CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162: EMBARRASSMENT

The sound of compliments around him never stopped. Noah Grant slightly nodded in response, but his gaze was firmly locked on Vera Sheridan, and he didn’t stop walking.

Rosalind Morgan knew clearly in her heart that her good son had rushed back specifically to publicly dissociate himself from Vivian Langdon and embarrass her as his mother!

Her mouth tightened, and Vivian beside her also frowned, her eyes unable to hide her disappointment.

Vera Sheridan didn’t expect Noah Grant would suddenly come back either.

In the video last night, he had said there was an important meeting today...

"Vera, I’ll be right back," Chloe Everett saw through the undercurrents between the Grants at a glance. In such a setting, a "rebellious" scion like Noah Grant was very rare indeed.

Vera nodded, unable to suppress her growing anxiety.

At that moment, Rosalind Morgan, with Vivian, directly blocked Noah Grant’s path.

Rosalind raised her hand, naturally adjusting his suit pocket square, with a benevolent smile on her face, "Noah, your uncle is here too, go over and say hello."

The uncle she mentioned was none other than Theodore Morgan, the current head of the Morgan Family, who held a prominent position of power.

Rosalind had deliberately brought up her brother to suppress Noah, preventing him from publicly approaching Vera.

"Noah," Vivian’s lips curled into a smile, her voice clear and bright.

Noah glanced at her indifferently, then looked at Rosalind with dangerously narrowed eyes, his tone icy:

"Even if it were my grandfather, let’s see if I would go over."

He was well aware of Ms. Morgan’s schemes.

With a cold glance at his mother, Noah stepped forward, pushing through the crowd, and walked towards Vera Sheridan.

Rosalind Morgan felt a rush of blood to her head, her jaw tightened like a stone, and her hand at her side trembled uncontrollably.

Vivian’s face also couldn’t hold, her voice carrying a hint of aggrieved tremor, "Aunt, don’t let yourself get sick from anger... Maybe Noah truly loves her too much. I... I should go."

Rosalind didn’t speak, gripping Vivian’s wrist even tighter, causing Vivian to frown in pain.

Watching Noah Grant stand in front of Vera Sheridan in public, hatred nearly exploded in Rosalind’s heart.

A divorced woman with such a terrible background, where did she find the nerve to be entangled with her son in such a setting!

With Noah Grant’s arrival, Vera instantly became the focus of everyone’s attention, the center of the storm.

"Why, did you come back suddenly?" The man’s tall figure cast a shadow over her, carrying the air of a weary traveler, and Vera asked knowingly.

Noah’s face was a bit dark, "To knock some sense into Ms. Morgan!"

His tone, brimming with anger, made Vera’s heart skip a beat.

Even without turning around, she could feel the two hateful gazes that seemed to want to burn through her.

There, that noble lady was even more convinced she was the troublemaker seducing her son now!

Just then, Jasper Crowe approached with Chloe Everett.

He had a playful smile on his lips, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Noah and Vera, deliberately raising his voice with a teasing tone:

"Second Young Master Grant! So, you and Miss Sheridan... just how far have you progressed?"

His straightforward yet ambiguous question instantly drew the attention of everyone present.

Jasper Crowe appeared to be gossiping, but an undetectable gleam flashed in his eyes.

Noah’s and Jasper’s eyes met briefly.

Without a moment of hesitation, his voice rang out clearly and powerfully throughout the venue:

"Thank you, Young Master Crowe, for your concern! I am still fervently pursuing Miss Sheridan!"

Vera was shocked.

Chloe’s lips slightly raised.

Jasper raised his eyebrows, and in line with the banter, he raised his voice again, "Alright, a persistent suitor will eventually succeed. Second Young Master Grant, good luck!"

His seemingly joking support actually informed everyone, especially Rosalind Morgan, that it was Noah pursuing Vera, and she hadn’t even agreed yet!

Meanwhile, Jasper’s comment "how far have you progressed" and Noah’s loud "fervently pursuing" were like two slaps fiercely striking Rosalind Morgan’s face!

She felt a dizziness in front of her eyes, her carefully maintained composure almost shattered.

Her son publicly declared he was pursuing the woman she disdained the most, and he said it so righteously!

This was practically trampling on her dignity!

She clenched Vivian’s hand tighter, her nails almost piercing the other’s skin.

Vivian winced in pain, her face losing all color, and with a sobbing tone, she whispered, "Aunt, I should go..."

Hearing this, Rosalind Morgan’s eyes sharpened, and she did her utmost to suppress all her emotions.

Under the watchful eyes around her, she put on a proper smile again. Not only did she not let go, but she also held Vivian Langdon’s hand even tighter, gracefully turning to walk toward the center of power at the venue.

...

Jasper Crowe and Chloe Everett, as a couple, found a secluded corner.

Chloe Everett looked at her husband, her gaze calm and unruffled, "Mr. Crowe, you usually avoid offending The Grant Family, why did you suddenly meddle in this matter just now?"

She asked directly, in the tone of partners discussing business.

Jasper Crowe took a sip of champagne, his gaze landing on Chloe Everett’s always unemotional face, a playful smirk at the corner of his mouth, "What, is my wife...jealous? Seeing me help Vera?"

Chloe Everett’s heart tightened, but her face maintained a dignified and composed look, her voice soft and gentle, "You’re overthinking it. Vera and I are friends, I’m glad you helped her."

"It’s just that it’s not like you, especially since it might offend Mrs. Grant, it doesn’t align with your usual stance."

Profit above all is Jasper Crowe’s consistent principle.

Jasper Crowe was a bit choked by her businesslike, pros and cons analysis approach.

The man’s tone softened, "I was helping Ian."

"He won’t allow outsiders to bully Vera."

Chloe Everett understood, just like last time when she was asked to support Vera’s gallery, she was also helping Ian Kane support Vera. Her lips curled slightly, "For her, Mr. Crowe often breaks his principles."

Jasper Crowe was taken aback, not saying anything.

...

The tea bar in the back garden of Mrs. Payne’s residence isolated the noise from the venue.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee beans.

Vera was intently grinding the beans.

Noah Grant walked over with tired steps, gently hugging her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

The man’s voice carried the hoarseness of a long flight and a hint of apology, "Before I arrived, did Ms. Morgan make things difficult for you? How about Vivian?"

Vera’s hands didn’t stop moving, feeling his heavy weight and warm breath, she replied softly, "No, we didn’t have any contact."

After speaking, she turned her head slightly, looking at the weariness in his eyes, "But you, rushing back so tired..."

Noah Grant closed his eyes, burying his face in her neck, greedily inhaling her neck’s fragrance, his voice deep, "I can’t spoil her!"

Vera didn’t respond, letting him lean against her, skillfully making a hand-brewed coffee to refresh him.

...

In the resting room, Rosalind Morgan’s lips were purplish, leaning back on the sofa with her eyes closed.

Sitting on the sofa beside her was her brother, Theodore Morgan, legs crossed, looking serious.

Vivian Langdon carefully handed over a cup of warm water.

"Vivian, go take a walk." Rosalind Morgan opened her eyes, her voice very low.

"Aunt, I’ll head out then, please don’t be angry." Vivian Langdon said softly.

Rosalind Morgan nodded.

As Vivian Langdon stepped out, Rosalind Morgan turned to Theodore Morgan, her voice as calm as she could make it.

"Brother, you’ve seen how Noah is completely taken with that Vera Sheridan. What he did today, how am I, as his mother, supposed to face it? It’s really...too embarrassing."

As soon as she finished speaking, the old wound at the back of her head suddenly hurt like a needle prick, and her hand resting on her leg gently clenched.

Theodore Morgan held an unlit cigar in his hand, looking at his sister’s pale face, his voice cold and deep:

"Noah this time is certainly outrageous."

"You got this ailment because of him, this kid..."

"Ailment", like a tiny needle, stung the most painful, untouchable spot in Rosalind Morgan’s heart.

Her back subtly straightened a bit, the line of her jaw also tightened.

The hand resting on her leg, fingertips quietly pressing into the hollow of her palm.

The pain in the back of her head grew more pronounced.

Flashes of images crossed her mind: heavy rain, thunder, a flash of a blade, a small Noah...throwing himself over to protect her...

"Brother." Tears glistened in Rosalind Morgan’s eyes, "I raised Noah single-handedly, his nature is pure and good, before...he would never be like this to me."

As she spoke, her gaze turned sharp, her jaw set tight, "It’s that Vera Sheridan, it’s her that led Noah astray!"