My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Engagement

Jared Hawthorne nodded slightly, introducing them to Vesper Grayson.

"Vesper, this is my uncle and aunt, and my cousin, Aidan Hawthorne."

Aidan Hawthorne immediately stepped forward with an enthusiastic smile. "Jared, Vesper, congratulations on your engagement."

His gaze, however, lingered brazenly on Vesper Grayson, his eyes filled with stunned admiration.

’So that’s it. My cousin has abstained from women for years, only for Grandfather to find him a goddess.’

’He always gets the best of everything.’

’Talk about favoritism!’

Remembering their grandfather’s affection and high regard for Jared, Aidan Hawthorne’s jealousy grew even stronger.

Vesper Grayson’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she quickly lowered her eyes, recalling the DNA report she’d seen... His features, particularly his eyes and brows, did bear a noticeable resemblance to Kevin Hawthorne’s.

’One look was all it took to know he was his biological son.’

’Poor Nancy Linton, kept in the dark, raising a son for her husband’s first love for more than twenty years.’

’How truly pitiful.’

Nancy Linton stood to the side, her face devoid of any real expression, maintaining only a polite, faint smile. Her eyes, however, were so calm they were almost lifeless, like a stagnant pool of water without a single ripple.

"Aidan, didn’t you say you missed your grandfather? Come on, let’s go say hello to him." With that, Kevin Hawthorne led Aidan toward where Grandfather Hawthorne was.

Bernard Hawthorne smiled gently. "I’m going to find your mother."

"Elias!"

Noah Nash was dressed in a white suit over a pink shirt, a flamboyant and flashy ensemble. Trailing behind him were Casey Nash and Sheryl Garland.

Jared Hawthorne nodded slightly. "Nash."

Casey Nash smiled warmly. "Elias, Miss Grayson, I wish you a long and happy life together, and may you be blessed with children soon."

Sheryl Garland pursed her lips. "It’s just an engagement, not a wedding. Mom, isn’t it a bit early for all that?"

"If they’re engaged, can marriage be far behind?" Casey Nash shot her a look before turning to Noah Nash. "And you, Noah, you need to hurry up. When will your dear aunt get to celebrate *your* engagement?"

A helpless look crossed Noah Nash’s face, and he quickly changed the subject. "Auntie, let’s not talk about depressing things. We should hurry and get to our seats."

Vesper Grayson chuckled softly. "President Nash seems to be quite scared of his aunt."

"Noah was raised by Nash, so the two of them have always been very close," Jared Hawthorne explained with a smile.

Once all the guests had arrived, the emcee took the stage to kick things off. The elders from both families gave speeches one by one, offering the couple their heartfelt blessings.

Then, Jared Hawthorne strode confidently onto the stage. In the spotlight, he was dressed in a black, subtly patterned suit. He stood as tall and straight as a pine, exuding an air of innate nobility.

He held the microphone, his steady gaze sweeping across the room.

"Thank you to all our elders, family, and friends for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here and witness this important moment in my life and Vesper Grayson’s."

As he finished speaking, the room erupted in thunderous applause.

Meeting the man’s profound gaze, Vesper Grayson lifted the hem of her wine-red gown and glided gracefully onto the stage to stand beside him.

An attendant walked onto the stage carrying a velvet box, inside of which two rings gleamed brilliantly.

One was a pigeon’s blood ruby and diamond ring; the other, a simple Platinum Ring.

Jared Hawthorne took her left hand and gently slipped the ruby ring onto her ring finger, the gemstone dazzling under the lights. Vesper Grayson then picked up the Platinum Ring, rising onto her toes to place it on his finger. The moment their hands clasped, the applause grew even louder.

Their eyes met, and they shared a smile filled with tenderness.

Down below, Sheryl Garland bit her lip, her nails digging so fiercely into her palm that her face was a mask of pure jealousy.

She took out her phone and sent a text message.

After the toasts were over, Vesper Grayson excused herself to get some fresh air, slipping away to the second-floor balcony. The evening breeze caressed her face as she leaned against the railing and breathed a small sigh of relief. Her fingers traced the ruby ring on her finger, and a faint smile touched her lips.

’She and Luke Lockwood had dated for three years, and they’d never even gotten this far.’

’But she’d known Jared Hawthorne for less than two months, and now they were engaged.’

’She herself had never expected it...’

"Miss Grayson, so this is where you were hiding."

Vesper Grayson looked up at the sound of the voice, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes when she saw who it was.

"Miss Garland."

"Please, call me Sheryl." Sheryl Garland offered her a glass of wine, then leaned against the railing herself. Her voice was tinged with grievance. "I’ve been in love with Jared for five years. I was planning to confess my feelings after graduating from college, but I guess I was one step too late."

Vesper Grayson raised an eyebrow in surprise. ’She’s had a crush on Jared Hawthorne for five years? Five years ago, she would have only been fourteen or fifteen.’

"Does he know how you feel?"

"No." Sheryl Garland took a sip of her wine, her eyes welling up. "You know, if you hadn’t come along, I was planning to have my mother speak with Grandfather Hawthorne about arranging a marriage..."

"Miss Garland, matters of the heart require mutual feelings. Otherwise, even if you get together, you’ll only end up as a miserable couple."

"You haven’t been through it, so what would you know?"

Vesper Grayson chuckled. "He’s ten years older than you. Doesn’t that bother you?"

"Age is meaningless in the face of true love!" Her eyes were red-rimmed. "I’m so jealous of you. I’m heartbroken because of you."

Vesper Grayson was rendered speechless.

"But since he chose you, I have no choice but to let him go." Sheryl Garland put on a brave face, raising her glass. "I wish you both happiness!"

With that, she clinked her glass against Vesper Grayson’s and downed it in one go. When she saw Vesper hadn’t moved, she sniffled, her tone turning demanding. "Aren’t you going to drink?"

Resigned, Vesper Grayson could only take a sip.

She had already drunk quite a bit during the toasts earlier.

"I finished the whole glass, so you have to as well," Sheryl Garland huffed. "If you don’t, does that mean you’re looking down on me?"

Under her insistent gaze, Vesper Grayson had no choice but to steel herself and drain the glass.

"That’s more like it."

Just then, Casey Nash’s voice called out from a distance. "Sheryl?"

"Coming!" Sheryl Garland called back as she left.

A moment later, Vesper Grayson felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Thinking the alcohol was just hitting her, she struggled to steady herself. She made her way into the hallway, leaning against the wall for support. With every step, the vertigo intensified until she suddenly stumbled, her body lurching to one side.

"Miss, are you all right?" a staff member hurried over to support her. "Shall I help you to a room so you can rest?"

"Thank you," Vesper Grayson replied weakly.

The staff member quickly glanced around. Seeing no one, he guided her toward the end of the hall.

Once they were inside the room, the staff member left.

Vesper Grayson sat on the sofa, rubbing her throbbing temples as she sent a text to Jared Hawthorne.

[I’m feeling dizzy, resting on the second floor. Come get me when the party’s over.]

After sending the text, she leaned back against a soft pillow and slowly closed her eyes.

An unknown amount of time passed before the door was pushed open from the outside.

Mandy Grayson looked at the unconscious Vesper Grayson on the sofa and waved to someone behind her.

"You know what to do, right?"

The man nodded. "Don’t you worry, Miss Grayson."

"You’ll be well rewarded when this is done," Mandy Grayson said before turning to leave the room.

The moment she left, a figure appeared silently in the very spot where she had just been standing.

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