CHAPTER 199: 195. AS GAZES CROSS, SWORDS COLLIDE.

,"Not looking for me, how delighted!" Titus Zane rarely stood on the same side as Nathan Moore, a smile curving his lips but unable to conceal his grinding teeth.

If I had known Jon would pull something like this, I wouldn’t have given him the address.

Pretending to be her boyfriend on top of dressing up outrageously, really!

"Sis, Nathan is bad-mouthing someone!" Olivia Zane looked puzzledly at Titus Zane. A woman in her twenties saying such a thing, despite having a baby face, would not be taken as unintentional by anyone.

"Lily!"

"Lily..." The voices of Julian Zane and his wife rose at the same time, one with a warning tone, the other slightly reproachful.

Ariana Evans frowned in disapproval, "Watch how you speak, there are guests present."

"It’s okay, sometimes he doesn’t understand Mandarin." Titus Zane said with a smile, resting her hand on Jon’s leg. Nathan Moore’s obsidian-like pupils darkened, his body shifted subtly, feeling a weight on the back of his hand. Instinctively, he looked down to see it was Olivia Zane putting her hand over his in a seemingly casual motion, firmly grasping it.

Titus Zane turned to Jon with a look that was both smiling and not, grinding out three words, "Yes! It! Is!" The hand resting on Jon’s thigh twisted as she spat out the words.

"Ow!" Jon furrowed his brow and covered the twisted spot, exclaiming in surprise amidst the gaze of everyone, then said with a smile, "Honey, are you upset because I didn’t bring a gift for the first visit to your mother’s house?"

Titus Zane...

Why does this person love twisting people’s words so much?

I was clearly blaming his presumption, how did it end up turning back on me?

As soon as Jon finished talking, it was clear to everyone that not only did he understand Mandarin, he also spoke it well.

Caught between laughter and tears, Jon stood up again, slipping one hand into the pocket of his dress pants, pulling out a small box. He walked over to Ariana Evans, politely leaning in, "Auntie, this is a gift for you. Due to the rush, I didn’t have much time to choose carefully, but I hope you will like it."

"This..." As Jon stood bowing slightly, hand holding the small box open in front, Ariana Evans couldn’t help but reach out to take it. Before she had a chance to open it, Olivia Zane snatched it away.

"Mom, let me see what kind of valuable gift it is?"

There was an exclamation of surprise immediately after.

"Wow, how beautiful!" Instinctively, Titus Zane also leaned in, curious about the gift Jon had prepared for her mother.

A pair of emerald earrings lay quietly on the dark green velvet, their modest size not concealing their luxury.

The hall was filled with worldly-wise people; even if they did not know the exact value of the emerald earrings, they recognized their worth to be considerable. To give such an expensive gift upon the first meeting, how rich did one have to be?

Ariana Evans was stunned, while Julian directly froze.

Only Titus Zane had a face of helplessness, understanding the saying that wool comes from the sheep—whatever expensive gift Jon gave to her mother, it would eventually be her consuming it in the end.

Nathan Moore’s thin lips curved into a mocking smile. He looked up, locking eyes with Jon’s challenging gaze. The Eastern and Western men collided in their looks, one as cold as ice, the other determined to win at all costs.

If glares could kill, they would both be riddled with scars by now.

The gift Jon gave truly matched his noble status. As the Crown Prince, he ought to give a gift worth presenting, unlike those random bags on the coffee table that could be bought at any department store, which he would be embarrassed to offer.

Too embarrassing!

"Mom, hurry, let me help you put them on and see if they look good.