Noticing Hudson's presumptuous gesture, Zane slid his hand into his pocket and took a slow sip of wine.
The cold gesture stung Hudson's pride, making him retreat his hand awkwardly.
The Everett family didn't notice Zane's aloof reaction or suspicions since those who managed to get close to him through business testified he was just imposing.
Still, the Everett member felt embarrassed by that.
Leah couldn't let the awkward air between them shrink their excitement as she changed the subject. She turned to the young lady standing between her and Hudson.
"Clarissa, this is Zane. You've been trying to reach out to him for a long time. Now that he's here, say hi to him," Leah commented.
Clarissa's coral-red lips curled into a smile at her mother's antics. "Zane, it's been a while," she whispered, extending her hand toward him.
Zane glanced at her hand but didn't take it.
"Hmm," Zane hummed. "It has been a while, and I can see you're in good shape."
Clarissa maintained her gaze on his icy stare. "Yes, Mother and Father are doing their best to take care of me. It's all thanks to them."
Leah and Hudson shared a proud smile at their daughter's gratitude.
Zane raised a brow, sweeping an intense stare across them. It was obvious they seemed like a perfect family, though such a life could only be short-lived after tonight.
"I see," he mumbled.
Clarissa was not pleased with the way he was interacting with her. "How can you be so cold to your friend after it's been ages since we last talked?" she gently reprimanded, taking a step closer.
As Clarissa moved closer, she leaned into him, embracing him gently.
Selina, at the other end of the table, widened her eyes in shock at the sight of that proximity as she slowly munched her dessert. She didn't expect to witness Clarissa and Zane being this close.
"I hope you didn't have a difficult time staying alone abroad," Clarissa inquired, still in his arms.
As Zane felt her warmth, a disturbing sensation stirred within him. He nearly flinched away but restrained himself. Instead of embracing her back, his expression darkened than ever with jaw tighten.
A silent reminder not to act rashly in a room filled with watchful eyes made him not let the hug linger either. He gently pulled her away, taking a step back.
"Yes, it was fun abroad," Zane replied.
Leah chuckled in delight. "You don't know how much Clarissa has missed you."
"What about me, Clarissa? Don't you miss me?" Noah chimed in.
Clarissa shot him a playful glare. "We've been seeing each other for months and years, but it's boring," she teased, prompting laughter from the adults and Noah.
Noah placed a hand on his heart, feigning a heartbroken expression. "You're hurting my pride, Clarissa. You should treat it better, like you do with him. Don't you think so, Auntie Leah?"
Leah smiled at Noah's pitiful expression. "How can she treat it better when you let other girls have it?" she teased, causing Noah to grin even wider.
Clarissa waved a dismissive hand at Noah's playful antics. "Let him be, Mother. He always pretends we are strangers whenever he's with other girls. Now, he wants me to treat him better….that's never going to happen."
Noah straightened his expression, reaching for Clarissa's hand. He gently took it into his grasp. "What should I do to show you're my dearest friend? I could only lean into?"
Clarissa felt her cheeks warming at Noah's tender words. He slowly lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles.
Leah yanked Noah's hand away from her daughter's flawless skin before it could reach his lips. If she knew nothing about Noah, she might have fallen for his charms and considered handing her daughter over to him.
"Don't act so intimate with Clarissa, otherwise people might misunderstand," Leah reprimanded him in a soft tone.
Noah nodded in acknowledgement and stepped back. "My bad," he mumbled. "She's so beautiful that I got carried away."
Zane was feeling out of place in the cheerful atmosphere. He didn't like the vibe and felt it shouldn't be like this with Everett. He turned around, intending to leave, but Clarissa was quick to stop him.
"Zane, wait!" Clarissa called out, and Zane halted in his tracks.
Zane raised a brow, confused by her sudden call.
Clarissa extended her hands, holding a small blue velvet box, and opened the lid to reveal a sparkling gold wristwatch. "Please accept my gift. I hope it suits your taste."
Zane glanced at the wristwatch, and before he could voice his rejection, Noah took the gift from Clarissa. He turned his head to him, and his amber eyes, concealing deadly emotions, flashed at Noah's playful stare.
Noah understood that expression but didn't want to hurt Clarissa's feelings. He looked away from Zane, admiring the branded wristwatch. "Wow. You don't have to worry. You chose a great present for Zane. He appreciates your efforts."
Clarissa felt a strange sense of unease from Zane's reaction. She was not sure if he was rejecting her present or simply being distant.
"I have other important guests to meet. Excuse me," Zane said, moving away from his spot.
Noah followed behind Zane because he couldn't lose sight of him. He must not lose a shadow of himself either.
Leah turned to Clarissa and noticed how disturbed she appeared. Trying to lift her daughter's spirits, she said, "Zane's flight may have exhausted him, and he may not want to reflect on personal matters right now."
Clarissa turned from his retreating figure and faced her mother. "I don't think he's exhausted. He's just being cold," she said softly.
Leah waved off her concern with a faint sigh. "Whatever it is, just get along with him. Our collaboration agreement with the Cassius Group expires soon, and we need to renew it. Maintaining a good business relationship with them is essential."
"So have fun, dear. Don't overthink it," Hudson added.
Clarissa nodded, exhaling with relief.
With an amicable smile on her lips, Leah wrapped her arms around Hudson, who patted Clarissa's shoulder. They both wore their usual perfect couple demeanour in public before they moved on, striding toward other elites to discuss business.
Meanwhile, Selina's eyes remained on Hudson as she watched him mingle with some elites alongside Leah. Her gaze shifted to Clarissa across the room; she envied society's acknowledgement of her half-sister as their father's daughter and Everett's only heiress.
Selina blinked, breaking from her thoughts the moment she noticed Clarissa waving at her. She hesitated, lifting her hand in the air, and waved back, both of them smiling genuinely at each other.
Clarissa stepped forward to approach her sister, whom she hadn't seen in a while, but her mother's soft voice called for her nearby. She hesitated for a moment before heading to join her mother and the group.
Unbeknownst to Selina, three bossy young women from the left side were approaching, realizing that her presence didn't match their exclusivity.
As Selina lifted a delicious dessert to take a bite, someone yanked it from her hand, causing her face to contort in confusion.
The young women sized up Selina with scornful glares, noting a sparkling necklace on her neck, but her appearance made them doubt its authenticity. They believed that she didn't fit their world of silks and diamonds; her presence was a smear in their curated perfection.
One of them remarked sharply, "Her scent is cheap, and everything about her is, too," prompting Selina to glance at their expensive attire.