Chapter 574 - 570: I Don’t Care

It was obvious the two brothers were on bad terms, and Cecilia Sterling suspected that Cecilia Langley had a great deal to do with it.

Before long, the dishes for the birthday banquet began to be served. But before the food came an assortment of fine wines.

Although this table was for the younger generation, everyone was an adult, and on a day like today, it was inevitable they would have a few drinks.

"You’re Cecilia Sterling, right?" Cecilia Langley suddenly turned to her, pouring herself a glass of red wine without pause. "It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’d like to propose a toast."

The sudden gesture was ambiguous, but it certainly wasn’t a show of goodwill. Cecilia Sterling could feel that the other woman was sizing her up.

’Perhaps she’s just really resentful.’

But Cecilia Sterling couldn’t bring herself to sympathize with Cecilia Langley. Even if she tried to put herself in the other woman’s shoes, the fact remained that she was here today as Emeric Grant’s girlfriend. No matter how bitter Cecilia Langley felt, her current behavior was completely unreasonable.

It was disrespectful to both her and Emeric Grant.

Still, Cecilia Sterling poured herself a glass of wine as well. She had to maintain at least a semblance of harmony.

But just as she was about to raise her glass, a hand gently rested on hers.

"Your period is about to start; you shouldn’t be drinking," Emeric Grant said, smoothly taking the wineglass from her hand and setting it aside. He then poured her a glass of juice and placed it in front of her. "Drink this instead."

Alcohol dilates the blood vessels, which can make periods worse. This was especially true for Cecilia Sterling, who already had a heavy flow, so it would be even more severe for her.

Not only was Emeric Grant thoughtful, but he even remembered that she had a "heavy flow."

Cecilia Sterling snapped out of her slight daze, a look of realization dawning on her face. "I almost forgot myself. It’s a good thing you remembered."

’He really remembered.’

Just yesterday, Emeric Grant had asked when her period was due, and she had wondered, ’Is it really necessary to share personal information in this much detail?’

"Of course I remember," Emeric Grant said softly.

Across the table, Cecilia Langley watched this unfold, her hand tightening on her wineglass. They had grown up together. Emeric Grant had even been by her side when she got her first period, and he had always remembered her cycle.

’It’s due around this time, too.’

But now, he only had eyes for Cecilia Sterling. He only remembered his girlfriend’s period and hadn’t spared her a single glance.

Cecilia Langley’s gaze on Emeric Grant was inscrutable. ’Did you really forget, or are you just pretending not to care?’

However, while Emeric Grant might not remember, someone else did.

Keith Grant hesitated for a moment before he finally couldn’t resist speaking up. "Cecilia, isn’t yours due around now, too? You shouldn’t drink, either."

With that, he moved to copy Emeric Grant’s gesture, reaching for Cecilia Langley’s wineglass to replace it with a soft drink.

But Cecilia Langley stubbornly dodged his hand with a slight turn of her body. Then, under the watchful eyes of the entire table, she tilted her head back and downed the glass of red wine in one go.

"It’s fine," she said, deliberately looking at Emeric Grant as she set down her glass. "My cycle changed a while ago."

Keith Grant’s hand froze in mid-air. After a moment, he awkwardly clenched it into a fist and slowly lowered it, his icy gaze shooting toward Emeric Grant.

’Both of them were glaring at him with barely concealed rage. But what had Emeric Grant said or done?’

’Absolutely nothing.’

Cecilia Sterling found it baffling. She thought Emeric Grant was completely blameless in all this.

Two people suffering from unrequited love were, with baffling unity, directing all their resentment at Emeric Grant.

Not everyone at the table was as oblivious as Mindy Grant. Most of them were aware of the delicate relationships at play. They all kept their heads down, feigning absorption in their food. They remained silent, not daring to speak, but were secretly enjoying the drama.

As Emeric Grant’s girlfriend, Cecilia Sterling felt a genuine surge of frustration.

But she didn’t let it show, trying her best to control her emotions.

’This is a special occasion. Everyone else here is unimportant. The only reason Emeric Grant brought me was for his great-grandfather’s birthday; his sole purpose is to make the old man happy.’

With that, Cecilia Sterling picked up the juice Emeric Grant had poured for her and took his hand. "Let’s go toast Great-Grandpa!"

"Alright." Emeric Grant picked up his own glass and, ignoring the stares from the table, led Cecilia Sterling away by the hand.

Once the two of them left, everyone felt half the tension in the air instantly dissipate. They exchanged glances, and someone quickly changed the subject to liven up the atmosphere.

Keith Grant silently glanced at Cecilia Langley’s profile, wanting to say something but feeling too intimidated by her cold aura.

"Are you angry?"

By the archway between the front and back courtyards, Emeric Grant stopped and turned to ask Cecilia Sterling.

Although Cecilia Sterling hadn’t shown it, Emeric Grant had clearly sensed a shift in her mood. She was holding back.

And it had happened right when Cecilia Langley and Keith Grant had both looked at him.

’She’s angry because of me.’

Cecilia Sterling looked at Emeric Grant, inwardly shocked by his sensitivity and perceptiveness. He could tell she was angry, even though she was certain she hadn’t shown a thing.

And if he was this perceptive, he must have also been fully aware of the baseless hostility coming from Cecilia Langley and his brother.

"Aren’t you angry?" Cecilia Sterling asked.

Emeric Grant looked at her, and a second later, he smiled, his entire demeanor relaxing. "I really don’t care."

’He really didn’t care.’

Just by looking into his eyes and sensing his current mood, Cecilia Sterling believed him completely.

She instantly felt relieved.

’Right. Wasn’t I angry precisely because I felt their misplaced affections had nothing to do with Emeric Grant?’

’Emeric Grant must think the same way. He must feel it has nothing to do with him, so since it’s not his problem, why should he care?’

"Come on, let’s go toast Great-Grandpa."

Pushing the recent unpleasantness from their minds, the two of them stepped into the back courtyard.

Great-Grandpa was truly happy today. He was happy even though Cecilia Sterling was toasting with juice instead of wine. Not only was Great-Grandpa happy, but Emeric Grant’s grandfather and father were also in exceptionally high spirits.

They practically wanted to parade Emeric Grant and Cecilia Sterling around the entire venue to show everyone the beautiful girlfriend Emeric Grant had brought home.

It was past nine o’clock at night, and the birthday banquet had only just reached its halfway point.

Emeric Grant, who had had a few drinks, pulled Cecilia Sterling aside. "It’s getting late. I’ll take you home."

Cecilia Sterling glanced at the time. It had been about five hours since she had left her place that afternoon.

"But I’m already here. Wouldn’t it be rude for me to leave halfway through?"

Perhaps it was the alcohol that softened Emeric Grant’s whole demeanor. "It’s fine. You’re still in school. They’ll understand."

"Besides, this is just for today. I’m worried that if you don’t leave when it’s over, they’ll keep you here to talk. You don’t have to deal with all that for my sake. You’ve already done more than enough today, and you were perfect."

These words were exactly what Cecilia Sterling wanted to hear. Even in a serious relationship, she was reluctant to interact too much with a boyfriend’s family. Today, being an exception, was just for one day.

So she nodded. "I can go back by myself. You’ve been drinking, so you can’t drive."

As she spoke, she tried to pull her hand away, but Emeric Grant held it tightly. "I’ll take you. I’ll call a designated driver."