Chapter 83 Truly an Inevitable Clash

A few days later, I changed into the evening gown Eric had gifted me. My face in the mirror looked even more gentle yet dignified against the pure white of the gown. I wasn’t usually one to care about my appearance, but for some reason, I actually felt nervous wearing it. As I headed downstairs, I discovered that Eric was already waiting in the front hall.

When he heard the sound of my high heels clicking on the floor, he looked up. The moment our eyes met, my breathing hitched slightly, and I instinctively clenched my hands into tight fists. I could clearly see how Eric froze, as intense yet complex emotions surged within his eyes. It almost felt as if those emotions would swallow me whole.

“Do I… not look nice?” I asked reflexively.

Eric looked dazed for a few seconds before a faint smile appeared on his lips. He stepped forward, extending a hand toward me.

“Not at all. You look very nice,” he replied.

I smiled and placed my hand in his palm, feeling a wave of warmth rolling over me.

“It’s you who has good taste,” I said good-naturedly.

We exchanged smiles before getting into the car and rushing toward the exchange meeting. By the time we arrived at the venue, there was already a gathering of distinguished individuals present.

At a glance, they were all highly important people within the business world. Just one word from any of them could stir up a storm within the industry. Even so, they all still showed surprise at the sight of Eric. Some people even took the initiative to come forward and greet him.

“I didn’t think you’d personally attend the meeting today, Mr. Flint.”

“Is there any chance you’ll reconsider the collaborative project I brought up with you last time, Mr. Flint?”

Eric nodded faintly, but it was clear that he wasn’t actually paying them much mind. Instead, he simply led me to meet a few seniors.

“Who’s that lady next to Mr. Flint? Why does she look so familiar?”

“Don’t you recognize her? She’s Jane Brown, the young lady of the Brown family. She has only just divorced Jeremiah from the Cornell family, and she’s already hooked up with Mr. Flint. I wonder what he sees in a fickle woman like her?”

“She has nothing going for her other than her pretty face. Perhaps Mr. Flint will toss her aside like trash once he gets tired of her!”

I paid the constant gossip around me no heed and focused on getting to know the big-shot investor Eric was introducing me to. As we were conversing enthusiastically, I was just planning on going to the bathroom when I caught a glimpse of two familiar figures out of the corner of my eye.

Why were they here? Some people really were like gum that clung to one’s shoe.

I was originally planning to ignore them, but just as I took the first step toward the bathroom, the two figures noticed me and moved to block my path.

“What a coincidence seeing you here, Jane! Did you come here with Mr. Flint? It looks like you two are getting closer day by day!” Elsa’s words were filled with hidden meaning.

“What does that have to do with you?” I asked, glancing coldly at her. “Is the art of gossiping all you’ve learned throughout the years you’ve been with the Brown family?”

Elsa’s face fell, and Jeremiah glared darkly at me from next to her.

“Elsa was simply stating a fact,” he said. “You and Eric have hooked up for so long already. Even if the pregnancy claim from before was false, you two must have already gotten intimate with each other! Jane Brown, you claimed to love me, yet you hooked up with another man behind my back. Your behavior is truly shameless!”

Chapter 84 Truly an Inevitable Clash

His words were full of contempt, and he even deliberately raised his voice, as if he wanted nothing more than for everyone present to hear him. Just as he wished, everyone’s attention was drawn to us. For a moment, I became the target of criticism. The gazes directed at me from the surrounding people were full of contempt and ridicule.

“Don’t say that about Jane, Jeremiah!” Elsa admonished without any real sincerity before adding, “She only did all that because she was misguided. Once she’s thought things through, she’ll realize that you’re the person she loves most!”

It was as if she wanted to see all hell break loose. The sounds of discussion around us were becoming increasingly loud, but I ignored them and simply smiled faintly at Elsa and Jeremiah.