“Jayson seriously brings Nancy everywhere,” Chad scoffed,
As they headed toward their seats, Ariel couldn’t help but notice how radiant Nancy looked. She was smiling covering her mouth as she spoke to Jayson.
Ariel simply wanted to find her seat, but to her dismay, it was right next to Jayson’s.
She furrowed her brows.
Chad noticed and leaned in. “Should we ask someone if we can switch seats?”
Ariel pressed her lips together, then shook her head.
“The seats were pre–arranged. With so many distinguished guests attending, the university likely assigned seats based on background and status. Changing them now would be complicated. Worst case, they’d have to redo the entire seating plan.”
At a formal event like this, organizers typically followed strict protocols. Ariel couldn’t justify troubling the staff just because she felt uncomfortable.
Chad understood and didn’t press further.
Ariel walked over to her seat.
Jayson happened to look up, and their eyes met.
He noticed the dark green silk shirt Ariel was wearing. The fitted waistline and thin fabric emphasized her slender figure, making her look effortlessly elegant in the warm weather.
Although she wore a loosely tied scarf of the same color around her neck, her collarbone was still visible.
Ariel ignored Jayson’s gaze and sat down, pulling out her phone to review her speech notes.
Nancy’s expression stiffened slightly when she saw Ariel.
Ariel, meanwhile, had no intention of engaging with either of them.
But then Jayson spoke from beside her. “You’re sitting directly under an air–conditioning vent. Would you like to switch seats with me?”
Without looking up, Ariel replied coolly, “That won’t be necessary. Thank you.”
Jayson turned away. He had asked politely, like a gentleman, and didn’t say anything further.
Nancy acted as if Ariel didn’t exist. She continued chatting with Jayson. “I had such a wonderful time. I didn’t expect Nouburgh to be so fun. The restaurant we went to had amazing food. We should go again sometime.”
She beamed as she recalled something. “The hot spring resort was really unique too. We don’t have anything like that in Eldoria,”
Jayson responded, “Indeed.”
Ariel could hear every word. Nancy was recounting all the fun and interesting parts of their trip to Nouburgh. Still, she kept her eyes on her phone, reading through her notes.
A short while later, Russell Harlan, the president of Ashford University, arrived at the hall. He waved at Jayson from across the room.
Chapter 484
Jayson stood and walked over to greet him.
As soon as he left, Nancy crossed her legs and leaned back in her seat, her expression turning cold.
Ariel acted as though Nancy wasn’t there.
+15 BONUS
The silence lingered until Frederick arrived and took a seat in the row behind them. He greeted Nancy almost immediately. “Ms. Stanton, have you and Mr. Larkin been waiting long? Sorry, I got stuck in traffic.”
Nancy glanced over her shoulder. “It’s alright.”
Frederick smiled at her gentle response. “Don’t worry. I’ll introduce you to the editor shortly. I know him well. You want to promote your research paper, right? If we can get his help, we should be able to publish it on a relevant platform.”
Nancy’s research paper had already been published, and it was of high quality. Frederick was eager to help her gain more visibility in their field.
Nancy smiled faintly. “Sure. Thank you, Mr. Swanson.”
Frederick looked at her warmly. “No problem. I’m happy to help. Besides, I owe Mr. Larkin for securing my invitation to this event.”
This wasn’t just an ordinary anniversary celebration–attendance was highly exclusive.
Frederick happened to know an editor who could assist with promoting Nancy’s paper, which was why Jayson had invited him.
Nancy raised her brows and grinned. They both knew that today’s event would be attended by top experts in academia and prominent figures from various sectors.
Jayson had made sure Nancy had the opportunity to be here to promote her work and gain exposure.
