Chapter 398
"Right, I harbor a certain sympathy for her," Luna interjected with enthusiasm, adding, "Occasionally, men find themselves compelled to lie, all in the name of their pride."
Cassie picked up the thread of conversation, her tone somber. "The importance of a man's pride cannot be overstated. Upon my arrival in New York, I was privy to the tales of your tempestuous affair with a college girl. I had entertained the notion of it being a modern-day Cinderella story, culminating in a grand wedding. Alas, I was mistaken."
After a moment of contemplative silence, Cassie turned to Luna, her eyes filled with earnest sincerity. "My dear, today marks your engagement. Allow me to offer you some sisterly counsel: every woman must confront the inevitability of aging and the loss of her physical beauty. There is no shortage of beautiful women in this world, but true inner beauty, that is a rarity. It is this inner beauty that forms the bedrock of a lasting marriage."
"Darling, your words ring true," Joseph interjected, turning to Whitmore with a knowing smile. "Whitmore, you must be well-acquainted with this truth. Rumor has it that you have a penchant for the company of eighteen-year-olds. I wager you've found yourself a new companion. And Mrs. Whitmore, she conveniently turns a blind eye, doesn't she?"
Cassie shot Felix a playful glare, teasing, "Joseph, you and Whitmore seem to share a close bond. Don't tell me you're considering following his example. Surely, you wouldn't dare betray Luna's trust?"
The atmosphere at the engagement party grew taut. Felix's face flushed a deep crimson, his embarrassment palpable. Luna, who had initially reveled in the attention, now felt a wave of humiliation wash over her.
Her high opinion of Felix wavered, tainted by the memory of his dalliance with a college girl. Her mood soured unexpectedly.
"How could you even suggest such a thing? My affection for Luna was instantaneous, and I intend to cherish her forever," Felix retorted, struggling to maintain a smile amidst his discomfort.
"Really now? So, Joseph must have had it rough too, yearning for someone who wouldn't spare him a second glance..." Cassie covered her mouth, feigning regret for her words. "Oh, listen to me, prattling on."
"Cassie, are you doing this deliberately?" Luna snapped, her irritation evident. "I was blind in the past, mistaking the mundane for the extraordinary. Felix surpasses Joseph in every conceivable way."
"I understand," Cassie responded, nodding emphatically. "Especially now that Liam has assumed control, with the formidable Hernandez family backing him. Without their support, he wouldn't have stood a chance with you, would he?"
"Enough of your nonsense..." Luna began, but catching sight of Felix's increasingly distressed expression, she instantly regretted inviting Cassie.
She had intended to revel in Cassie's misfortunes, not anticipating her biting remarks.
"Let's drop it, Luna. We have more important guests to attend to. We can't afford to waste our time on people of their ilk," Felix grumbled, his veneer of civility slipping.
"You're right," Luna conceded, linking arms with Felix as they made their way towards the Hernandez crowd.
However, a chasm had formed between them, their bond not as strong as it once was.
As they retreated, Joseph playfully nudged Cassie's nose, "Impressive, you certainly have a sharp tongue. How did you uncover the details of Felix's university affair?"
"Laura filled me in. She's been rubbing shoulders with high society ladies recently, picking up all their gossip," Cassie replied, grinning. "You're not too bad yourself, being privy to Whitmore's illicit escapades."
"I have a good understanding of what these executives are like," Joseph remarked casually.
Arm in arm, they delved deeper into the party. Under normal circumstances, someone of Joseph's stature would be the center of attention. But today, they were met with cold stares and snickers, whispers about Cassie trailing in their wake.
"Don't worry, soon enough they'll all be clamoring for your attention," Joseph murmured.
"Forget it, I detest being the object of sycophantic adoration," Cassie scoffed, her attention diverted as Leo Chapman approached. His face was a blend of distress and concern as he focused on her. "Cassie, why didn't you tell me about your face... what happened? Joseph, you keep insisting you're going to marry her, is this your idea of protection?"
Joseph's brow furrowed, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
Leo's anger surged. "I should've never let you dissuade me—I should have taken her away with me right then and there..."
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