Chapter 196
At noon the next day, Lucy took Emma along to accompany Jules to a business engagement.
While they waited for the elevator, a sudden, biting chill seemed to sweep through the air. Lucy didn’t even need to turn her head to guess who had arrived.
She cursed silently in her heart: “Like a damn ghost, always haunting the places he shouldn’t trigger p>
At that moment, Jules turned around, his tone carrying a note of caution. “Go easy on the wine later p>
Lucy’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly as she replied with casual certainty, “With you there, I won’t need to touch a drop p>
“True enough p>
Jules raised an eyebrow, a relaxed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “That sort of heavy lifting should be left to the man, anyway p>
The elevator doors chimed open. Jules instinctively raised his hand, hovering it protectively behind Lucy’s back, yet maintaining a respectful half-arm’s distance— perfectly decorous.
This entire interaction fell squarely into the eyes of the other person in the elevator.
Jules looked up, spotted Kingsley, and broke the silence first with a raised voice. “Well, well, Mr. Sherwood! What a coincidence p>
Kingsley’s eyes swept over them coldly, his tone devoid of warmth. “It is a coincidence. Pity I didn’t want to see you p>
Emma nearly smirked upon hearing this-“my boss, Mr. Holt, probably isn’t thrilled to see you either p>
Jules immediately dropped the polite facade, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “The feeling is mutual! Mr. Sherwood, you’re quite the eyesore yourself p>
Kingsley let out a cold snort, his words striking directly at Jules’s sore spot. “I wonder when Mrs. Holt is coming to drag you back for your engagement p>
This hit a nerve. Recently, Jules’s family had been relentless about marriage, to the point where he had nearly blocked his mother’s number. It was only because Kingsley had deliberately spread a rumor that Jules “liked men” that his mother had finally given up on forcing a marriage.
Jules’s expression darkened. “I suppose I should thank you for that p>
“No need to thank me. I didn’t do it for you,” Kingsley said, his gaze sweeping over Lucy with a warning edge. “I just didn’t want you dragging innocent people into your mess p>
Just then, the elevator reached their floor.
Jules retorted with a cold face, “Mr. Sherwood doesn’t need to worry about that. But I admit, I do appreciate it—even if it was a dirty trick p>
“Don’t mention it,” Kingsley stepped out of the elevator first, his back rigid and cold. “I’m just helpful by nature p>
Once he was out of earshot, Lucy looked at the still-fuming Jules and advised softly, “Next time we run into him, just pretend you didn’t see him. Engaging just ruins your own mood. It’s not worth it p>
Jules scoffed, his tone filled with disdain. “You’re right. He doesn’t deserve my greeting. Walking around with that iceberg face all day-who is he trying to freeze to death p>
Emma stole a glance at him and silently added in her head: *Probably trying to freeze you, his romantic rival p>
When they pushed open the door to the private dining room, Jules saw Kingsley already seated at the table. He frowned slightly and whispered an explanation to Lucy, “Lucy, I honestly didn’t know he’d be here p>
“It’s fine. He’s the one haunting us,” Lucy said, a faint, cold smile appearing on her lips.
A trace of mockery flashed in her eyes—he had been quiet for a month, and she had naively thought he had changed his nature or finally given up. apparently, she had overthought it.
Mrs. Lucas, who was already in the room, stood up enthusiastically to greet them. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lucy. “Lucy, long time no see! You’ve gotten even more beautifulk Come, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Sherwood of the Sherwood Group p>
Lucy wore a perfectly polite social smile, her tone calm but firm. “Thank you, Mrs.
Lucas. We know each other p>
With that, she naturally sat down right next to Jules.
Jules turned to look at the woman beside him, the corners of his mouth ticking up uncontrollably. He looked at Kingsley with an expression that practically had the word
“provocation stamped across his forehead.