Sophie''s ties with James were limited to businesspetition, with no personal connection left between them. Whether or not James showed up at his engagement party was none of her concern. As Sophie prepared to turn around with Jenna, she bumped into a firm chest.


    The man was dressed in an unremarkable ck suit devoid of any excess adornment. When Sophie looked up, she saw a silver masquerade mask covering his face.


    Instinctively, Sophie took a step back, and Jenna quickly pulled her away from the man.


    Sophie offered a strained smile. "I''m sorry. Did I bump into you?"


    "It''s okay."


    His voice was raspy and unpleasant, as if damaged by fire, obscuring his age.


    Jenna eyed him curiously, finding him odd. She held Sophie''s arm and politely said, "Excuse us, sir, we have to go."


    Sophie''s gaze lingered on the man. As they passed him, she heard him murmur, "Leave the venue immediately."


    His voice was so low that only she could hear it. Sophie stopped in her tracks, but when she turned to look, the man had vanished into the crowd.


    "Sophie, let''s not worry about it. Everyone here tonight is a VIP. That man''s outfit suggests he''s just a bodyguard for a businessman. You''re the star of tonight''s event. It''s best not to mingle with them." Jenna whispered, "And I caught a whiff of something awful on him... like rotting meat."


    The mask and the raspy voice suggested the man had severe facial burns or had been in a fire, damaging his throat.


    Sophie knew that wealthy individuals often hired highly paid bodyguards for protection, offering sries ten times higher than average for potentially dangerous task  S


    But why would such a person warn her to leave the venue without reason?


    Jenna tried tofort her, "Don''t


    think too much about it. Not


    everyone at the engagement party is


    clean. If we see someone


    suspicious, we should avoid them.


    We don''t know what they''re involved


    in?"


    Jenna had her reservations, and Sophie understood. The Costello family''s past dealings were dangerous, with countless enemies. Who could say if tonight would be disrupted?


    "Sophie."


    Reece''s voice came from beside her, holding a ss of champagne. He had waited in a corner for a while.


    Sophie raised an eyebrow. "I thought your schedule was so packed that you wouldn''t make it today."Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "How could I miss my best partner''s engagement?" Reece shrugged. "Seems I arrived toote and missed the drama."


    The Dennis, Tredgold, and Aldridge families'' extravagant dowries had stunned the whole of Devonport. Compared to them, Reece''s gift seemed insignificant.


    Reece pulled out a wedding gift he had prepared earlier. "Don''t judge it too harshly. Congrattions on your engagement."