Chapter 215: He Finally Showed Up
As Sebastian departed, Harriet seemed to sober up. She watched his silhouette disappear, feeling a deep, aching emptiness envelop her. The light in her eyes faded, leaving behind only a raw, unmistakable sense of loss.
“Wesley, am I really that bad?” Harriet’s voice was a whisper of sadness, tinged with the pain of rejection, as she fought back tears.
Wesley, unable to find his usual cheer in the face of her sorrow, sighed deeply before offering words of comfort. “Harriet, don’t overthink it. Honestly, you’re the best girl I’ve ever known. Not only are you stunning, but you’re also incredibly capable. There are countless people out there who would consider themselves lucky to have your affection.”
“Really?” Her laugh, bitter and mocking, filled the air. Her thoughts spiraled. "If I’m as wonderful as Wesley says, then why doesn’t Sebastian want to spend time with me, especially when I’m drunk and vulnerable? Why does he rush to Madelyn’s side at the slightest hint of her distress?"
Feeling a surge of melancholy, Harriet reached for a bottle of wine and raised her glass to Wesley. “Come on, let’s keep drinking,” she declared, trying to mask her sadness.
Wesley, his heart heavy at the sight of her pain, silently joined her. They continued to drink, one bottle after another, as Harriet’s spirits artificially rose with each glass.
As the night progressed, Harriet, fueled by alcohol, found herself drawn irresistibly to the dance floor. Wesley watched, his concern growing as she danced with abandon, visibly enjoying her drunken state. Despite his worries, he couldn’t bring himself to pull her away from her fleeting joy.
Eventually, after a night filled with unrestrained revelry, they supported a tipsy Harriet as they made their way out.
At Diamondel Hotel, the clock neared eleven in the evening, signaling the end of the gathering.
The banquet, initially meant to celebrate a joyous occasion, had soured, marred by complaints and dissatisfaction directed toward the Sherritt family.
The air was thick with grievances, and Rupert’s expression was one of deep displeasure.
However, just as the atmosphere reached a peak of tension, a tall, aloof figure entered. It was Sebastian.
“Here he comes; here comes Mr. Lockhart!” someone shouted, breaking through the tension.
“After waiting for what felt like an eternity, he finally arrived!”
Instantly, the room’s energy shifted. Faces that had been marked by anger now lit up with joy and anticipation. Sebastian’s presence was like the appearance of a revered figure, instantly transforming the mood.
When he caught sight of Sebastian, Rupert’s face lit up with elation, akin to discovering a treasure. Janessa was even more ecstatic, unable to contain her excitement as she rushed to greet him.
“Sebastian, you finally made it! I knew you would come to my father’s birthday celebration,” she exclaimed with genuine sweetness.
From a short distance, Madelyn watched, rolling her eyes dramatically.
The other guests quickly gathered around, offering warm greetings.
“Mr. Lockhart, you’re finally here. We’ve all been waiting for you for quite a while.”
“Yeah, it seems like you really were swamped with work.”
At this moment, Scarlet observed the scene with a devastated expression. Her gaze toward Janessa was filled with undisguised loathing. That vile, disgusting btch. Why don’t you just die?*
Janessa, overwhelmed with joy, wanted nothing more than for the whole world to acknowledge Sebastian as her guest.
And so, she said, “Sebastian, thank you for doing me this favor. I’m sure everyone is thrilled to see you.”
The nearby crowd agreed with eager nods. “Exactly!”
Unexpectedly, Sebastian cleared his throat and addressed the guests in a frosty tone. “Please don’t misunderstand, I am here to collect my fiancée, not to attend any banquet.”
He then walked over to Madelyn. With a gentle look of concern, he asked, “Did you have a good time?”
Madelyn, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and delight, lowered her gaze, overwhelmed by the attention.
Upon witnessing this scene, Janessa’s face instantly turned pale, a stark contrast to the lively scene around her.
Confused, Rupert stepped forward, seeking clarification. “Mr. Lockhart, I didn’t quite understand what you said earlier. Aren’t you and my daughter friends? After all, she specifically invited you to this banquet.”
Rupert distinctly remembered Janessa boasting about her close acquaintance with Sebastian. However, Sebastian’s cool response did not reflect this claimed familiarity.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not really acquainted with your daughter,” Sebastian clarified, his tone detached. “If there’s any connection, it’s only through her being a friend of my fiancée, nothing more.”
“No, it’s not like that… M–Madelyn, say something,” Janessa pleaded, her voice laced with desperation as she turned to Madelyn.
Inside, Madelyn couldn’t help but scoff, though she maintained a facade of annoyance. “Sebastian, how could you speak like that?” she chided. “After all, Janessa is my good friend. You should at least give her some respect.”
Sebastian, unresponsive to her reprimand, coldly asked, “My dear fiancée, can we go home now?”
“L… Janessa…” Madelyn hesitated, her expression troubled as she turned to look at Janessa.
Sebastian, growing impatient with the unfolding drama, simply scooped Madelyn up and carried her away, leaving the tumult behind.
As the two figures gradually vanished through the doorway, a profound silence enveloped the place. Then, laughter erupted among the guests.
“Mr. Sherritt, didn’t you claim to be on friendly terms with Mr. Lockhart? But what was it he said again? That you two aren’t close? Hahaha, you really did overrate your importance, didn’t you?”
“Hahaha, exactly, I honestly thought the Sherritt family was that capable. Turns out, it’s all just a gimmick.”
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered coming, what a waste of an entire evening.”
“Exactly!”
“All right, we’ve had our fill of this excitement. Let’s all head back home now.”
Amid a wave of laughter, the crowd dispersed, leaving the Sherritt family to contend with their ridicule and loss of dignity.
“You’re truly a good-for-nothing! It’s utterly embarrassing! I really thought you had some capability, turns out you’re just mediocre!” Scarlet confronted Janessa with a contemptuous glare.
“Hahaha. Mom, you’re giving her too much credit. What can an illegitimate daughter possibly amount to?” one of Scarlet’s children sneered from the side.
Janessa, feeling both fury and humiliation, wished for nothing more than to silence the mocking voices.
Before she could even react, a sharp slap echoed across the room.
Rupert, his face contorted with rage, bellowed, “Useless!”
“Dad…” Janessa winced in pain, clutching her face. She looked at her father with a hint of injustice in her eyes and lamented, “I didn’t want it to be like this either.”
“How dare you speak!” Rupert’s voice roared with fury. “Our family suffered such an immense embarrassment tonight, and it’s all because of you! Get out, leave right now!”
Janessa, her heart stinging from the harsh words, turned on her heel and rushed upstairs. After closing the bedroom door behind her, she collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming uncontrollably.