Chapter 176: Are They Dating?

The receptionist responded dully and hurriedly let the two in.

Silas and Charlotte were both dressed in casual clothes, out of place with the glittering banquet where the guests were dressed in fine suits and dresses.

Moreover, Charlotte didn't want to face Stella's family directly. She stopped at the door without moving, making excuses, "No, thanks. Mr. Hoyce and I have some business to talk about. We'll just eat somewhere else."

"We?" Jason narrowed his eyes, not allowing her to refuse. "Charlotte, are you refusing my orders?"

"Mr. Langley, Charlotte is obviously not in a state to attend a banquet, so why should you pressure her?" Silas took a step forward and blocked in front of Charlotte, defending her with a firm attitude.

The two of them were on the same side as if they were treating Jason as an enemy.

Jason was furious and looked at Charlotte grimly. "Don't bargain while I still have patience."

Silas was still about to say something when an elegant woman in an apricot-yellow gown walked out. Her eyes lit up when she saw Charlotte, "Ms. Seinfield, why are you here?"

Bonnie walked two steps quickly and took her hand, "Jason said you'd be busy tonight. I was hoping you could come here."

After saying that, she saw Silas beside her and revealed a look of understanding. "Since you're both here, come in together. The new chef here cooks fine food."

Charlotte was full of embarrassment and shrugged it off. "Hello, Ms. Lloyd. I'm really not dressed appropriately today, so..."

"It doesn't matter. I will prepare it for you." Bonnie didn't allow her to refuse and led her up the stairs while giving an order to the butler following beside her. "Send that dress over and prepare a set for Mr. Hoyce as well."

Jason and Silas follow behind the two silently.

Silas looked at the two's intimate backs and asked, "Mrs. Lloyd seems to be familiar with Charlotte. Why?"

He was only ignored by Jason.

Charlotte and Silas waited in the parlor for ten or so minutes before the gowns were delivered.

The two gold-stamped boxes looked like they were worth a lot, like collector's items.

The two came out after changing their clothes and were simultaneously stunned when they saw each other.

Charlotte was in a bright goose-yellow gown while Silas was in a matching suit.

They were wearing a matching couple's outfit any way one looked at it.

Silas was stunned and then filled with joy, cheerfully saying, "Charlotte, our gowns are a match."

Charlotte smiled reluctantly, already feeling embarrassed.

She wanted to quietly avoid Jason as much as possible, but unexpectedly, as the door to the lounge opened, she saw Bonnie and Stella standing at the door as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Once Bonnie looked up, she was directly stunned in place for a long time before asking out loud, "Does it fit?"

"Yeah." As Charlotte replied to Bonnie, she didn't even look towards Jason, for fear of locking eyes with him.

"I'm glad that it fits." Bonnie took Charlotte's arm and looked at Silas next to her, praising him as well, "It seems that yours suits you well too, Mr. Hoyce."

"Mrs. Lloyd, you do have a good eye," Silas replied with a polite smile.

Charlotte was forced to follow beside Bonnie, only feeling that Jason kept his eyes fixed on her.

Stella acted like a spoiled kid to attract attention. "Mom, if you keep holding Ms. Seinfield like this, people will think she's your own daughter."

Bonnie chuckled, pulling Charlotte's hand and not letting go. "I like Charlotte. I didn't expect her to know Mr. Hoyce, which is even better."

"What's even better?" Silas asked with seeming interest.

"Your parents and I get along well. If you two get married, I'll get to go to Charlotte more often in the future," Bonnie replied with a smile.

Although she was joking, Charlotte's heart skipped a beat as she shot a glance at Jason when she happened to meet his eyes, which were like a bottomless black hole, quietly looking at her.

Charlotte looked back, hurriedly explaining, "Mrs. Lloyd, you've misunderstood. Mr. Hoyce and I are just friends. We happen to have dinner together today to discuss official business. Mr. Hoyce said the new chef here is nice, so we came in."

Bonnie was surprised and confirmed again and again that Charlotte and Silas were not dating before letting it go.

Jason saw that Bonnie was still planning to set them up and said, "Mrs. Lloyd, feel free to catch up with Mr. Hoyce now. I have some things to instruct Charlotte."

"Alright."

After getting the go-ahead, Jason turned around and walked towards the balcony. Charlotte obediently followed.

Due to what Jason did, Charlotte finally got a moment of peace and quiet. If the conversation goes on, Bonnie might start planning her engagement to Silas.

The wind at night was cool. The gown was too thin. Charlotte shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

Jason noticed that and silently moved to her side, blocking the incoming wind for her.

His act was gentle and considerate, but then he questioned her mercilessly, "I remember I said I've paid for your private time. Why didn't you tell me when you met with Silas?"

Charlotte was rendered speechless. She attempted to defend herself, "I didn't ask him out."

"Then how did he find you?"

"Yvonne told him."

"What were you supposed to do with Yvonne?"

"I planned to go the hospital for a checkup to see how the wound is recovering," Charlotte answered fluently, sounding flawless.

Jason finally stopped his questioning. Only after a long time did he gloomily ask, "What did the doctor say?"

"I've recovered well," Charlotte replied succinctly. Pursing her lips in silence for a while, she carefully explained, "I originally asked Yvonne to go there with me, but she has gone to Novern under Mr. Hoyce's instructions, so she asked him to go with me instead."

She explained very sincerely, her eyes all sincere.

Jason's anger faded slightly as he hummed in response.

Charlotte looked at his face and impulsively asked, "Mr. Langley, why are you so concerned about my private meeting with Mr. Hoyce? Could it be that you're jealous?"

It didn't seem to be the first time she asked this question.

Previously, Jason merely rolled his eyes or mocked her when she asked that.

She quietly waited for Jason's dismissive reply.

A minute passed, and she could still only hear the wind ruffling the leaves.

Charlotte almost thought that she had missed Jason's reply.

She turned her head to look over solicitously and met Jason's gaze.

He calmly asked, "What is jealous?"

From his expression, she could tell that he wasn't mocking her but asking a serious question.

Charlotte knew too much about what it meant to be jealous. After being stunned for a split second, she said, "You feel unhappy when you see your beloved close to someone else. You just want to own her for yourself, not letting her associate with anyone, and that you have to be her priority."

Jason quietly listened. In the end, he asked, "You seem to know it very well. Have you ever been jealous because of anyone?"