Chapter 257

She had attended major film festivals and walked numerous red carpets, even being Invited as a heavyweight guest to various banquets.

However, no man had ever taken the initiative to refuse to hold her hand as they made their entrance.

This was an utter humiliation for her.

But she quickly smiled, hiding her displeasure in her heart. “I understand, CEO Storm, be rest assured, I won’t make things difficult for you with Miss Grace.”

Eder nodded, his long and proud legs stepping out of the car, taking the lead to get out.

Immediately, Eric followed suit, going to the other side to help Ava open the car door.

As soon as the two appeared, they became the focus of everyone’s attention, with camera flashes clicking all around them.

Ava effortlessly handled such scenes, her smile elegant and noble. The two of them entered side by side, but they maintained a perfect distance, not even brushing against each other’s clothing.

Throughout the subsequent social interactions and engagements, Ava remained well–behaved and maintained an appropriate distance.

Eder’s guard against her loosened slightly.

Grace had arrived at the venue long before the two of them.

However, she didn’t enjoy socializing, so she had been sitting in an secluded corner with Tom, savoring her wine.

Tom drank cup after cup, his face filled with gloom.

Grace was puzzled. “What’s wrong with you? Who made you unhappy again?”

Tom pouted in frustration. “Eder!”

“Huh?” Grace was puzzled. “You came to S City, and you haven’t even talked to him, right? How did he manage to bother you?”

“He intercepted you before I reached the legal age for marriage. Now, with the commercial alliance between the Grant and Smith families, I probably won’t have a chance in this lifetime!”

Grace couldn’t help but chuckle and playfully flick his forehead with her finger.

“What are you thinking! Even if I’m not engaged to him, I don’t like men younger than me!”

Tom grumbled, “You’re talking nonsense! You said you liked me before!”

Grace sighed and honestly told him, “You silly kid, I like you as a friend and a little brother, not as a lover. Don’t harbor any illusions about me, or else I’ll have to keep my distance from you in the future, and we won’t even be able to be friends.”

“No!” Tom gulped down the red wine in his glass, comforting himself. “Although I don’t have the fortune to marry you in this lifetime, it’s still good to be your confidant.”

Grace couldn’t help but laugh at his train of thought and shook her head helplessly.

Having sat quietly in the corner for a long time, Grace still hadn’t seen Eder. Deciding to find an excuse to leave her seat, she said, “I’m going to the restroom, I’ll be back soon.”

At that particular moment, they found themselves standing next to the fountain pool in the hotel garden.

Eder and Ava had just finished attending a social gathering.

17:11 The Millionaire “Mr. Storm, I can’t help but feel that addressing you as “Storm would create a more friendly atmosphere. Would that be agreeable to you?”

“Of course, feel free to call me whatever makes you comfortable.”

Without hesitation, she responded with a sweet tone, “Storm, did I perform well during the social gathering? Are you satisfied with how I carried myself?”

Eder maintained his cool expression. “It was okay.”

Those two words brought a wide smile to her face, as if she had just received a bag of candies.

When Eder said “okay,” it actually meant “good” or “satisfactory.” Essentially, he was expressing his contentment.

Finally, Eder managed to praise her with a single sentence!

Her face was beaming with joy. “In that case, Storm, could you accompany me to find a quiet spot to sit? After standing and conversing for so long, I feel a bit exhausted.”

Eder glanced at her high heeled shoes that added an extra twelve centimeters to her height and gave his consent.

The two of them strolled along the pebble pathway in the garden.

The surroundings were serene, with dimly lit street lamps that cast a hazy aura on their figures from behind.

Eder silently walked, his hands tucked into his suit pants pockets, exuding an air of nobility with a hint of rebelliousness. As long as Ava remained silent, he saw no need to initiate a conversation They proceeded at a leisurely pace, and the atmosphere grew unusually calm, evoking a sense of intrigue.

Ava pondered on what topic to discuss. The unevenness of the stone path caused her to lose her footing, throwing her off balance.

“Oh, dear!” Reacting instinctively, she leaned towards Eder.

Eder quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding any physical contact.

As Ava teetered on the brink of a fall, Eder swiftly extended his hand to offer support.

“Storm, you frightened me!” Ava’s complexion turned pale, and she tightly clung to his arm, even attempting to nestle into his embrace.

Eder’s expression changed, and just as he was about to push her away, he caught sight of a woman in a red dress standing a few meters ahead.

Grace stood with her hands crossed, observing quietly. Her eyes were filled with a mix of sarcasm and coldness as they remained fixed on Eder.

“Grace, please listen to what I have to say…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Grace let out a disdainful snort and walked away without even glancing back.

“Grace!” Eder’s heart ached from her coldness, and he yearned to chase after her. However, Ava, who stood in front of him, seemed terrified and clung tightly to his arm, refusing to let go.

“Storm, it seems like I’ve twisted my foot. It’s really painful!”

Eder paid no attention to her pain. With a gloved hand, he grabbed her by the neck, his furious eyes filled with resentment.

“You saw Grace, didn’t you? You purposely pretended to trip and fall onto me, making me look guilty in front of her. Is that what you intended?”

Ava wore an anguished expression, her face flushed, struggling to catch her breath. “Storm, what doyou mean? I don’t understand. My foot is truly twisted, and it hurts. If you don’t believe me, you can check it yourself. I’m not trying to deceive you… “cough, cough*

“Well, it better be true!”

Eder released his grip, uninterested in verifying whether she was lying or not.

His priority was Grace’s anger, which outweighed everything else. He turned to chase after her, but Ava once again grabbed onto his sleeve.

Abandoning her previous playfulness, she spoke with a serious expression on her face:

“Storm, you really don’t understand Ms. Grace. You’re pouring all your love into her, but she will only end up hurting you more deeply. She might be willing to be with you now, but during this time. has she ever uttered those three little words. I love you? Don’t you see?”

Eder gave her a menacing glare, ruthlessly shaking off her hand and rushing after Grace.

Ava struggled to maintain her balance and ended up falling to the ground. She didn’t mind the mud that stained her pristine white dress.

She kept her eyes fixed on Eder’s retreating figure, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and her face lit up with an exuberant smile.

Grace chose to walk away, while Eder opted to run after her.

So, just as Grace was about to ascend the steps leading to the banquet hall, Eder swiftly intercepted.

her.

“Grace, please give me a moment to explain, alright?”

Grace glanced at him with an indifferent expression. Avoiding any contact with the part of his suit that Ava had touched, she folded her hands and attempted to bypass him, heading towards the banquet hall.

Aware of his dirtied attire, Eder refrained from touching her. Instead, he stood in her way, blocking her path.

“Grace…”

His eyes welled up with slight tears, and his voice softened, filled with a plea.

Ignoring his pleading gaze, Grace suppressed her anger and firmly commanded, “Just go.”

Eder felt a pang of pain in his chest from her harsh words and bit his lip in frustration.

In front of the entrance to the banquet hall, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and unhesitatingly removed it.

He then took off his gloves and tossed them into the nearby trash bin.

He acted quickly, without any hesitation or doubt.

The all–black silk shirt showcased his well defined waist, emphasizing his strong physique.

His unusual behavior caught the attention of many curious onlookers, causing them to turn their gaze in their direction.

Eder simply ignored the curious glances and lifted Grace up in his arms.

This sudden action surprised and even shocked some of the nearby bystanders, prompting a few gasps.

17:11 “What are you doing?” Grace stared at him with a mix of anger and curiosity. “Are you out of your mind? Put me down!”

As she tried to free herself, Eder leaned closer to her ear, his voice soft and husky.

“There re so many people watching us, Grace. Don’t forget our morning agreement. Besides, I’ve already disposed of the clothes that got tainted. I’m innocent. Once we’re back, I’ll explain everything to you slowly, okay?”

“Be good, don’t move. If you fall from my hands, the stock market of both the Grant and Smith families will plummet tomorrow.”

Grace understood the situation well.

She clenched her teeth in frustration, resisting the urge to twist his car and instead leaned closer, encircling his neck in a subtle yet affectionate manner, Eder knew she was suppressing her anger. With a wicked curve on his thin lips, he spoke in a teasing tone.

“Whether tomorrow’s stock market for the Grant and Smith families will skyrocket or plummet depends on how cooperative Grace is right now.”

“What else do you have in mind? Grace accurately detected a hint of mischief in his words.

His smile grew wider. “To make headlines with our engagement, and do what an engaged couple should do!”