Chapter 238
I stared at the person in the mirror for two seconds and took a deep breath.
Whatever, I've already put it on.
I pushed the door open and walked out. William was leaning against the hallway wall, waiting.
Hearing the sound, he looked up. His gaze landed on me and clearly paused for a moment.
He quickly looked away, took off his suit jacket, walked over, and draped it over my shoulders.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice a bit heavy.
The jacket, still warm from his body, wrapped around me, covering a large area of exposed skin and blocking out the possible stares from outside.
I pulled the front of the jacket tighter and shook my head, "I'm fine."
Just then, I felt someone watching me.
The stares felt cold, heavy, and like something tangible falling on me.
I instinctively looked up, following that gaze.
At the entrance of the banquet hall, George was walking out with Sarah.
He stood at the edge of the crowd, his eyes landing right in the direction where William and I were standing.
There was something in that look, gone in a flash.
Too quick—I couldn't catch it before it returned to its usual indifference.
Sarah was intimately holding George's arm, her face showing an undisguised bright smile, and next to them, Louis was there too.
The three of them seemed to be having a great conversation. Louis even reached out his hand and shook Sarah's, his manner attentive and warm—completely different from the harsh attitude he'd shown me earlier.
From the looks of it, they probably weren't just chatting but had already reached some kind of agreement, maybe even signed a contract.
William obviously saw it too. His face instantly darkened, his jawline tensing.
Sarah's gaze swept over at that moment, landing precisely on me.
She saw the suit jacket draped over me, noticed I'd changed my dress, and finally, her eyes fixed on how close William and I were standing.
The corner of her mouth curved into an ambiguous smile, her eyes full of smugness and contempt.
The meaning couldn't be clearer.
See? Not only did I steal Louis's product, I also stole your man. You can't win against me.
I gripped the jacket on my shoulders tighter, moving my gaze from Sarah to Louis.
Louis was the type who sucked up to power.
I really didn't know what made someone like him worth Mark's recommendation.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got, my fingertips turning white from gripping so hard.
A cup of hot water suddenly appeared in front of me.
William's fingers were slender, holding a white porcelain cup with wisps of steam rising from it.
"Drink some," he said.
I reached out to take it, my fingertips unavoidably touching his.
A warm sensation, carrying a comforting meaning.
In that instant.
"Mr. Jones is really so considerate toward Ms. Brown."
Sarah's voice came from the side, her tone sarcastic.
She had somehow already walked over, standing two steps away, wearing her usual gentle smile.
Terry followed beside her, the mockery on his face undisguised.
I looked at them without speaking.
William didn't move either, just turned slightly to shield me a bit behind him.
Sarah's gaze circled around us, finally landing on the suit jacket I was wearing, pausing meaningfully.
"So considerate, I'm almost jealous of Ms. Brown."
Terry sneered and jumped in quickly, "Jealous of what?"
He deliberately drew out his words, his gaze sweeping up and down my body, his eyes sticky and disgusting, as if trying to strip someone bare to examine them.
"Jealous that even after a divorce with a burden in tow, she can find such a big shot to latch onto?"
His voice wasn't quiet. Several people who had been chatting nearby stopped and turned their eyes toward us in unison.
My hand gripping the water cup suddenly tightened.
The surroundings instantly quieted down, and the eyes watching the drama focused on us even more brazenly.
William stood beside me, his face dark.
I could feel his body suddenly tense up—the kind of anger about to explode.
I looked up, coldly staring at them.
Sarah's lips held that fake smile, her eyes showing undisguised smugness and provocation.
Terry looked like he was waiting to see us lose our composure.
This time I wasn't angry or hurt, just calmly watching this farce.
William clearly didn't have my composure.
His body leaned forward slightly, about to speak.
Just then, a voice cut in.
"Terry, shut up."
Atticus had somehow walked over too, standing a few steps away.
He didn't look too pleased, his brows furrowed, his tone harder than usual.
Terry froze, whipping his head around as if he couldn't believe his ears.
"What did you say?"
Atticus ignored his questioning and continued on his own, "Star Tech's capabilities are clear for everyone in the industry to see. Don't talk nonsense."
Terry's expression changed.
He stared at Atticus, the shock in his eyes slowly turning into disbelief and a hint of hurt.
"Atticus, whose side are you on?"
Atticus met his gaze, his tone calm but unyielding, "I'm not on anyone's side. I only recognize facts."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Terry's flushed face, saying lightly, "Your words are sometimes just too vicious. Change that."
The surroundings went quiet for a moment.
I looked at Sarah.
The smile on her face froze, cracks appearing in that gentle facade.
She probably never expected Atticus to speak from the opposing side in front of so many people.
And George—
I glanced over from the corner of my eye.
He stood at the edge of the crowd, suit impeccable, expression indifferent.
As if this little storm had nothing to do with him.
He was always like that.
Standing on high ground, watching coldly.
Getting tangled up with these people would only lower my own status and had no other purpose .
I withdrew my gaze and said to William, "It stinks here. Let's go outside for some fresh air."
William hummed in agreement, raised his hand to shield me, and led me outside.
Behind us, Terry's voice followed, still going on and on, "Atticus, use your brain!"
"They want to suck up to Professor Cox, but would Professor Cox even look at them? He doesn't even want to discuss cooperation with them! What are you doing speaking up for them? Has your brain gone soft?"
Sarah also spoke up softly, but her voice carried a sting, "Atticus, you're not interested in Ms. Brown, are you? Why are you so eager to defend her?"
That sentence was like a thorn, precisely jabbing into a certain spot.
Atticus's voice suddenly rose, carrying undisguised annoyance, "What are you talking about?"
"I just want to discuss cooperation with Star Tech. Don't twist everything into that kind of dirty business."
Sarah probably didn't expect Atticus to embarrass her so directly. The smile on her face completely fell apart.
She looked at George somewhat frantically, her voice taking on a wronged tone, "George, look at Atticus. I was just joking."
"George, do you think those big Star Tech projects were really all done by Grace?"
"Didn't she stay home for many years? Could it be that Mr. Jones is trying to promote her by giving her all the credit?"
My steps that had already moved forward stopped at this moment.
Not because of the statement itself, but because I wanted to hear what came next.
I wanted to know how George would answer.
In his eyes, what kind of person was I really?
William noticed my pause.
He turned to look at me, his eyes showing concern and inquiry.
I gently shook my head, signaling him to wait.
William understood. He didn't urge us to leave but also stopped, standing beside me like a silent and firm guard.
I casually took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray, my fingertips ice-cold.
William also took a glass. We clinked glasses and spoke in low voices about trivial matters, pretending to still be chatting, but our ears were perked up, catching the movement behind us.
A brief silence.
Then George's voice rang out.
No emotion, no ripples, even carrying a barely perceptible weariness.
He said, "Boring."
Just one simple word.
Indifferent, brief, without any emotion.
My fingers gripping the champagne glass tightened slightly.