In the Lap of Luxury

There was a woman standing beside Joshua. She looked like she was trying to keep a low profile, but anyone could see that she was dressed from head to toe in branded attire.

It was obvious that she was afraid that no one would notice her.

She took Joshua's arm and smiled sweetly. "Ms. Noelle, you're as beautiful as I imagined."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Noelle had been talking to Joshua, but the woman had interrupted them. The people around them looked at her strangely, and Joshua pulled his arm away.

In answer to Noelle's previous question, he said, "No."

The woman's expression darkened.

Noelle's lip curled. "No wonder. Since we haven't met for so many years, I thought that perhaps your taste in women got worse."

She was young and very charming. Joshua couldn't look away from her. "You're all grown up now, and you've got a sharp tongue. Do you have a boyfriend?" Noelle was about to speak when Anthony stopped her. "Not yet. She's still young. We're not in a rush about these things."

"She's reached the age for marriage."

Noelle hadn't seen Joshua for many years, and his rude behavior made her temper flare up.

Grace couldn't hold Timothy back any longer. He strode directly toward them.

"You haven't married, even though you're already 40 years old, Mr. Iverson. Why are you rushing a young lady in her 20s to do so? That's rather rude of you."

Timothy had a roguish air to him, and he swaggered over with a glass in his hand. He clinked glasses with Joshua.

Joshua looked at him, then at Anthony. "This is..."

Timothy gripped the stem of his wine glass tightly. He was a gifted trader, and he was well known not just in Pamore but also on Bull Street, which was a renowned place for traders. Joshua was just pretending like he didn't recognize Timothy so he could embarrass the latter.

Timothy didn't wait for Anthony to introduce him. "I'm the executive vice president of an investment bank, and I'm also the heir of the Global Chamber of Commerce. You can address me however you like, Mr. Iverson."

Joshua's gaze turned sly as he glanced at Noelle. "You're a Donegan. You've grown so big. I first saw you when your grandfather came to see my grandfather so that they could develop the company." He was belittling Timothy in every way.

There was a dangerous look in Timothy's eyes, which was at odds with his usual devil-may-care expression.

"Since you're an elder, please be seated."

Joshua didn't refuse. He walked ahead of them, and the woman with him followed closely.

The most well-known person at the event had arrived.

Since

didn't like Joshua to

beth, she hadn't cared at fire!

e happened to glance up, and she froze when she noticed something.

Benjamin stood next to her with the same expression on his face.

"Celia?" Benjamin frowned in disbelief as he stared at the woman next to Joshua.

She was dressed so extravagantly as she walked with her head held high and her chest puffed up.

It was Celia!

It had been a long time since they'd last seen her. Benjamin had exiled her to Astana!

What was she doing here? Why was she with Joshua?

Grace was amused. She had never imagined that she would meet Celia again and that the latter would've latched herself onto Joshua.

Their seats were facing Grace. As

Celia passed by, she bumped hard

into Grace, who only managed to

avoid falling by holding onto the table.

Celia's lip curled, and she didn't even deign to glance at Grace.

But when she passed Benjamin, he grabbed her arm and exerted force. "Don't you owe me an explanation?"

"What are you doing?" Celia leaned weakly against Joshua, and the latter's gaze swept over Benjamin.

"Mister, you're hurting her."

Benjamin didn't let go. "She's my younger sister. You have no right to tell me what to do."

Then, he tried to drag Celia away. "Come with me."

Celia refused to move. She held on to Joshua tightly and said piteously, "I don't know who he is."

"You-"

Benjamin couldn't believe it. Celia

had changed a lot, probably because she had gotten plastic surgery done. She had a completely different vibe from before.