Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 73: Who’s Getting Engaged to Whom? (Bonus - )
The engagement party preparations started in full swing.
The efficiency was astonishing.
Invitation design, venue inspection, menu draft...
Everything was progressing in an orderly manner.
Stella Sterling looked at the thick stack of engagement process drafts her mother, Isla Sutton, brought over and couldn’t help but finally attempt one last struggle.
"Mom," she carefully chose her words, frowning slightly, "don’t you think this is all a bit rushed? Shane and I... we actually..."
"Actually what?" Isla raised her head from the process book, looking puzzled.
Stella steeled herself, taking the plunge: "Actually, I don’t like him that much! Can we reconsider this engagement...?"
Isla was taken aback for a moment, then rolled her eyes at her daughter in exasperation and tapped her forehead with just the right amount of force: "You, stop messing around! Don’t like him? If you don’t like him, why would you leave such marks on his neck?"
"I saw it clearly that day..." she said, with a teasing grin like someone who’s been there: "Those marks aren’t left without some intensity, and you’re still pretending with me?"
Stella: "..."
She opened her mouth, her cheeks instantly turning bright red.
The feeling of being wronged and unable to argue made her nearly choke.
"That... that was an accident! I was drunk!" she struggled in vain.
"You get drunk, and you casually kiss people?" Isla gave her a knowing smile, patting her hand, "Young people, when emotions run high, I understand. But as a daughter of the Sterling Family, you must take responsibility for your actions."
"Besides, Shane is from a good family, has good looks, his capabilities are top-notch, and he clearly has feelings for you. What are you dissatisfied with?"
"..." Stella was speechless.
What could she say?
Say she’s dissatisfied with everything?
Say Shane Donovan is tricking her?
Who would believe that?
After all, he’s Shane Donovan...
A figure at the very top of the Kaelon Circle.
Even though the Sterling Family isn’t bad, they’re not on par with the top-tier ranks of The Donovan Family...
"Look at this, Stella..." Isla enthusiastically discussed the engagement party dress styles with Stella, completely brushing off her previous protest as the shyness of a young girl.
"..."
Looking at her mother’s excited face—forget it.
Let it be!
Out of sight, out of mind.
Since resisting was futile, hiding should work, right?
So, while the engagement preparations were in full swing, The Eldest Miss Sterling decisively booked a flight and flew straight back to Riveria with her baggage neatly packed.
...
Meanwhile, in Kenton.
The atmosphere in Lawyer Ethan Sterling’s office was suffocating.
All employees were working cautiously, even breathing lightly, fearing to disturb the person inside the office.
Since returning from Riveria a few days ago, Jasper Hawthorne seemed completely drained of all vitality, like a perpetual block of ice.
He used to be just cold and aloof, like a machine running with precision.
Now, a dead chill emanated from his very bones, his eyes frighteningly hollow, and a glance from him could freeze the blood.
Jude Kensington sighed as he looked at Jasper.
He had naturally heard the rumors about the Donovan and Sterling families’ alliance and subconsciously assumed Jasper was in such a state because Stella was getting engaged.
"Ah, to understand the meaning of love in this world..." Jude mused, just as his phone vibrated, and he casually scrolled through his social media feed, nearly choking on his own saliva.
Due to work, he had many bigwigs on his friend list, including Shane Donovan.
This man’s social media feed was usually as spotless as a snowy peak, with years passing without a single update, as if Shane regarded social media just as a business tool, always as clean as a blank sheet of paper.
But today, it was like the sun had risen from the west!
Shane Donovan had posted on social media!
The post featured a beautifully lit photo, seemingly in a warm greenhouse, focused on a pair of entwined Camellia japonica blossoms, with immaculate white petals, in an intimate pose.
This wasn’t much by itself, but the key was the image was followed by two huge, red heart emojis!
❤️❤️
Jude rubbed his eyes, almost doubting if he was seeing things wrong or if he had added a fake account.
This... this style is Shane Donovan?!
The ruthless, calculating Crown Prince of Kaelon, Shane Donovan?!
How could this almost childlike subtle flaunt be happening?!
It completely clashed with his usual cold and noble demeanor!
Yet, it somehow made you instantly feel the unmistakable joy that the poster couldn’t hide.
Jude twitched his mouth and couldn’t help but mutter under his breath: "...did someone hack his account?"
He put down his phone, clicking his tongue with a complex expression.
So the great Shane Donovan, standing atop the clouds, fell in love and found it irresistible to share, to subtly flaunt, to become so...
Down-to-earth?
Indeed, this thing called love levels everyone, no matter how mighty they are.
Shaking his head, Jude picked up a file requiring Jasper Hawthorne’s urgent signature and walked towards his office.
Before knocking, he took a deep breath and adjusted his expression.
"Old Hawthorne, there’s an urgent merger document that needs your..."
He spoke as he pushed the door open, his words cut off by the overwhelming stench of smoke that made him cough repeatedly, tearing up.
The office was shrouded in smoke, barely visible.
Jude pinched his nose in disbelief and looked at the desk behind him. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Jasper Hawthorne leaned back in his chair, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, the ashtray filled with cigarette butts.
He watched the window with a blank expression, his profile cold and numb amid the blue-white smoke.
"Holy crap! Old Hawthorne, you..." Jude was shocked, quickly rushing over and opening the window to let the cold air in, "You used to despise smokers! You said it was slow suicide, so why are you smoking now? And so fiercely!"
The cold wind blew in, dispersing some smoke and making Jasper’s figure clearer.
His eyes were bloodshot, stubble covered his chin, and he exuded a thick sense of despair.
Jude looked at him, both anxious and angry, recalling what he’d just seen on the social feed, and couldn’t help but advise, "Even if... even if you know Stella is getting engaged to Shane Donovan, you shouldn’t be doing this to yourself! Look at Shane Donovan, his social feed is full of confidence, and look at you..."
He intended to provoke Jasper to pull himself together, not sink into his negative feelings.
However, as soon as he finished speaking—
"What did you say?! Who’s getting engaged to whom?!"
