Chapter 85

Standing now at the balcony railing on the second floor, with all eyes below focused on her, Avery felt an unprecedented sense of embarrassment. She couldn't bear another moment. Her nails dug into her flesh as she hurriedly returned to her room, slamming the door shut. Aiden glanced complexly at Stella, then quickly followed Avery to her door, knocking softly. The guests present were all good observers, and seeing this scene, they began to speculate. "What do you think Avery is thinking? How could she give up on Mr. Aaron Malone and end up with Aiden?" "Who knows? But I bet even if it were Mr. Jonathan Malone himself, he wouldn't let Avery in now." Avery had already stirred up plenty of gossip due to her engagement fiasco with Aiden, and now this only added to her troubles. As the impromptu drama unfolded, Kate escorted the visibly unsettled Jonathan back to their rooms. In the hallway, only Aaron remained. When Stella looked up, she met Aaron's gaze, furrowing her brow slightly. Ethan smirked faintly, taking her hand and whispering, "Let's go." With this commotion, it seemed the banquet would end prematurely, sparing them the need for further farewells. Stella glanced back at him and nodded. Meanwhile, Aaron watched as the two turned and left, his eyes darkening with an inscrutable emotion. As the guests dispersed, Jonathan retired to his room to rest early. In the study, after deflecting their parents' inquiries, Aaron was intercepted on his way upstairs by Avery, who had been waiting for him. "Why Aiden?" Avery looked at him with red eyes. "Aaron, you're really ruthless." Aaron hadn't argued with Jonathan during this period, leading everyone to think he had compromised. But only Avery knew that wasn't the case at all. She was afraid Aaron would refuse the engagement outright today, so she had resorted to a desperate measure. Yet she never imagined that the person being escorted back to the room would be Aiden. "Ruthless?" Aaron suddenly chuckled, his eyes lowered. "I just handed him that cup of honey water and did nothing else." At most, it was a case of treating someone the way they treated you. With that said, he remembered something else and calmly added, "I remember on the wedding day, you intentionally made me mistakenly take sleeping pills." And that was when those photos were taken. he also just found out that Stella had seen those photos. Panic filled Avery's eyes as she grabbed his wrist. "I had a reason," she insisted. "There's nothing to explain," Aaron pushed her hand away. "You've been staying at my home long enough. It's time for you to move out." Avery was instantly speechless. She knew very well that she had truly lost everything. Back at the villa, Stella and Ethan returned, feeling the effects of the alcohol. Once inside, Stella stood motionless in the hallway, staring at the man in front of her. Ethan furrowed his brows lightly, reaching out to take her hand, but the tipsy Stella evaded him directly. Seeing her slightly tipsy demeanor, the man chuckled lightly. "What? Could it be that now that Aaron can't get engaged today, you're thinking of abandoning me halfway through?" "You're the one who looked at others today," Stella's slightly intoxicated eyes tinged with a faint accusation. "Is Crystal good-looking?" Crystal? Ethan pondered for a while before figuring out who she meant. He looked down at her, amusement gleaming in his eyes. "Are you jealous?" "No," Stella denied. Jealousy was an irrational emotion, she subconsciously believed she wasn't jealous. "Really?" Ethan raised an eyebrow, smiling as he explained. "I was clearly talking to Cameron, but somehow, in your eyes, it turned into me looking at someone else." Stella furrowed her brows and paused for a moment before speaking. "Someone told me she's been in your room." The man fell silent for a moment. Seeing this, Stella grew even more irritated. "Why aren't you saying anything?" If he didn't speak, was that an admission? She wasn't sure why she was angry, but she felt very uncomfortable and wanted to vent her anger at him. Seeing her annoyed expression, Ethan's fondness deepened. Taking advantage of her lack of response, he forcefully pulled her into his arms and continued, "Cameron wants to apologize, I haven't gone back yet, Isaac already kicked her out. Are you jealous over this too?" "But—" Stella tried to retort. "What?" Stella didn't know what to say. "I find you more charming when you're drunk than usual." Ethan casually raised his eyebrows, his voice low and drawling. "And also, be confident. In my humble aesthetic, only you are beautiful." "You smooth talker."