Chapter 220 Truly Shameless to the Extreme
"Thank you for understanding, Ms. Stone," Nicole said, gently patting the back of Cordelia's hand to show her affection.
"Floyd and Eric are both in the inner hall. Let's go there."
To avoid Marlowe's influencer friends lowering the Butler family's standards, Nicole had deliberately divided the wedding into two parts: the inner hall and the outer hall.
The inner hall was exclusively for wealthy friends and business elites.
The outer hall was for Marlowe's friends and relatives.
Although Nicole was especially warm toward Cordelia, she didn't neglect Evelyn either, making sure to chat with her on the way to the inner hall.
Upon entering the inner hall, Nicole led Evelyn and Cordelia straight to Floyd.
"Floyd, Evelyn and Bruce are here." Floyd rose from his seat to greet Evelyn and Bruce.
Nicole immediately spotted Eric standing among the crowd, holding a wine glass and chatting with several heirs of wealthy families.
"Eric, come here for a moment."
Hearing Nicole's call, Eric nodded slightly, then raised his glass and said a few words to those around him. He drained his glass in one gulp before walking toward Nicole.
By now, Cordelia naturally understood Nicole's intention.
Eric walked over from the crowd.
Nicole quickly pulled Eric over and made introductions.
"Eric, you already know Evelyn and Bruce, so I won't introduce them."
"This is Evelyn's younger sister, Cordelia. I want to properly introduce you to her."
He wore silver-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. His gaze passed through the lenses and fell on Cordelia, his lips curved in a faint smile.
"Hello, Ms. Stone."
Cordelia also smiled lightly, her tone polite.
"Hello, Mr. Butler."
Nicole's face showed a satisfied smile, feeling that Cordelia and Eric looked perfect together just standing side by side.
"Eric, there are quite a few guests coming and going today. You're all young people, so you should be a good host and take care of Ms. Stone and the others."
Eric replied, "Okay."
Having received Eric's response, Nicole turned to chat with Evelyn for a few more moments before leaving to greet guests at the entrance.
Eric arranged seats for Evelyn and the others, naturally taking a seat beside Cordelia.
To ease the atmosphere, he also called over a few friends who had worked with Evelyn before.
Once everyone was seated and the conversation started flowing, all the awkwardness disappeared.
As they discussed project plans and new product developments, Cordelia felt completely lost.
Though she didn't understand, she still listened with full attention.
As the wedding ceremony was about to begin, Alaric walked in from outside, guided by Nicole.
Floyd spotted Alaric as soon as he entered and immediately rose from his seat to greet him at the door.
With Floyd showing such importance, everyone's attention naturally shifted to Alaric.
Cordelia had been very interested in the AI development Eric was discussing and was listening with great interest when the conversation suddenly stopped and everyone looked toward the door.
She couldn't help but turn her head too.
She saw Alaric walking in wearing a dark gray suit jacket, his handsome and tall figure like a manga hero stepping out of an anime.
As he spoke with Floyd, he was courteous and polite, yet between his brows was an innate air of aloofness.
Just as Cordelia looked over, her gaze happened to meet Alaric's in the air.
She paused for a moment, then immediately looked away.
Watching her eyes show not the slightest ripple, Alaric's deep, cold eyes instantly dimmed.
Floyd politely led Alaric into the inner hall.
He had wanted to arrange for Alaric to sit beside him.
But before they got there, Bruce stood up from his seat.
"Alaric, sit here."
Hearing this, Alaric greeted Floyd and then naturally walked over to take the seat Bruce had just vacated.
After standing up, Bruce walked around to sit on Evelyn's right side.
From the moment Bruce insisted on sitting between her and Cordelia, Evelyn had figured out his intention.
She gave Bruce, now sitting on her right, a cool glance.
Bruce immediately said in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"I'll apologize when we get home."
"Don't come into the bedroom tonight," Evelyn said, her expression unchanged and her tone flat.
Bruce couldn't imagine how Evelyn's soft, warm lips could say such cold words. He suddenly regretted calling Alaric over.
He was helping Alaric pursue Cordelia without getting any benefits, while suffering all the hardship himself. The thought made him feel wronged.
After Alaric took his seat, Eric raised the wine glass in front of him in a slight toast.
"Mr. Hughes, long time no see."
Alaric naturally picked up the glass of water in front of Cordelia and raised it slightly.
"I'm on medication right now and can't drink alcohol. I'll substitute water for wine. I hope Mr. Butler doesn't mind."
After saying this, he raised the water glass and took a light sip.
The spot where he drank from the glass was exactly where Cordelia's lipstick mark had been.
Everyone at the table turned their attention to Alaric, their expressions stunned.
Cordelia was also surprised.
After setting down the glass, Alaric turned to look at Cordelia, who was staring at him, and asked, "your glass?"
Cordelia nodded. "Yes."
"Sorry." His voice was flat, without any inflection.
Cordelia looked at him quietly for a moment but didn't see any hint of "sorry" on Alaric's face.
She gently pulled the glass toward herself, looking calm and unbothered.
"It's fine."
Eric, sensing the subtle relationship between them, immediately gestured for a servant to bring Alaric a glass of water.
Cordelia stared blankly at the lipstick mark on the glass in front of her.
Seeing this, Eric said softly, "I'll have someone get you a new glass."
Cordelia nodded at his words.
The next second, Alaric took the glass from in front of her and placed the one the servant had just brought him in front of her, saying casually, "no need to trouble anyone."
Hearing this, Eric didn't insist. He leaned back slightly, adjusted his glasses frames in a leisurely manner, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Things seemed to be getting interesting.
Evelyn picked up her wine glass and gently swirled the red wine inside, her gaze coolly sweeping over Alaric, whose behavior seemed unusually natural. Her lips curved slightly.
To prevent everyone present from pursuing Cordelia, he had really gone to great lengths.
He'd even resorted to such subtly intimate tactics as using Cordelia's water glass.
Wasn't this telling everyone that Cordelia was his, and that he really liked her?
How utterly shameless.