Chapter 139: The Banquet

After leaving the hospital, Amanda Vance received an invitation from Cecilia Reed about an evening banquet this weekend, asking if she’d like to go.

Her brand, July, had now established a firm foothold in Aethelburg and was looking to expand. Several figures from the fashion industries in other cities had extended an olive branch, opening the door for future collaborations. After some thought, Amanda Vance agreed to go.

On Saturday, she dropped Felix Ford off at the Grants’ house early. As she was about to leave, the little boy clung to her leg, reluctant to let go.

"Mommy, I’ll be good. I won’t get in the way of your work. Can you take me with you?"

"I can’t, sweetie." Forcibly resisting her son’s assault of cuteness, Amanda Vance squatted down to his eye level. She stroked his pouting little face and said, "There will be too many people there, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to look after you properly. Be a good boy. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done with work. How about I spend the entire day with you tomorrow, okay?"

’Not okay at all.’

Felix Ford thought to himself, looking up at her with a pitiful expression. ’Why is Mommy just like Daddy, always working on days off? I want to play with her.’

"That’s enough." Before Amanda Vance could say anything more to comfort him, a hand suddenly reached out and plucked Felix Ford aside. "You should get going," Hayden Grant said. "This little guy will cling to you all day if you let him. Business comes first. Go on."

She was indeed running out of time.

But Amanda Vance couldn’t just turn and leave when she saw the boy’s eyes welling up with tears. She took him from Hayden’s arms, hugged his small body, and said, "I promise, this is the last time. From now on, I’ll spend every weekend with you, okay?"

Felix Ford nuzzled into the crook of her neck, his unhappiness vanishing the instant she hugged him.

’If it were Daddy, he would have just left,’ he thought. ’He wouldn’t have cared at all. He’d just think I was being difficult, just like Uncle.’

He loved how his mother doted on him, always putting his feelings first.

It was different from the way his grandparents spoiled him. When his mother spoiled him, it didn’t make him want to act like a little terror. It just made him want to be a better boy, so he wouldn’t hold her back.

So, though he was very reluctant, he slowly loosened his grip. Forcing a smile, he said, "Go on, Mommy. I was just being a little clingy, that’s all. It’s okay, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big boy now and I can take care of myself! Go on, I’ll be waiting for you to come back!"

With that, he obediently walked to Hayden Grant’s side, took his hand, and waved at her with his other hand like a little beckoning cat.

He was so adorable and well-behaved.

Amanda Vance’s heart melted into a puddle. She looked at Hayden Grant. "Sorry to trouble you."

"Don’t mention it. By the way, will you be okay by yourself? Do you need me to accompany you?"

"I’ll be fine. Cecilia will be there."

’Oh, right. That woman is as capable as ten men. No need to worry about her professional skills at all.’

He pursed his lips, muttering "tomboy" under his breath as he watched Amanda Vance drive away.

The moment Amanda Vance’s car was gone, the small hand in his immediately pulled free. He looked down at the child, saw the look of utter disdain on his face, and burst out laughing. "You dare to look at me with disgust? I haven’t even gotten disgusted with you yet! What gives you the right to be disgusted with me?"

"Do I need a reason to be disgusted with you? I just am!" Felix stuck his tongue out, then darted away an instant before Hayden could grab him.

He was like a completely different person from the obedient boy of a moment ago. This was his true form: a little terror, and one with a serious double standard, at that.

Tsk.

’Little rascal. Where does he get all these clever little schemes?’

Amanda Vance had no idea her son’s personality had done a complete one-eighty the moment she left. She drove to meet up with Cecilia Reed.

The address Cecilia sent was for a styling studio. When Amanda arrived, Cecilia was in the middle of getting her hair done.

"You’re here." Cecilia Reed’s face lit up when she saw her in the mirror. "Hurry, come here."

She glanced at Amanda’s casual clothes, completely unsurprised. ’Megan never likes to dress up. It’s a good thing she has a face that can pull off anything.’

"I had an outfit prepared for you. Let’s get your hair and makeup done first, you can change into it later."

"Okay." Amanda Vance nodded, going along with the plan.

She was representing July tonight; naturally, she couldn’t afford to look plain.

Cecilia Reed snapped her fingers, and a stylist approached Amanda Vance, remarking with some surprise, "I don’t believe I’ve seen this beauty around before."

Amanda Vance replied casually, "I only recently returned to Aethelburg."

"Ah, that explains it. I was just thinking, there’s no way I would have forgotten a great beauty like you."

The stylist worked with women year-round and called every one of them "beauty," but Amanda Vance was the real deal. Her features were exquisite and her aura was unique. She was damnably attractive—so much so that it left him with little room to showcase his skills.

Amanda Vance didn’t respond, offering only a polite smile.

Cecilia Reed let out a chuckle. "Alright now, just focus on your work," she told the stylist. "My friend here isn’t much of a talker, and she’s not interested in men."

Amanda Vance shot her a sidelong glance. Cecilia feigned innocence. "What? Was I wrong? Back in Aridia, men were lining up to pursue you. Did you ever give a single one of them a second look?"

’If she’d been even the slightest bit willing, would she really have stayed single all these years?’

’Still, it’s for the best. Men are nothing but trouble. It’s good for Megan to stay away from them; at least she won’t get hurt.’

Amanda Vance shrugged, unconcerned. All those men claimed it was love at first sight, something she never believed in.

’Claiming to like her without even knowing her... How ridiculous. They were just in love with her looks, nothing more.’

Unexpectedly, her thoughts drifted to Samuel Ford. She was suddenly curious about what exactly he saw in her. He knew about all the rumors that surrounded her.

’But it seemed he’d never believed any of them.’

’That time Shawn Ford was spouting all that slander in front of him, he had actually defended her.’

Her fingertips paused mid-air. Amanda Vance stared at her own dazed reflection in the mirror for a moment, then frowned and forced the man from her thoughts.

’No matter what, she wanted nothing to do with love.’

’Look at her own mother, then look at Cecilia. Had things turned out well for either of them?’

’Having Jean with her was enough.’

She had great natural features, so the stylist only applied light makeup. Her hair was simply curled to frame her face, and with every glance, her eyes held an unintentional hint of allure.

Her gown for the evening was also a minimalist design, and combined with her hair and makeup, the entire look was perfectly harmonious.

The moment she saw Amanda descending with the hem of her gown in hand, Cecilia Reed’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t help but applaud. "Stunning!"

With that, she stepped forward and offered her arm. "My fair lady, may I invite you to be my companion for the evening?"

She was still dressed in a suit, exuding a dashing, androgynous charm as she extended the gentlemanly invitation to Amanda Vance.

Amanda Vance smiled, placed her hand in the crook of Cecilia’s arm, and chuckled. "You may."

One dared to play the part, and the other dared to play along.

The stylist’s gaze turned a little strange as he watched them.

’You know... the longer he looked, the more he felt they were a surprisingly good match.’

’It’s just that the burn scar on President Reed’s face kind of spoiled the view.’

Everyone knew it was a taboo subject, so no one said it out loud, only thinking it to themselves.

However, even if they didn’t say a word, Cecilia Reed could guess their thoughts just by looking at them. She shifted her gaze away, completely unbothered, and when her eyes landed back on Amanda Vance, they softened.

’As long as she had someone who didn’t look at her differently, that was enough.’