My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: On Purpose

Sharon Chandler strolled down from the second floor.

She wore a moon-white cheongsam with a subtle pattern, a fringed shawl of the same color draped casually over her shoulders. Her steps were light and unhurried, her bearing elegant.

She wore not a single jewel, yet her innate poise and grace far outshone any ostentatious display of wealth.

She walked over and sat down next to Justin Hawthorne.

"Mrs. Hawthorne, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you!" Joyce Rivers said, her face wreathed in a warm, effusive smile.

Sharon Chandler responded with a cool nod.

Her gaze swept over Joyce impassively, a flicker of disgust flashing in her eyes. ’All those jewels piled on her,’ she thought, ’utterly tacky.’

The smile on Joyce Rivers’s face froze, and she didn’t dare press her luck further.

"And this is?" Sharon Chandler’s gaze fell upon the bright and beautiful Gwen Grayson.

Milton Grayson quickly made the introduction. "Mrs. Hawthorne, this is my second daughter, Gwen Grayson."

"Why didn’t the elder Miss Grayson come with you?"

She wanted to see for herself what the woman who had saved her son—and whom he couldn’t stop thinking about—actually looked like.

She had heard that Vesper Grayson’s mother’s whereabouts were unknown, and that Milton Grayson had married Joyce Rivers not long after, subsequently having a second daughter and a younger son. Fortunately, Milton had treated his eldest daughter well, so she hadn’t suffered much.

Gwen Grayson explained with a smile, "My sister has joined the company as a vice president, so she’s been a bit busy."

The implication was that Vesper Grayson didn’t consider this family dinner important at all.

Sharon Chandler lifted her teacup and smiled. "It’s a good thing for young people to be driven. To be competent enough for a VP position right after returning... it seems her abilities are not to be underestimated. She must be highly valued by President Grayson."

Gwen Grayson’s expression stiffened. She hadn’t expected Mrs. Hawthorne to go off-script like this.

"Yes, Vesper has always been an outstanding student—bright and sensible since she was a child. Not long ago, she secured the exclusive distribution rights for Vaudin."

Speaking of his eldest daughter, Milton Grayson’s tone was filled with pride and gratification, as if her glory was his own.

Sharon Chandler’s smile didn’t waver. "She’s quite like Elias in that regard. It seems the two of them are a match made in heaven!"

Zachary Hawthorne shot her a surprised look.

The person who had been so vehemently against it before had now done a complete 180, as if she were a different person.

Meeting Elder Hawthorne’s probing gaze, Sharon Chandler gave an awkward little cough.

Joyce Rivers’s brow furrowed.

’What is with this Mrs. Hawthorne?’

’Before, she was so vehemently opposed to them being together.’

’Now she’s suddenly agreed and is even speaking up for Vesper Grayson.’

’What kind of spell has that witch Vesper cast on the Hawthorne Family?’

Just then, a gentle voice called out from the entryway.

"I’m sorry, I’m late!"

Everyone turned towards the sound.

Vesper Grayson stood there in a simple, elegant cheongsam of apricot-white silk. She was graceful and gentle, her beauty both understated and noble.

Her long hair was loosely gathered into a low bun, held by a simple, small jade pin. Two tiny pearls adorned her ears—nothing ostentatious or deliberate, yet they accentuated her pure and refined elegance.

Small pearl frog closures wound their way down the slanted placket, highlighting the long, beautiful line of her neck.

The slit on one side of the cheongsam was perfectly placed; with her light steps, the lines of her figure were hinted at, revealing a touch of casual allure beneath her gentle demeanor.

Compared to Gwen Grayson’s flashy brilliance, Vesper Grayson’s quiet elegance and serene, reserved temperament made her seem all the more dignified and stately.

She had a very distinctive beauty with a superior bone structure, and her appearance immediately made the other women in the room pale in comparison.

’No wonder Elias would reject all the other women around him.’

’All of them combined aren’t half as beautiful as she is.’

Vesper Grayson took a step forward and gently presented an exquisite gift box, her tone warm and proper.

"I heard that you are from Arisdale, Mrs. Hawthorne, so I took the liberty of bringing a hand-made cheongsam with local Embroidery from an old master. The fabric is silk, and the pattern is a lotus common in Riverbend South. It’s nothing too valuable, just a small token of my esteem."

Mrs. Hawthorne ran her fingertips over the delicate embroidery, the smile in her eyes deepening. Her gaze towards Vesper softened considerably.

"How thoughtful of you. Such authentic Arisdale craftsmanship is a rare sight these days."

She looked up at Vesper Grayson, her tone much gentler now.

"No wonder Elias is so taken with you. You’re a sensible and well-mannered child. You suit my tastes."

Gwen Grayson gritted her teeth, seething with anger.

’She hadn’t expected Vesper Grayson to be so well-prepared. Not only did she have a knack for seducing men, but she’d even managed to sweet-talk Mrs. Hawthorne into a pleasant mood.’

Joyce Rivers narrowed her eyes, a shadow of malice flickering within them.

Leaning back on the sofa, Justin Hawthorne silently observed everyone’s reactions, the corner of his lip curling into a slight smile.

At that moment, a servant stepped forward and quietly announced that dinner was ready.

"Almost everyone is here. Let’s take our seats," Zachary Hawthorne said, looking at Justin Hawthorne. "Go make a call and hurry him along."

"Understood," Justin Hawthorne replied.

Gwen Grayson seized the opportunity to step forward. She took a velvet box from her purse and presented it to Justin Hawthorne with both hands, a shy look on her face.

"President Hawthorne, this is the watch you left at the hotel last time. I’ve been keeping it for you, but I didn’t have your contact information, so I couldn’t return it sooner."

The box opened to reveal a Rolex gold watch lying inside, its luster subtle yet radiating an air of luxury.

At her words, the family members who had been about to move to the dining room instantly stopped and turned to look at them.

The hotel...

Such a sensitive location was enough to send everyone’s imagination running wild.

Justin Hawthorne’s icy gaze fell on the Rolex, a mocking sneer playing on his lips.

"If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Last time we had dinner, you deliberately spilled wine on me. It turns out you’re the one who picked up the watch I left behind when I went to change."

Gwen Grayson’s face turned deathly pale. Her fingertips tightened, and her hand, holding the watch box, froze in mid-air.

She was both mortified and furious. She never would have guessed that ’Elias Hawthorne’ would show her no mercy and expose the incident in front of everyone.

"President Hawthorne, you’ve misunderstood me! I really didn’t do it on purpose..."

"I would also hope that I have misunderstood the younger Miss Grayson."

Joyce Rivers quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "President Hawthorne, this must be a misunderstanding! Gwen is a simple-minded girl. You’re her future brother-in-law. How could she possibly have improper thoughts about her own future brother-in-law?"

’Future brother-in-law?’

’Has she gotten something wrong?’

’Justin is senior to Elias!’

’What on earth is this Joyce Rivers babbling about?’

Just as Sharon Chandler was about to speak, Joyce Rivers had already turned to the silent Vesper Grayson for help.

"Vesper, quickly, explain to President Hawthorne! There must be a misunderstanding here!"

Vesper Grayson raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone indifferent. "Miss Joyce, whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, I wasn’t involved. My opinion doesn’t count."

At this, Zachary Hawthorne finally spoke up.

"Alright, if it was a misunderstanding, then let’s leave it at that."

Milton Grayson’s expression was grim. He knew in his heart that Elias Hawthorne would never make up something like this just to slander Gwen.

’From childhood, Gwen has had to compete with Vesper for everything. And now she’s even trying to steal her fiancé.’

’And to use such disgraceful, cheap tricks to do it.’

As everyone gradually took their seats, the atmosphere in the dining room became instantly frozen, filled with an eerie silence.

Elder Hawthorne sat at the head of the table, with an empty seat on either side of him.

Vesper Grayson sat in the second seat to his left, with Milton Grayson’s family seated in order after her.

The second seat to the right was occupied by Sharon Chandler.

When Justin Hawthorne returned from his phone call, he said nothing and walked straight to the empty seat on the Elder’s right side.

Seeing that he didn’t sit with Vesper Grayson, Milton Grayson was taken aback for a moment.

The resentment in Joyce Rivers’s and Gwen Grayson’s hearts finally eased a little.

’It seems ’Elias Hawthorne’ doesn’t value Vesper Grayson as much as everyone thought.’

’They’ve been at the Hawthorne residence for so long, yet the two of them haven’t exchanged a single word from start to finish. They’re acting as distant as strangers.’

Vesper Grayson herself felt awkward. She truly couldn’t figure out what ’Elias Hawthorne’ was thinking...

Just then, a servant hurried in with a solemn expression, carrying an express package.

"Elder Hawthorne, there’s an urgent delivery for you. It’s marked ’To be opened by addressee only,’ so it must be important."

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