<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The room suddenly fell silent. I noticed Elijah’s expression had darkened, and Jocelyn didn’t look any better. I gently tugged on Logan’s sleeve.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Logan smiled at me and said, “Now that the talk is over, we should take our seat.” With that, he led me to our seats.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Elijah and Jocelyn stood there in a daze, not moving for a long time. This visit had clearly ended with him getting a harsh p in the face.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">He seemed to be hesitating, wondering whether to turn around and leave, but almost everyone here was a prominent figure in the business world.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">If Elijah were to leave now, it would certainly change how these people viewed him. In the end, Elijah, with a face as ck as thunder, led Jocelyn to their seats.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I noticed that Jocelyn was looking at me with aplicated expression. Er resentment, and hatred.</font></font>N?velDrama.Org owns all content.
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I lowered my gaze and avoided looking at the two of them. I couldn’t understand why Logan had specifically brought me here, nor why we had bumped into Elijah. All I knew was that in this first official encounter, Elijah had lost, and badly at that.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The food was served, and as the waiters introduced each dish, the atmosphere gradually livened up.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Everyone at the table was a seasoned veteran in the field, so even though the air had been awkward earlier, they easily brushed it aside with a few words, as if nothing had happened.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Laughter and conversation filled the table. They talked about everything, from global events to local anecdotes and gossip.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I quietly ate the food in front of me, my ears filled with the chatter around me.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Suddenly, Jocelyn stood up, her voice sweet and delicate as she said, “Dear all, it’s my first time meeting all of you, so let me propose a toast.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The room went silent once again. A hint of embarrassment appeared on Jocelyn’s face, and her hand holding the ss began to tremble.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Elijah couldn’t help but remind her, “They are all seniors. You have to toast each one individually.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Jocelyn quickly stood up and began making rounds, offering her toast to each guest. I secretly nced at Mr. Maynard next to me. The look of disdain that shed in his eyes didn’t escape my notice.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I lowered my eyes further and continued quietly eating, doing my best to keep my presence as low as possible. Finally, Jocelyn made her way over to me.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">By now, her face was flushed, and she looked as though she couldn’t handle any more alcohol. Holding her ss, she smiled at me and said, “Ms. York, I really envy you.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I nced at her but didn’t respond.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Seeing that I was ignoring her, Jocelyn suddenly put on a hurt expression. “Ms. York, I know there’s been a lot of misunderstandings between us, but, today, haven’t you already gotten what you wanted? Can’t you justugh it off and let bygones be bygones? Don’t you have the grace to let this go?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">had been quietly eating, eager to finish this meal and leave, but I hadn’t expected Jocelyn to suddenly drag me back into the spotlight.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Suppressing the anger in my heart, I responded calmly, “Ms. Cornell, you’re mistaken. It’s not that Ick the grace to forgive. It’s just that no woman could tolerate something like this for seven long years.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tears welled up in Jocelyn’s eyes instantly, and she covered her mouth as if to hold them back.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Lowering her head, she said softly, “Ms. York, you’ve really misunderstood.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I had grown tired of hearing the same excuses. Coldly, I cut her off, “Let’s just call it a misunderstanding, then. I hope you get what you want. But I won’t be drinking this toast.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As I finished speaking, I sensed a scorching gaze fixed on me.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Looking up, I saw Elijah staring at me intently, as if he wanted to see how I would react. I curled my lips into a cold smile.</font></font>