Chapter 111
Chapter 111:
As Nina walked away, Janice joked, “Aiden, should we make our fake marriage a real one? You might not be perfect, but Nina’s incredible. I can’t stand the thought of losing her.”
Aiden’s expression tightened, clearly annoyed. “I’m not perfect?”
“Well… let’s just say you don’t smile often, which gives you a cold and unapproachable vibe,” Janice said.
Aiden responded dryly, “Thanks for the insight.”
“You’re welcome. It’s only fair,” Janice said with a laugh.
Aiden fell quiet. Yet, he had been smiling more these days.
“Kenneth?” Janice was slightly startled. In addition to Kenneth, she noticed another familiar figure. “Well, well, Bart is here as well.”
Aiden turned and saw them as well.
Bart was dressed sharply, interacting with the social elites while maintaining a careful distance from Kenneth, as though they were mere strangers.
“Does your mom know Bart is here?” Janice said, touching her chin.
Aiden, playing with his bracelet, answered seriously, “She definitely doesn’t know. But my dad… I suspect he might have had a hand in Bart’s attendance.”
“Should I go say hello?” Janice’s smile turned sly. “It would be proper for me to greet my brother-in-law, wouldn’t it?”
Aiden paused in his fiddling with the bracelet and gave her a helpless look. “I suspect your greeting is merely an excuse to cause trouble.”
As they talked, Janice was already making her way towards Bart.
Bart stood with effortless grace, donning a meticulously tailored suit, his posture relaxed yet dignified. A glass of champagne twinkled in one hand, the other tucked behind him, projecting an aura of refined elegance. He was deeply engaged in a lively chat with a young woman, their laughter mingling in the air, creating a scene of perfect harmony. It seemed he was artfully portraying the image of the ideal gentleman, subtly weaving praises of his own merits into their conversation.
“Mr. Green, you seem incredibly wise. You must really love reading, am I right?” she inquired with a hint of admiration.
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Bart offered a modest smile, his eyes looking downward as his lips raised slightly. “In my spare moments, I do indulge in reading. Recently, I’ve been engrossed in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.”
“That’s quite the coincidence—I’m reading Macbeth too.” Her tone hinted that she had let her guard slip, unknowingly wanting to connect with the man who shared her interests.
A smirk almost crept onto Bart’s face as his heart swelled with muted pride—gullible souls were always the easiest to bend to his will. By presenting himself as handsome, aligning with her preferences, and subtly promoting his own superiority, he was sure she would be charmed.
“Then surely you’ve also come across Shakespeare’s King Lear? It’s right up there with Macbeth as one of my top picks.” Bart cast his gaze towards the distant twinkling lights, swirling the champagne in his glass. The golden fluid inside shimmered slightly, casting an air of sophistication and depth around him.
“Well, well, well…” A teasing voice sliced through the serene moment, abruptly dispelling the mood Bart had carefully constructed. His heart plummeted even before he turned around.
“Bart, what a surprise to see you here!” Janice moved closer with an air of nonchalance, a teasing glint lighting up her eyes. Bart’s jaw visibly tightened.
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