Chapter 288 I Don't Like It
"Adeline, you okay?" Sebastian asked, worry creasing his face as he noticed her sudden quiet.
"Is your shoulder acting up again?" He moved closer, his hand hovering near her arm. "Or is it about meeting my parents? If you're not up for it, I'll call them right now."
Adeline shook her head, forcing a smile. "No, it's not that." She looked up at him, serious. "But can we change the venue? Royal Elegance Dining... it just doesn't feel right."
After running into Jasper earlier, the last thing she wanted was another confrontation, especially with Sebastian's parents involved.
Sebastian's worried frown turned into a relieved smile. "That's easy!" he said, already grabbing his phone. "They're landing at Radiance Springs airport in an hour. I'll pick them up and we'll find another place." He winked, his earlier nerves gone. "Dress up, alright? I'll send you the new address."
His enthusiasm was contagious, and Adeline couldn't help but smile back. "Okay," she agreed, feeling grateful.
An hour later, a message from Sebastian popped up on her phone: [My parents wanted to meet at Royal Elegance Dining because they had a business meeting there. But I told them you live far away, so they moved it to the restaurant at Crystal Heights Resort.]
Another message followed, this one with a cheerful emoji: [My mom saw your photos in the news and checked out your designs. They really like you!]
Relief washed over Adeline. For a moment, she'd forgotten this whole thing was just a charade. Reminding Sebastian of their agreement felt unnecessarily harsh right now.
Taking a deep breath, she called Violet. "Shopping trip?" she asked, a plan forming in her mind.
At six o'clock sharp, Adeline arrived at Crystal Heights Resort. She wore a simple yet elegant outfit – a black A-line skirt and a white chiffon blouse. The gentle breeze ruffled her hair, framing her face and highlighting her delicate features.
Sebastian, waiting by the entrance, was visibly stunned as she stepped out of the taxi. He'd always known she was beautiful, but seeing her now, he realized that even in simple attire, she had an undeniable allure.
Noticing him, Adeline waved and walked towards him, her heels clicking against the pavement. "Are your parents inside?" she asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
Sebastian cleared his throat, snapping out of his daze. "Yes, they are." He ran a hand through his hair, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Turns out they didn't just come to Radiance Springs to meet you. They have some business to attend to as well."
"It's alright," Adeline assured him, looping her arm through his. "I'd feel guilty if they'd flown all this way just for me."
He chuckled, squeezing her hand gently as they entered the hotel lobby.
As they waited for the elevator, a familiar voice pierced the air, sending a jolt of apprehension through Adeline.
"Jasper, why the sudden change of venue? I was waiting at Royal Elegance Dining for ages!" Stella's voice, laced with a petulant undertone, echoed across the lobby.
"Perhaps the other party found Royal Elegance Dining not to their liking," came Jasper's impassive reply.
Adeline's head spun. She couldn't help but glance towards the voices.
Jasper, in a tailored black suit, stood near the entrance, his phone pressed against his ear. Beside him was Stella, stunning in a dark blue gown that shimmered under the lobby's lights. They looked every bit the power couple, perfectly matched in their elegance and authority.
A wave of pain hit Adeline, and she quickly looked away, her heart aching.
"Adeline?" Sebastian's concerned voice snapped her back to reality.
The elevator doors opened, and she hurried inside, desperate to escape the tense lobby.
"Mr. and Mrs. Carter are quite something, don't you think?" Stella huffed, rolling her eyes. "They said they'd send their people to negotiate the deal, but now they're here in person."
"And after making us arrange everything at Royal Elegance Dining, they switch venues last minute," she continued, annoyed. "Honestly, you'd think they were the only ones who could provide those rare gemstones."
Jasper ended the call, his face unreadable. "Maybe they had a change of plans," he said, emotionless.
"What reason could they have for changing plans?" Stella scoffed. "They've been abroad for years. What personal business could they have in Radiance Springs?"
He didn't answer, just turned towards the elevators. "We'll find out soon enough," he said, a hint of steel in his voice.
He'd just learned that the elusive supplier he'd been negotiating with was none other than Sebastian, the renowned artist. Interesting.
"Dad, Mom, this is Adeline," Sebastian said, beaming as he introduced her to his parents.
"Miss Wilson, please, have a seat," Aurora chirped, her warm smile easing some of Adeline's anxiety.
"So, Miss Wilson," Aurora began, eyes twinkling with curiosity, "where are you from? What does your family do? And how did you two meet?"
The barrage of questions caught Adeline off guard. This was her first time meeting the parents. Her marriage to Jasper hadn't offered any practice, given his mother's passing and Nathan's indifference towards his son's personal life.
"I've seen your designs, Miss Wilson. Absolutely stunning! You're incredibly talented," Andrew boomed, his voice filling the private dining room. He stroked his beard, eyes gleaming with approval. "Our family business deals with raw gemstones. Imagine that! If you and Sebastian were to... well, we could even start our own jewelry company!"
Adeline's heart sank. "Sir," she began cautiously, "did you say your family is in the raw gemstone business?"
Jasper's business meeting tonight. The rare gemstones from abroad. It all clicked into place.
"Indeed!" Andrew confirmed, puffing out his chest with pride. "We operate a thriving business, but we prefer to keep a low profile. Even Sebastian was kept in the dark." He chuckled. "Of course, if you weren't a jewelry designer, I wouldn't have mentioned it." He paused, eyes twinkling. "Besides meeting you, we're also here to discuss a collaboration with a prominent local company."
Under the table, Adeline's hand tightened around her skirt, her anxiety growing.
"The company we're collaborating with is none other than Radiance Springs' very own... the Foster Group," Andrew announced, beaming.
The blood drained from Adeline's face. Beside her, Sebastian's smile faltered, his eyes mirroring her apprehension.
Oblivious to their reaction, Andrew glanced at his watch. "Speaking of the devil," he chuckled, "Mr. Foster just called to say he's arrived."
A knock on the door echoed through the room.
"Excuse me," a voice called from behind the door, "is Mr. Carter present?"
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