novelraw Chapter 48: The Taste of Gossip
Chapter 48: The Taste of Gossip
"They’re here," Celia said simply, saying no more.
Quinn Sinclair’s gaze first swept over Declan Nash in the distance, then she searched for a long time among the members of the Norwood family who were following the leaders of the Eight Great Families. There were a few young men, but...
"Maybe it’s because Silas Norwood is here." Quinn Sinclair shook her head, unable to hide her disappointment. "With him around, all the other men from the Norwood Family look like duds to me. Every one of them looks so dissipated, not even as good as Declan Nash used to be. Cece, which one is he?"
Celia didn’t reply.
Her gaze shifted back and forth between Kian Sterling and Silas Norwood, and she unexpectedly met the eyes of both men. Though she looked away in an instant, all the young ladies had their full attention on the pair, and not the slightest movement escaped their notice.
"Oh my god! Did anyone just see the look in Chairman Sterling’s eyes? So gentle! So doting! Who was he looking at? Ahhh! Who was he looking at!"
"He’s known for being obsessed with his sister, who else could he be looking at? I’m more curious about that ice prince from the Norwood Family. He glanced our way just now, too. How do I describe it... it was like he was looking at a cherished pet. That gaze was enough to make you melt!"
"He was looking at me..." someone in the crowd muttered, as if in a trance. "Chairman Norwood must have recognized me."
As if possessed, one of the young ladies in her evening gown suddenly bolted from the crowd, running straight for the circle of dignitaries.
"What the fuck, what is Jasmine Lowell doing?" Nina Sterling’s expression changed abruptly. This was her party; she couldn’t afford to have a scene. "In front of everyone, don’t tell me she’s still hung up on Kian Sterling? That damn woman! She must be insane!"
Jasmine Lowell had already bulldozed her way into the center of the room, right in front of the crowd of wealthy and powerful figures. Her gaze, however, wasn’t on Kian Sterling, but was fixed desperately on Silas Norwood.
Several tall, stern-faced bodyguards materialized from behind Silas Norwood, creating a safe distance between him and Jasmine Lowell.
"Jasmine, what are you doing!" The Lowell Patriarch’s expression soured as he watched his daughter. "Stop this foolishness and come back here!"
"Chairman Norwood..." Jasmine Lowell stared fervently at Silas Norwood. Years ago, at a matchmaking session in a music hall, they had been separated by a white jade screen. His voice alone had been enough to make her utterly obsessed, and she had been infatuated for years.
Ever since recognizing his voice at The Sovereign Club, she had been lost in a daze, plagued by anxiety. Combined with the glance Silas Norwood had just thrown toward the crowd, her dormant obsession could no longer be suppressed.
"Do you remember me? Three years ago, in Box 1 at the music hall—"
Silas Norwood cut her off nonchalantly. "Never been."
The next moment, a few bodyguards stepped forward and gestured for Jasmine Lowell to leave.
The Lowell family’s heir apparent muttered an apology, personally stepping forward to forcibly drag away his tactless sister. The Lowell Patriarch, swallowing his pride, offered a hushed apology. An awkward silence descended upon the scene until Silas Norwood said, "Let’s go." Only then did the powerful and famous guests resume their conversations and laughter as they headed into the inner hall.
The inner hall housed an enormous business lounge.
In addition to the great families of Metropia, the dignitaries included key figures from government and business. Wyatt Sutton, the heir to the Sutton Family of Port Sovereign, was also present. One of the several projects up for negotiation was the redevelopment of Port Sovereign’s Port A, and as the city’s representative, his voice carried decisive weight in the discussions.
While other women’s eyes were ardently fixed on Kian Sterling and Silas Norwood, someone in the shadows kept their attention focused solely on Wyatt Sutton.
Over by the distant rockery, Summer Sutton, who had been laughing and chatting with a group of society matrons, kept her eyes on Wyatt Sutton for a long time. She only looked away after he entered the inner hall and disappeared from sight, then resumed her own mingling.
In her mind, the words of Brian Sutton, the Second Young Master, replayed over and over:
"That mad dog, Wyatt Sutton, is in contact with the Ninth Master. They’re planning to devour your shares..."
A chill crept into her heart.
The next moment, a cool, lazy voice sounded from behind her. "What are you doing here?"
Summer Sutton spun around to see Declan Nash, the Eldest Young Master of the Norwood Conglomerate, staring coldly at her.
「Meanwhile.」
In a glittering crowd of socialites, the group was still gossiping about the drama between Jasmine Lowell and Silas Norwood.
"When did Lowell the Third get so bold? And she actually tried to hit on Silas Norwood? The man’s famous for being completely uninterested in romance, the picture of self-restraint." Miss Warren, who had also been at The Sovereign Club that night, mused, "Don’t tell me she lost her soul to him the last time she saw him?"
"Silas Norwood really can steal your soul," Nina Sterling said, glancing at the other young women who were still captivated by the two men’s powerful charm. "How else could he have had us all going crazy for so many years? Too bad he’s on such a high pedestal we can’t reach him. If it were anyone else, I’d have to drag him home for a taste, one way or another."
’A taste of Silas Norwood?’
The memory of Silas Norwood’s cool, intoxicating scent surfaced uncontrollably in Celia’s mind.
And of that fiery but fleeting kiss in the dark corridor of ZONE Club.
Just as she was lost in thought, someone exclaimed, "Whoa! Declan Nash and Superstar Sutton are getting into it!"
This fresh bit of gossip instantly broke the spell cast by Kian Sterling and Silas Norwood. The crowd of pampered young ladies composed themselves and, in pairs and small groups, began to saunter toward the rockery to watch the show, their gaits ranging from haughty to nonchalant.
At the rockery, Summer Sutton looked at Declan Nash, her voice gentle. "I’m here, of course, because I received an invitation from the Sterling Family."
Declan Nash sneered. "You’re just some actress. Why would the Sterling Family send you an invitation?"
Summer Sutton met his gaze. "And in what capacity are you questioning me, Eldest Young Master Norwood? You’re merely a guest of the Sterling Family yourself. I was invited by them, so when did it become your place to object?"
She wasn’t the only superstar in attendance today. Many large-scale banquets hosted by the great families invited A-list celebrities to liven up the atmosphere. Furthermore, given Summer Sutton’s ambiguous relationship with Kian Sterling, the invitation had been personally sent by Crown Prince Sterling. Unaware of the inside story, he thought he was doing Kian Sterling a favor.
Crown Prince Sterling had no idea if he’d actually earned any goodwill from Kian, but he did know that the woman’s arrival had put his good friend, Declan Nash, in an absolutely foul mood.
"Such a sharp tongue, Miss Sutton. I didn’t notice back in Port Sovereign." Declan Nash reached up to adjust his baseball cap, letting out a lazy chuckle. "You were so gentle and sweet that night. Quite charming, really."
His words instantly reminded everyone of the scandal from Port Sovereign that had gone viral. Countless gossipy gazes shifted between Summer Sutton and Declan Nash.
Summer Sutton’s expression soured, but she steadied herself. "With your status, Eldest Young Master Norwood, who would dare to give you attitude? It’s fortunate we ran into each other today. Regarding that misunderstanding in Port Sovereign, you accidentally left that royal necklace at my place. I’ve already sent my assistant to fetch it and will return it to you shortly."
"Who the hell wants used, second-hand goods?" Declan Nash said softly. The double entendre was obvious, and it was unclear if he was referring to the necklace or to Summer Sutton herself.
In the crowd of onlookers, Quinn Sinclair lowered her voice and tugged on Celia’s sleeve. "That bastard Declan Nash is so petty and vicious. I really don’t know what you ever saw in him."
Celia didn’t want to discuss Declan Nash, so she said nothing.
But her silence didn’t stop someone from dragging her into the line of fire. A society matron, unaware of the behind-the-scenes drama with the marriage arrangement, smiled and tried to play mediator.
"Miss Sterling, it’s not good to cause a scene at an event like this. Isn’t the Eldest Young Master Norwood your fiancé? Everyone in the Capital Circle knows he listens to you more than anyone. You should rein him in."