Chapter 460 Joined at the Hip: Different Parents, Same Bond
Waverly maintained a perfectly composed smile, her expression calibrated with precision. Not a single flaw could be detected.
She greeted them with enthusiasm, making Victoria wonder if this was truly the same woman who had antagonized her yesterday.
However, her warmth gradually froze under the cool, indifferent stares of the married couple.
The couple, in perfect synchrony, ignored her completely.
Thomas arrived fashionably late. As he stepped out of his luxury car, he called out, "Vicky, Alexander, what are you two standing around for?"
After a few steps, he noticed a woman standing in front of Victoria—attractive enough, but in his estimation, not even a tenth of his dear Vicky's beauty.
"Well, if it isn't the illustrious Miss Windsor! I never thought I'd have the privilege of meeting Presidential Palace's finest socialite up close. What an honor!"
With exaggerated excitement, he stepped forward, positioning himself between Victoria and Waverly, effectively blocking Waverly's view of Alexander.
At six feet tall, Thomas created an impenetrable barrier.
Startled by his sudden movement, Waverly took a step back.
"Who are you?" she asked, her shaped eyebrows furrowing slightly as she assessed this handsome stranger who had appeared out of nowhere.
Though Thomas couldn't quite match Alexander's looks, he was certainly the type who could make women lose their composure—with his striking features, perfect facial structure, and particularly those captivating eyes.
Compared to Alexander's stoic demeanor, Thomas was more vibrant and carefree, lacking that cold reserve.
But Waverly detested chatty people above all else.
Victoria, recognizing Thomas's playful antics, couldn't be bothered to intervene.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Thomas Taylor, from Aidamore. I've always heard that Kingdom of Serenia's socialites are paragons of grace and elegance—both brilliant and beautiful. I've been dying to meet one in person, and what better opportunity than Mr. Windsor's birthday celebration? I'm attending on behalf of my family."
His face radiated such excitement, as though he were meeting a celebrity idol.
If Victoria hadn't known his personality, she might have believed he'd been an admirer of Waverly's for years.
Waverly's expression softened slightly at Thomas's flattery.
But something caught her attention. He had called Victoria "Vicky" and addressed Alexander by his first name, suggesting intimate familiarity. What exactly was his relationship with them?
She narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, "Mr. Taylor, what is your relationship with Ms. Kennedy?"
Thomas answered without hesitation, "We're joined at the hip, practically siblings from different parents."
Waverly fell silent.
Victoria shook her head slightly and raised her uninjured hand to tap Alexander's, which had been resting on her wheelchair handle. "Darling, shall we head inside?"
Alexander murmured his agreement, turned the wheelchair around, and began pushing her toward the entrance.
Seeing them leave, Waverly moved to follow, but suddenly found an arm blocking her path—Thomas's.
"Miss Windsor, I'm new to this place. Would you do me the honor of showing me around?" he asked with a roguish smile. "As for Vicky and Alexander, don't worry about them. Those two have each other for company, while I'm all alone. Besides, they're married—we shouldn't intrude on their time together, don't you think?"
Though direct, his words were delivered with such casual ease that it was impossible to tell whether he was being deliberately provocative or simply making conversation.
Either way, his logic was difficult to refute.
Once inside, Waverly found herself constantly cornered by Thomas, unable to escape his attention.
Meanwhile, Alexander and Victoria's entrance drew countless stares and whispers.
"My God, who is that man? He's gorgeous! How have I never seen him in Kingdom of Serenia before?"
"His presence is so commanding, so charismatic! Those features—he must be heaven's favorite."
"Who's that girl in the wheelchair he's pushing? How dare she come to Mr. Windsor's birthday celebration dressed so casually? It's disrespectful."
One woman interjected, "This is a birthday party, not a beauty contest. She can wear whatever she wants. Was there a formal dress code I missed?"
Those noticing Victoria were primarily women.
Another voice added, "I actually think she looks beautiful like that. Her style is simple but has a certain quality to it—fresh and unique. Don't you think her facial features are perfectly proportioned? Even without makeup, her features are striking and distinctive. That's genuine beauty."
This directed even more attention toward Victoria.
Gradually, people began to notice that despite her simple attire, she possessed an undeniable presence and aura.
Her eyes sparkled with intelligence, and her lack of makeup and jewelry made her stand out as unique among the party guests, naturally inviting comparison.
Some realized that even with their meticulously applied makeup, custom designer gowns, and expensive jewelry, they couldn't match her natural elegance and charm.
That was truly infuriating.
Just then, everyone watched as Presidential Palace's head butler, Casey, approached them.
"Ms. Kennedy, Mr. Howard, Mr. Windsor requests your presence," Casey said with a formal gesture of invitation.
Victoria nodded, asking no questions.
The guests observed as Casey escorted the pair away from the main hall toward the private reception area backstage.
This set off a new wave of speculation about their identities.
After all, a personal audience with the President wasn't granted to just anyone.
Conversations buzzed:
"I heard that yesterday Mr. Windsor made quite a show of visiting someone important at the hospital—caused quite a stir among the administration."
"I heard that too, but there were no news reports. I guess no one dared publish it."
"You don't think the person in the wheelchair is who he visited, do you?"
Waverly could only watch helplessly as Casey led Victoria and Alexander away.
"Mr. Taylor, I'm afraid I have something to attend to. Please make yourself at home—I'll be back shortly," Waverly said.
Though anxious inside, she maintained her composure, interrupting Thomas with an apologetic tone.
She attempted to leave, but Thomas wasn't about to let her escape so easily.
"Miss Windsor, you haven't given me your number yet," he said, smoothly reaching out to stop her. "What if I can't find you later?"
Thomas was being incredibly persistent.
Even though Waverly's attention was clearly elsewhere, responding to his endless questions with distraction, he carried on undeterred, content to maintain his monologue.
"If I give it to you, will you stop pestering me?" Waverly asked, thoroughly exasperated.
She'd never encountered someone so tenacious in her life. The most frustrating part was that his behavior wasn't explicitly inappropriate—his conversation remained gentlemanly, just relentlessly engaging. She couldn't justifiably have him removed without seeming petty.
Thomas raised an eyebrow with roguish charm. "Of course—but I need your real number. If it's fake..."
She immediately opened her clutch and pulled out her phone. "This should prove it's genuine, shouldn't it?"
Once Thomas had secured her number, he indeed stopped his pursuit.
She departed immediately, heading in the direction Victoria and Alexander had gone.
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