Indubitably, what Maya said didn’t actually happen. She was aware that Madeline had no way of
approaching Quentin, so she persisted with her lie. “Of course! Would I joke about such a thing?”
Madeline cackled. “I know you wouldn’t. Like I said, our Maya’s a smart, kind, beautiful, and generous
girl! There’s not another person in the entire Athesea that could match up with your perfection, and
you’ve proved that today.
I trust my instinct about you. Don’t forget that I’m still waiting for you to get married with Alex, okay? I
can’t wait to have you as my daughter-in-law!” Feeling somewhat bashful, Maya turned to Alexander’s
direction. “Well, I won’t mind if he doesn’t…” Madeline was highly impressed by Maya. She thought that
anyone that deserved to marry her son should at least have a solid family background and the
capability to lead the Griffiths’ businesses to success. As for Elise, she had been disdaining her all this
while; she could never find it in herself to accept her.
“It’s okay. I know what you’re thinking. Come, let’s go see Alex.” Meanwhile, Alex fetched some tidbits
over to Elise, who found herself feeling relieved after eating some dessert. At that moment, Madeline
brought Maya over and said, “Alex, go dance with Maya when the banquet starts.”
Disregarding her words, Alexander had his full attention on Elise. “Do you like this one? Do you want
more?” “No, thanks,” Elise answered. Then, the man withdrew his gaze and said, “Sorry, I’ll only dance
with my fiancée.” Ignoring his answer, Madeline countered, “Elise wouldn’t know how to dance. You’re
gonna make a fool out of her if you bring her onto the dance floor. Maya, on the other hand, has
learned various styles of ballroom dances, and she’d mastered every single genre of them, so bring
her. You’ll surely impress everyone.” Alexander was upset by his mother’s condescending words
toward Elise.
Glowering, he was obviously offended. “Since Miss Dahlen’s so exceptional at dancing, I’m sure she’d
have a line of men waiting to dance with her, whereas I, having no talent in dancing, would only be a
drag to her.” “I don’t mind at all, Alex…” Maya gently mumbled. Though, Alexander didn’t seem to care
what she said. The four were surrounded by nothing but awkwardness then. Seeing that, Madeline
gazed viciously at Elise, thinking that she was the root of all of her disconcertment.
She then pleaded, “Alex, save your mother some pride, will you? Maya’s the host today. You shouldn’t
treat her like a joke in front of everyone.” Without any intention to compromise, Alexander apathetically
declined. “What does that have to do with me?” At his reply, Madeline was shocked speechless, while
Maya’s face reddened. The latter let out a scoff and vexedly fled. “Maya!” Madeline yelled, though
Maya didn’t seem to have the desire to turn around as she coldly left.
Madeline then turned to his son and confronted him in a suppressed voice. “What’s wrong with you,
Alex? Are you in love with this woman so much you won’t even care about your mother’s pride?” As if
she was heartbroken, she pointed at Elise. “Is this woman so important that you’d forgotten I’m your
mother? You really disappoint me, Alex.” “I’m sorry.” Alexander instinctively stood before Elise, calmly
clarifying, “Elise is my fiancée.
She’ll soon be my wife—the one person I’ll spend the rest of my life with; the one purpose of my life.
And you, Mom, are someone whom I respect the most in the whole world, so I truly hope that you can
accept the person I love. But if you can’t get yourself to… Well, not that it matters.” Finished, he
reached out his hand to Elise, who, filled with joy, slowly put her hand onto his palm. “Care for a
dance?” As Elise stared at him, there was an inexplicable feeling in her heart.
She grasped his hand regardless. When he unconditionally chose her, she decided to respond to him
with her unwavering commitment. “Sure!” At her answer, Alexander quickly tugged her entire body into
his arms. The two held each other tightly like the most perfect couple—a sight that stung Madeline’s
eyes. Silently, Madeline clenched her fists, trembling as she gazed at the couple who were walking side
by side onto the dance floor.
At the same time, Maya, too, was led to the middle of the dance floor by a tall, slender man. She
boastfully raised her chin, and there was a dash of hostility in her eyes when she looked at Elise and
Alexander. As the music started playing, there was not a tinge of fright in Maya as the main dancer for
the opening. Her elegance swayed across the dance floor, and none could resist looking at her. “Don’t
be nervous.
Just follow my lead. It’s okay if you make a mistake,” Alexander whispered to Elise, who had the urge
to tell him that she’d learned the same style of ballroom dance when she was a kid, so she was no
stranger to the dance moves. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” Staring at her glistening eyes, he grinned. “Let’s
go, then.” Slowly, the two slipped onto the dance floor. Elise followed Alexander’s every step closely,
and her ability to match him astounded him.
“You know this dance?” She subtly smiled. “A little. I dabbled.” Alexander bluntly replied, “A little? Look
at you, you’re a professional! You must have spent years learning it, huh? There’s no way ‘I dabbled’
can get you here.” Elise wordlessly beamed. Her movements were gracious and in no way inferior to
Maya’s.
Besides, with Alexander as her partner, the scene was definitely a sight for sore eyes. “Who’s the
woman beside Young Master Alex? I’ve never seen her before.” “He must have gotten a new girlfriend
after hearing everyone calling his fiancée hideous. This one’s really beautiful though.” “He always
seemed so professional, like he had no interest in women. I guess there’s this side to Young Master
Alex too, huh?”
“Haha, I know right! He’s a man after all, and one that, too, can’t get himself to resist beautiful faces at
that. I’ve always thought he was different from us, but I guess I was wrong.” … All of a sudden, the
crowd suddenly opened up a path. Maxwell was seen leading a middle-aged man into the venue.
The latter’s presence attracted the approaches of many. “You actually came, Mr. Fassbender! It’s a
surprise to see you here. What an honor to meet you! I am…” Despite everyone’s warm welcome,
Quentin merely responded with short, polite greetings and nothing more.
The man who spoke to him moments ago was seen wiping the sweat off his forehead, proposing, “Mr.
Fassbender, our company is currently…” Before he could finish, however, Quentin’s assistant came
and interrupted him. “Excuse me, but Mr. Fassbender’s not discussing work tonight.” Rejected, the man
tactfully walked away.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda