Chapter 22 Cocktail Confrontation
The following day.
Kate woke up close to noon. She'd had trouble falling asleep last night, which explained her late rising. When she got up, the mansion was as empty as usual.
She was perpetually overlooked in the Jennings household. Kate was perfectly fine with this arrangement; she had no desire to waste her breath on any of them.
Her presence here served only two purposes: to monitor the Jennings family's activities and to be a thorn in their sides.
The housekeeper had prepared lunch. Kate took a few bites before heading out.
She needed to select an eye-catching outfit and get her hair and makeup done. At the cocktail party tonight, she was determined to dazzle Ethan.
This beauty offensive would surely break through his defenses!
Kate knew several high-end boutiques that carried exclusive designer dresses.
She was about to enter one of her favorite places when she spotted the ever-annoying Sophia.
Her half-sister was at the checkout counter. Kate narrowed her eyes and slipped inside, carefully avoiding Sophia's line of sight.
"Ms. Jennings, welcome!" A familiar sales associate approached her, but Kate quickly gestured for silence. Only after Sophia had left did Kate allow herself a polite smile.
"Sorry about that. Just a small situation."
"No problem at all," the associate replied. "Are you looking for a cocktail dress?"
Kate nodded, and the associate led the way, describing various options. As they browsed, Kate asked casually, "That woman who just left—was she also shopping for an event dress?"
Kate had spotted a beautiful white gown with a trailing hemline. The associate removed it from the display and directed her toward the fitting rooms.
"You mean your sister? Yes, she mentioned attending some cocktail party. Please, step inside and I'll help you try this on."
The associate's casual comment made Kate pause momentarily before she gathered her wits.
Of course the associate would recognize Sophia. The recent scandal had been all over the news, and sales associates who regularly dealt with Amberhaven's elite naturally kept up with such gossip.
What troubled Kate was Sophia mentioning a cocktail party. Surely it couldn't be the same one she was attending? In her previous life, the invitation to the Jennings family had only included Kate, not Sophia. Why was this different now?
"Ms. Jennings, we're all set."
The associate's voice pulled Kate from her thoughts. She looked in the mirror and was instantly pleased. The off-shoulder design accentuated her elegant collarbones and swan-like neck, while the dress hugged her waist perfectly, showcasing her flawless figure.
Kate was thoroughly satisfied with the dress. She changed and instructed the associate to package it, then proceeded to the checkout counter.
Afterward, she scheduled an appointment at an exclusive styling studio. The styling process took considerable time—Kate nearly dozed off during the two-hour session. Finally, everything was complete.
She examined her reflection, admiring her softly curled hair and the stunning yet tasteful makeup. She gave the stylist an appreciative thumbs-up.
"Ethan, just try to resist me now!"
The cocktail party was scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM. It was now 4:00 PM. Her new car wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, so she'd take a taxi—perfect timing given the distance.
The journey was lengthy, and Kate closed her eyes to rest.
When the driver informed her they had arrived, guests were already filtering into the venue.
Tonight's event was a private gathering for industry elites. With no press present, the atmosphere was notably relaxed. As Kate entered, most attendees were engaged in conversation, paying her no attention.
Kate immediately craned her neck, scanning the crowd.
Where was Ethan? Hadn't he arrived yet?
That seemed unlikely—he typically arrived early for events. Where could he be?
Kate stood on her tiptoes, surveying the room. Some distance away, a group of people moved aside, revealing a familiar figure behind them.
Kate's eyes instantly brightened, and she offered a sweet smile.
She considered calling out to him but quickly thought better of it.
With so many people around, shouting would draw unwanted attention. Instead, she began walking toward him. Just then, Ethan happened to turn around.
Their eyes met, and Kate's smile grew even brighter.
"Ethan."
She practically jogged the last few steps to reach him, but Ethan remained silent.
He seemed momentarily dazed, and Kate couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
Struck speechless by her beauty, no doubt.
She was about to playfully grasp his arm when Ethan's expression returned to its usual aloofness, and he turned away.
Kate froze in disbelief.
What was wrong with Ethan?
Kate felt a twinge of disappointment, but considering she was the one at fault, she couldn't really blame him for giving her the cold shoulder. She decided to approach him again.
What followed was an elaborate dance—she approached, he retreated; she smiled, he looked through her. Ethan continued engaging with other guests, and after half an hour of this fruitless pursuit, Kate plopped down in a corner seat, thoroughly annoyed.
That stubborn man! Ignoring her!
Fine, if that was how he wanted to play it.
Kate sulked, childishly poking at the table while nursing her drink in the corner. From across the room, a pair of eyes focused intently on her.
Blake had clearly been drinking heavily, his face flushed. Sophia stood beside him, having been networking with other guests and not yet noticing Kate.
When she finally saw Blake staring in Kate's direction, she followed his gaze. Her eyes flickered with calculation.
So Kate had arrived? Perfect.
Blake was already quite intoxicated—the ideal state for him to approach Kate. With so many witnesses, Sophia was confident rumors would spread.
She had to ensure these two remained firmly linked in the public eye.
"Blake, why don't you go say hello?" she suggested quietly.
Blake snorted dismissively but nevertheless stumbled toward Kate.
Sophia raised an eyebrow, eagerly anticipating the drama.
One drink after another, Kate had consumed quite a bit of alcohol, though her high tolerance kept her relatively clear-headed.
She continued watching Ethan from afar when suddenly someone tapped her shoulder, startling her. When she turned, her neutral expression immediately darkened upon seeing Blake take the seat beside her.
She'd almost forgotten this loser would be at the party too.
A strong smell of alcohol wafted from him.
Kate wrinkled her nose and shifted away, but Blake only leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with an unpleasant intensity.
There was something different about Kate tonight—she looked exceptionally beautiful.
Despite his frustration with her defiance, he had always appreciated her face and figure.
"Kate, dressed up like this... trying to catch my attention?" he slurred with a lecherous grin.
Inwardly, Kate was disgusted. What a delusional creep!
He wasn't even using his brain. Why would she want to attract him? This was just a standard cocktail dress. Clearly, his low character made him see everything through a perverted lens.
"Blake, if you're drunk, go sleep it off. Stop bothering me," Kate snapped, her mood already sour.
Blake blinked in surprise.
Upon hearing her sharp retort, his face darkened momentarily, eyes cold. But within seconds, his expression shifted back to one of sleazy amusement.
"I get it—playing hard to get, aren't we?"