Nora Ainsworth finally snapped. She whipped out her phone and called Ethan Ellsworth.

He was in the middle of a conversation with Herman Hawthorne, but when he saw the call was from Nora, Ethan Ellsworth looked around for her. Seeing no sign of her, he had to ask Chloe Marshall, "Where’s Nora?"

"In the car."

Ethan Ellsworth assumed Nora was rushing him, so he cut his conversation short and got into the front of the car with Chloe Marshall.

"Hey, Nora—" Ethan Ellsworth started to say as he turned around, but he froze. "Young Master Grant, what the hell are you doing in our van?"

"Just drive your car. It’s been ages since I’ve been in this thing. You’re not gonna let me hitch one ride?"

Nora Ainsworth cut in, "Ethan, make him get out. It’s not appropriate for him to come with us."

"You think he’d dare make me get out?" Quentin Grant said with confidence. "We’ve been friends since we were kids running around in diapers. Of course what I say carries more weight."

Nora Ainsworth was speechless. "Childhood was a long time ago. If you’re so tough, why don’t you go drop your pants outside the car for me right now? Then I’ll admit you’re right."

Quentin Grant laughed. "Are you trying to get me on the front page of the tabloids?"

Nora Ainsworth frowned. "I’m asking you to please get out of the car."

"I’m not getting out. What are you gonna do about it? At worst, I’ll just let you have your way with me this once."

Ethan Ellsworth burst out laughing. He said to Nora Ainsworth, "When he sets his mind on something, nobody can stop him. Fine, let him come along. It’s not like it’s a secret that we’re best friends."

Hearing that, Nora Ainsworth had no choice but to drop it.

She turned away from him and closed her eyes to sleep.

After the car had been driving for a while, Nora Ainsworth drifted into a groggy sleep. When she woke up, she found that a partition had been raised, separating the back seats from the front. Now, even if something were to happen in the back, the people in the front wouldn’t be able to see a thing.

She shot a glance at Quentin Grant but said nothing.

Quentin Grant suddenly called out to the front, "Play some music."