Chapter 397
"Remarkable, isn't it? Felix is the proprietor of this hotel. I've heard it's among the top three revenue earners on Madison Avenue. Quite an achievement," an onlooker noted, their voice laced with a touch of admiration.
Luna nodded in agreement, her eyes locked on Felix, who had become the focal point of the gathering. He might not possess Joseph's suave charm or towering stature, but his allure was undeniable, and his future seemed limitless.
On this particular night, with the entire Hernandez family in attendance and influential figures from the political and business spheres gracing the occasion, the event was a flattering tribute to her stature.
It was the wedding she had always envisioned.
Once Joseph made his appearance, she was certain he would be consumed with regret for not choosing her as his bride.
As for Cassie, a woman who had suffered a disfiguring facial injury, Luna was convinced she must be seething with jealousy.
"Look, Joseph has arrived, and he's accompanied by a woman—it's Cassie," Lilian announced abruptly.
All eyes on the private beach shifted to Joseph, clad in a white suit, an unusual choice for his public appearances. He resembled a prince from a fairy tale, rendering every other man present insignificant.
In contrast to Joseph's striking presence, Felix, despite also donning a white suit, seemed utterly inconsequential.
His fury was so palpable he nearly shattered his wine glass in his hand.
Luna's mood soured further when she noticed the light blue gown adorning Cassie.
It was a creation by the renowned designer Bonny King, the very dress Luna had coveted for her engagement party. Despite her readiness to splurge, she had been unable to secure it, and now it graced Cassie.
Rain covered her mouth, "Isn't that the dress you..."
Luna silenced her with a scathing look.
Rain quickly added, "It's not a big deal, really. I mean, it's wasted on Cassie with her disfigured face."
Luna found herself agreeing. She had always envied Cassie's beauty, but now that her face was marred, Luna couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
Feeling somewhat mollified, she approached Joseph with Felix.
"Joseph, your presence at our engagement party is truly an honor," Felix said, his smile devoid of sincerity, making no attempt to extend a handshake.
This was Cassie's first encounter with Felix. To be fair, he wasn't unattractive, standing at a respectable five foot nine, but his insincere smile and lack of a commanding presence made him pale in comparison to Joseph.
A nearby CEO chuckled, "Honor? Joseph, you're the one with the limitless future. After assuming control of the company, you forged a strategic partnership with Stark Industries, a far cry from the prospects of some."
Luna felt a surge of vindication at his words, looping her arm through Felix's with a smile that hinted at hidden depths, "Mr. Whitmore, please don't underestimate Joseph. He's the most eligible bachelor in New York and the wealthiest man on Madison Avenue."
"Wealthiest?" Whitmore scoffed unabashedly, "That's only due to the support of the Hernandez family. Without them, he'd be a nobody."
Pausing for dramatic effect, Whitmore turned to Walter, who stood nearby, "Walter, wouldn't you agree?"
Walter cast a glance at Joseph, snorted disdainfully, and said, "It's a pity he doesn't seem to understand that himself."
Whitmore's gaze towards Joseph was filled with undisguised contempt, "Joseph, take care now. You better enjoy tonight's dinner and drinks with your wife. Who knows? Tomorrow, you might not be welcomed at places like this anymore."
"Then I appreciate your concern, Mr. Whitmore," Joseph replied with a sly grin, neither annoyed nor angry, as if he were watching a troupe of clowns perform.
"Don't be upset, Joseph," Luna suddenly covered her mouth with her hand as if she had just recognized Cassie, exclaiming dramatically, "Oh my, what happened to your face? It's so uneven—yikes, that's rather frightening!"
A flicker of coldness crossed Joseph's eyes as he prepared to respond, but Cassie squeezed his hand, smiling serenely, "Yes, it can be frightening. Sometimes, I even scare myself in the middle of the night. But thankfully, Joseph has given me confidence. He's always been there for me, encouraging me, loving me, and he doesn't spare a second glance for any of the women who try so hard to tempt him."
Her calm demeanor made Luna's spiteful words seem to dissolve harmlessly, like punches landing on cotton.
Instead, every word from Cassie hinted at Luna's past desperate attempts to cling to Joseph, suggesting that he preferred a disfigured woman over her.
Seething with humiliation, Luna heard Felix comment with a half-smile, "Viv, sometimes what men say isn't necessarily true. After all, it's quite pitiful to see you in your current state."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
