Free Web NovelChapter 495: Chapter 495: From This Moment On, I’ll Say I Love You (95)
With that cold statement, Leo Joyce clenched his fists, turned, and walked away.
Watching Leo agree so readily, Tiana clutched her aching chest, sank to the ground, and buried her head in her arms to cry.
’Had he been waiting for me to say that this whole time? Is that why he agreed without a moment’s hesitation after I said it?’
’Leo, if you really don’t like me, if you never wanted to be with me, then why did you have to give me hope...?
’
Leo Joyce walked a long way before he finally stopped. He grew furious just thinking about what Tiana had just said.
’She’s got some real nerve! Daring to break up with me...’
He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, lit it, and took a deep drag.p>
As soon as one cigarette was finished, he’d light another. He smoked the entire pack in less than half an hour.
Seeing the pack was empty, he hurled it to the ground in frustration, stomped on it hard twice, and roared, "Fine! Great! So everyone’s against me, is that it? Everyone wants to leave me? Then let’s just split up! Let’s go our separate ways! And we’ll have nothing to do with each other ever again!"
After his tirade, he gave the cigarette pack on the ground two more vicious stomps before turning and stalking off.
He didn’t go back to the banquet; instead, he left the hotel entirely.
In the hotel ballroom, the banquet had officially begun.
Tristan Grayson led Mika Summers by the hand to the center of the ballroom, and the two of them shared the opening dance.
Afterward, other couples gradually joined them on the floor.
Aria Joyce gripped her wine glass, watching the striking couple in the center of the ballroom. Tilting her head back, she took a large swallow of wine, her cold eyes fixed on them.
Just then, Ian Shaw walked over, wine glass in hand. He pulled out a chair and sat down. Looking at the woman across from him, he smirked mockingly. "What’s the matter, Miss Joyce? Feeling a little upset?"
"It’s none of your business!" Aria Joyce tilted her head back for another large gulp of wine and snapped coldly at Ian Shaw.
"You’re right, I’d rather not get involved. But tonight, I’m under orders from my friend to look after you, Miss Joyce."
Hearing Ian’s words, Aria Joyce’s grip on her wine glass tightened. "Did Tristan send you?"
"Why don’t you take a guess, Miss Joyce?" Ian Shaw didn’t answer directly, merely swirling the contents of his glass with a cold smile.
A pain so sharp it stole her breath shot through Aria Joyce’s heart. ’Is that really the kind of woman I am in Tristan’s eyes?’
’I liked Tristan, yes, but I would never stoop to doing something so degrading.’
Suppressing her heartache, she smirked sarcastically. "Heh. Is Tristan afraid I’m going to ruin his engagement party?"
"Tristan is just worried you’ll drink too much and say something you shouldn’t."
"Drink too much and say something I shouldn’t? Heh..." ’Am I, Aria Joyce, really that tactless? That night, I was just heartbroken and couldn’t accept it. That’s all.’
Ian Shaw couldn’t care less about Aria Joyce’s current attitude or mood; it was none of his business, anyway. He smirked, downed the rest of his wine, and stood up. Leaning in slightly, he asked in a cool voice, "Miss Joyce, may I have the honor of this dance?"
"Sorry, but I don’t dance with thugs like you." Having said her piece, Aria Joyce stood, snatched the half-empty bottle of red wine from the table, and walked off.
Watching Aria Joyce’s retreating back, Ian Shaw rubbed his nose awkwardly and gave a self-deprecating smirk.
