Chapter 641 Gathering Day, Kill the Enemy?
As Zane finally disappeared into the hotel, Ryder felt the air around him become noticeably fresher.
The thought of facing more people like Zane inside made his head throb. Why had Donna insisted he come?
Ryder had agreed primarily because Donna wanted "moral support" for herself, but now she was late.
He called her, and she explained she was stuck in traffic, asking for ten more minutes.
"Just hurry," Ryder said before hanging up.
Just then, Sarah's car pulled into the parking spot beside his delivery van. She stepped out, graceful and radiant as moonlight.
"I thought you'd be at your reunion by now," she teased, playfully sticking out her tongue when she spotted him. "Why are you still out here?"
"Waiting for Donna," Ryder explained.
A middle-aged man emerged from Sarah's car. Well-dressed in a suit and tie, physically fit, with a dignified, old-school demeanor.
"And who might this be?" the man inquired, looking at Ryder.
Sarah quickly explained, "This is my husband, Ryder." Turning to Ryder, she added, "And this is Mr. Owen Jackson, the business partner I mentioned on the phone. His company is currently working with SR Group."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Jackson."
"Likewise."
As Ryder assessed the middle-aged businessman, Owen was similarly evaluating him. His eyes drifted to the delivery van behind Ryder.
"Your husband is a courier?" he asked Sarah, eyebrows raised.
"Well..." Sarah hesitated, unsure how to explain Ryder's courier uniform and vehicle.
Ryder stepped in. "Yes, I work for Passion Logistics Management Company."
"The courier company recently acquired by Maple Group? I've heard they're doing quite well."
"That's right."
Owen smiled faintly at Sarah. "It seems Ms. Johnson and your husband came together purely for love! Quite admirable. Though I'm curious why you haven't arranged a position for him in your company? The delivery job can be quite tough, after all."
Sarah laughed awkwardly. "He prefers this work."
"How interesting," Owen chuckled.
Looking slightly uncomfortable, Sarah said, "Mr. Jackson, shall we go inside? My husband is waiting for his classmate."
Owen nodded. "Of course, let's go."
Before leaving, Sarah discreetly showed Ryder her phone. "I'll be about an hour. Let's connect by phone later."
"Don't drink," Ryder warned.
Sarah paused, then countered with a mock glare. "You neither!"
"Fine, whatever you say."
As Ryder watched Sarah and Owen walk away, he couldn't help feeling that Owen seemed calculating beneath his respectable facade.
Not that Ryder could judge someone's character at a glance, but something felt off.
Still, he wasn't concerned—he'd be in the same hotel, ensuring Sarah's safety.
Donna finally arrived, and they entered the private banquet room together.
Just as Ryder had predicted, Zane had apparently briefed their former classmates beforehand. The moment they stepped in, familiar and unfamiliar faces alike clustered together, whispering and staring:
"One married into his wife's family!"
"The other is a transgender woman!"
They had become the evening's entertainment, fodder for gossip.
This was the reality of class reunions. How people change! Once innocent youths and shy girls had transformed into social climbers, each trying to outdo the others.
Those who had achieved success basked in the admiration of their less successful peers.
Those who hadn't succeeded used the opportunity to network, hoping to gain some advantage.
Some even operated in the gray area of trading favors for advancement or excitement.
The atmosphere was suffocating. This was precisely why Ryder avoided such gatherings unless absolutely necessary.
"Why don't you stay and listen to them talk? I think I'll excuse myself," Ryder said, exhausted after a day of deliveries and hoping to find somewhere quiet to eat.
"Let's eat here," Donna insisted, grabbing his arm. "Honestly, Ryder, I wasn't lying. Remember when we were tracking your wife after Tyler kidnapped her? While casting a wide net, I accidentally hacked into your ex-girlfriend's social media. Just yesterday, she posted something visible only to herself about using the class reunion to kill an enemy."
"What the heck are you talking about?" Ryder was completely confused.
"Just wait a little longer. Let's see if your ex shows up. If she comes with that person, I'm probably right!"
Ryder didn't take this seriously, assuming Donna had invented this story to convince him to accompany her to the reunion.
"Be patient," Donna said with raised eyebrows. She brought over snacks and drinks, saying she knew Ryder must be hungry and thirsty after delivering packages all day.
This gesture, unfortunately, only reinforced their classmates' perception that they had come just for free food and drinks.
The group that had been gossiping about Ryder and Donna from a distance now approached them directly.
Zane, seeing this, called out loudly, "Don't laugh, everyone! Our Ryder rushed here right after finishing his last delivery. He's had a tough day!"
His words prompted a cascade of thinly veiled insults:
"Must be exhausting."
"Definitely tiring."
"We're all in logistics, but how can our fates be so different?"
These classmates cast admiring glances at Zane, who also worked in logistics but at a much higher level.
The mockery continued:
"Some people lack vision and only know how to work hard. A lifetime of that labor won't equal what Zane accomplishes in a day."
"That's not fair. People like Ryder just need enough to survive—why talk about career prospects?"
"True, not everyone has Zane's insight. He's truly exceptional."
Ryder and Donna exchanged resigned glances. Why bother engaging with these people?
Their silence was interpreted as acceptance, which eventually made their tormentors lose interest in Ryder.
They turned their attention to Donna instead.
"Donna, are you still doing livestreams? Transgender livestreams?"
"I watched one where you almost stripped completely for a dance before some big spender saved the day with donations!"
"I saw that episode too! But then your channel got banned for some reason!"
Donna's mouth twitched in annoyance. After glaring at her gossiping classmates, she turned to Zane.
"Wasn't Saskia supposed to come tonight? Where is she?"
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