My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Deliberately Throwing Herself into His Arms?

Vesper Grayson offered a modest smile. "I learned a bit from my grandfather as a child. I’ve only scratched the surface, really."

"Miss Grayson, there’s no need to be modest. The doctors all said that the onset of Master Hawthorne’s condition was critical. Had it been someone with ordinary medical skills, I’m afraid he would have been beyond saving."

Across the table, Gwen Grayson watched them getting along so well, her fingertips digging into her palms as a flash of bitter jealousy crossed her eyes.

’If she had known Vesper could save Master Hawthorne with her medical skills, she never would have thrown a fit and refused to go when their grandfather wanted to take them to Ashmore for a visit.’

’If she had known medicine and saved Master Hawthorne, she might be the one marrying into the Hawthorne family right now.’

Gwen Grayson immediately piped up, "If my sister hadn’t fled the engagement three years ago, a wonderful man like President Hawthorne would have been my brother-in-law by now."

She just had to touch a sore subject.

The man, however, just gave a faint smile. "Perhaps Master Hawthorne’s request was too abrupt back then. It’s understandable that Miss Grayson would find it hard to accept on such short notice."

"That’s not it at all! She just didn’t want to. After my sister left Northolme for Ashmore, she immediately got a boyfriend and even moved in with him. They only just broke up a short while ago."

"Gwen!"

Joyce Rivers scolded her insincerely, but she could barely hide the smile in her eyes.

She turned to ’Elias Hawthorne’ with an apologetic expression. "I’m so sorry, President Hawthorne. Gwen can be blunt and speaks without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart. As for Vesper, I’ve watched her grow up. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with her character."

Her words, however, only made things more suspicious, like a clumsy attempt to cover up the truth.

Instead of easing, the atmosphere grew even more stifling.

Vesper Grayson merely curled her lip into a faint smile, in no rush to defend herself.

’She had known all along that these two were up to no good.’

’So their plan was to expose her past relationship in Ashmore right in front of ’Elias Hawthorne’.’

’No ordinary man could swallow such an insult, let alone the golden child who now held the reins of the Hawthorne family.’

’Her past actions were tantamount to a public slap in the face, a complete humiliation for him.’

’As the saying goes, three women are enough for a drama. And right now, he was getting a free show.’

’Elias Hawthorne’s’ gaze fell upon the calm and composed Vesper Grayson. "Miss Grayson, is there anything you’d like to say?"

Vesper Grayson smiled faintly. "Everyone is young and foolish once. Who doesn’t have flaws or a past? I imagine President Hawthorne is broad-minded, not the type of person to quibble over such things."

"Oh? And how would you know that I don’t mind?"

"If you did, we wouldn’t be having this dinner today."

’Elias Hawthorne’ let out a hearty laugh. "Miss Grayson, you truly are one of a kind. No wonder..."

He trailed off, stopping before he finished the thought.

A flicker of confusion crossed Vesper Grayson’s eyes.

’No wonder what?’

Gwen Grayson was so furious she could have ground her teeth to dust.

’This President Hawthorne was far too forgiving. How could he not mind something like this?’

’Was he just good-tempered, or did he lack a spine entirely?’

Joyce Rivers hadn’t expected this turn of events either. ’What a little seductress,’ she cursed silently. ’She really knows how to wrap a man around her finger.’

She exchanged a look with Gwen Grayson.

Gwen Grayson stood up, wine glass in hand, and walked over to ’Elias Hawthorne’. Her voice was sickly sweet. "Future brother-in-law, let me raise a glass to you."

The words had barely left her lips when she "tripped," intentionally spilling the entire contents of her glass onto ’Elias Hawthorne’s’ chest. A large, dark stain instantly soaked through his shirt.

"I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose..."

With a flustered look, Gwen Grayson grabbed a napkin and began dabbing frantically at his chest. As she leaned over, she deliberately exposed a wide expanse of her pale cleavage.

"Gwen, you’re so clumsy!" Joyce Rivers chided with a frown.

"It’s nothing." ’Elias Hawthorne’ stood up. "You two carry on. I’ll go change my shirt."

With that, he strode out of the room.

"Brother-in-law, let me help you..." Gwen Grayson quickly followed after him.

Soon, only the two women were left in the private room.

Vesper Grayson took a slow sip of her red wine, her eyes lifting to meet Joyce Rivers’s.

"Miss Joyce, you’ve really spared no effort trying to ruin this for me."

"Are you upset that Gwen spoke out of turn?" Joyce Rivers asked, a gentle yet insincere smile on her face. "I actually think it was for the best. It’s better to clear the air now than to have President Hawthorne find out after the wedding and let it create a rift between you. Wouldn’t you agree, Vesper?"

"Then I suppose I should thank you and my dear sister for being so thoughtful," Vesper said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "But if a person doesn’t even respect herself, how can she expect anyone else to?"

Joyce Rivers caught the subtext, and the smile on her face faltered.

"If you want something, you have to fight for it with everything you’ve got. People only care about the results, not the methods."

’Fine. This could be considered a test.’

’She would see for herself if Elias Hawthorne was truly as immune to the charms of women as the rumors claimed.’

A few moments later, Gwen Grayson returned, her eyes red.

"Mom, let’s go."

Joyce Rivers wanted to ask what had happened, but with Vesper present, she couldn’t. Seeing her daughter looking so utterly dejected, she could only get up and leave with her.

When ’Elias Hawthorne’ returned, another man was following him.

The moment she got a clear look at his face, the red wine Vesper was drinking went down the wrong pipe, and she burst into a fit of coughing.

"Here, have a seat."

He guided Jared Hawthorne to the seat on Vesper’s left.

"Eli... Jared, let me introduce you. This is the eldest daughter of the Grayson family, Vesper Grayson."

Jared Hawthorne pulled out a napkin and handed it to her, his dark eyes glinting with a half-smile. "Miss Grayson is truly poised and gentle. Good enough to eat."

Those last four words, drawn out slowly, were laden with a provocative, suggestive meaning.

"...COUGH, COUGH!"

Vesper choked, her face turning bright red.

Afraid she might actually cough herself to death, Jared reached out and gently patted her back.

Scared out of her wits, Vesper shoved his hand away and shot a panicked glance toward ’Elias Hawthorne’.

Seeing that he had his back to them and was adjusting his clothes, she breathed a small sigh of relief before turning to shoot Jared a furious glare.

’He actually knows Elias Hawthorne! Why did he never tell me?’

Jared Hawthorne simply raised an eyebrow.

"Jared, it’s been a while. Are you free for a round of golf tomorrow?" ’Elias Hawthorne’ asked with a smile, turning back around.

"Sure."

"My game has improved over the last two years. I can definitely beat you this time."

"Mm, that’s what you said last time, too."

"..."

Jared Hawthorne smiled nonchalantly. "My sudden arrival isn’t an interruption, is it?"

"Of course not, I..."

Just then, ’Elias Hawthorne’s’ phone rang. After taking the call, he looked at her apologetically. "My apologies, Miss Grayson. Something urgent has come up, and I have to take my leave."

Vesper gave an understanding smile. "It’s no problem. Please, go ahead, President Hawthorne."

"Jared, entertain Miss Grayson for me, and make sure she gets home safely."

"Got it, Uncle."

’Un... Uncle?’

Vesper’s eyes flew wide open. She was completely floored.

’Elias Hawthorne was Jared Hawthorne’s uncle?’

’Then... hadn’t she slept with his nephew?’

’If she married into the Hawthorne family, wouldn’t Jared have to call her Aunt?’

’This was a complete and utter mess!’

After watching ’Elias Hawthorne’ leave the room, Vesper could no longer contain herself. "Jared Hawthorne, didn’t you tell me you had nothing to do with the Hawthorne family?"

"Did I?"

Vesper tried to recall, and a chill went down her spine.

She had asked him what his relationship was to the Hawthornes of Northolme, and he had never given her a straight answer.

"Aren’t you from Ashmore?"

"My maternal grandfather is."

"..."

’Great. So he’d been playing word games with her this whole time.’

’But Elias Hawthorne is Master Hawthorne’s grandson, and yet Jared calls him Uncle... What in the world was their family tree like?’

’Were the Hawthorne family relationships really that convoluted?’

Her thoughts were a tangled mess, like a ball of yarn she couldn’t begin to unravel.

Seeing her looking completely out of it, Jared stood up. "I can see Miss Grayson has lost her appetite. Come on, I’ll take you home."

With that, he led the way out of the room.

Vesper followed absentmindedly, not even noticing when he came to a halt.

Caught completely off guard, she walked right into his solid back. Her ankle twisted sharply, and she lost her balance.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Jared spun around, his hand shooting out to grip her waist and pull her securely into his arms.

He looked down at her in his embrace. Her eyes were red-rimmed and shimmering with unshed tears, and his gaze darkened.

"Not watching where you’re going? Or was Miss Grayson deliberately throwing herself into my arms?"

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