Chapter 593 - 591: You’re Not Jealous, Are You?
It was soon 8:30 PM, and the banquet officially began.
Ian Shaw and Tristan Grayson arrived almost exactly on time. Tristan’s car had just pulled to a stop when Ian’s pulled up right after.
Unlike his previous appearances at such events, Ian Shaw only brought a single companion this time. As soon as they stepped out of the car, a buzz of discussion rippled through the women nearby.
Previously, whenever he attended a banquet, he would either show up without a date or with at least four in tow.
On the surface, Ian Shaw seemed easygoing. He always wore a smile and never turned away a woman’s advances. In reality, among Tristan Grayson and their close circle of friends, Ian was the most difficult one to get along with.
He was extremely guarded, his methods were vicious, and he was utterly ruthless. He had no true confidants aside from Tristan Grayson and the few friends he’d grown up with.
He had also always been Tristan Grayson’s most trusted right-hand man.
Ian Shaw’s version of "playing around" was different from Cassian Jennings’s. Cassian played just for the sake of it, no different from any other fun-loving heir. But while Ian might play the part, he never let himself become self-indulgent. He knew exactly what he wanted.
Mika Summers, on Tristan Grayson’s arm, waited with him for Ian to join them.
Once Ian joined them, the four of them entered the hotel together.
Aria Joyce had been waiting in the lobby. The moment she saw Tristan Grayson arrive, she smiled and started forward to greet him. But when her eyes fell on the woman by his side, her steps faltered, and her smile turned stiff.
Ian Shaw’s companion was the same woman from last night. Her name was Chelsea York. While she wasn’t from a poor family, she certainly wasn’t a part of the high-society elite.
So upon arriving, her curious eyes began to scan the room. The moment she spotted Aria Joyce, her first reaction was recognition. ’That’s the woman from the hallway last night.’ A woman’s intuition is rarely wrong, and she could sense that Shaw, the man beside her, had a thing for Aria.
Maintaining a demure smile, she tightened her grip on Ian Shaw’s arm, leaning her head against his shoulder as if to deliberately stake her claim in front of Aria Joyce.
Aria Joyce’s eyes darted back and forth between the four newcomers, a bitter feeling swelling in her chest. It was jealousy, so intense it felt like she was about to break.
Ian Shaw glanced over at Tristan Grayson, who happened to be looking at him at the same moment. With a helpless shrug, Ian led his companion straight toward Aria Joyce. Meanwhile, Tristan and Mika, wanting to avoid Aria, steered toward a group of VIPs on the other side of the room.
Aria Joyce’s hands, hanging at her sides, slowly clenched into fists. She let out a cold sneer and was about to follow Tristan Grayson.
Seeing this, Ian Shaw called out to stop her, "Miss Joyce."
Aria Joyce suppressed her fury and turned around. "Mr. Shaw," she said coldly, her tone sharp, "this isn’t your first time here. I trust I don’t need to personally entertain you and your little girlfriend."
Hearing this, Ian Shaw’s lips curled into a smirk as he let out a low chuckle. He strode to Aria Joyce’s side and lowered his voice, a roguish charm lacing his words as he spoke slowly, "My, my. Why does that sound so... sour? You’re not jealous, are you, Miss Joyce?"