Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 297: My Cousin Surely Works Fast (2)

The weekend arrived, and the engagement party of Alistair Han and Ayla Jiang was being held in a five-star hotel in Jinling City. Many prominent personalities came, and Ayla and her parents and Old Madam Han were busy welcoming them. However, the groom seemed nowhere in sight, which many guests noticed.

Alistair’s absence didn’t bother Ayla so long as he would attend and marry her on their wedding day. He didn’t dare to refuse their marriage before his grandmother, knowing that the old woman could make things hard for him at the company if he opposed her.

Arriving at the party, Adrienne and Lennox were greeted by lively chatter and laughter. Adrienne could feel Lennox’s grip on her hand tighten, and she squeezed back reassuringly.

Lennox knew Adrienne was uncomfortable with Alistair around, and he made a mental note not to leave his wife out of his sight. Knowing Alistair’s nature, he wouldn’t easily give up on Adrienne. Alistair might try to do something to stop his wedding with Ayla Jiang.

Ayla’s face broke into a smile when she saw Adrienne, while Maryam and Waylen had different expressions as they looked at their niece. Maryam felt anxious seeing Adrienne for the first time in three years, while Waylen cursed his niece inwardly, thinking how much power Adrienne had over him.

Adrienne’s father, as well as Camilla, Cayden, and Elise, also attended the party. Lewis saw his daughter arrive with Lennox Qin, but he didn’t try to greet Adrienne or acknowledge her presence. Meanwhile, Elise gave Lennox a good look, smiling behind her glass as if she were pleased with what she saw.

"Addie, you arrived!" Ayla kissed Adrienne’s cheek, pretending to be a happy bride. "’I’m so glad you could make it tonight, and you brought Mr. Qin."

Ayla wore a stunning red gown highlighting her curves, while Adrienne was dressed in a simple black dress that emphasized her elegance.

"Of course, Ayla. How could I miss this? You look absolutely breathtaking. Congratulations on your engagement!" Adrienne said with a warm smile, trying to hide her discomfort.

Lennox politely greeted Ayla and her family, but his eyes scanned the room, looking for any signs of trouble. He noticed Alistair’s absence and wondered what he was up to.

"This is my plus one for tonight, Lennox Qin. I hope you didn’t mind bringing him with me tonight." Adrienne added.

Lennox extended his hand, and Ayla shook it gracefully. Her eyes lingered on Lennox’s face for a moment too long, making Adrienne clench her jaw. The look on Ayla’s face told Adrienne that she was gauging Lennox’s worth.

"It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Qin. I’ve heard a lot about you," Ayla said, her voice smooth like silk. If she wasn’t already enamored with Alistair, Ayla thought Lennox Qin was an acceptable candidate as her husband. Not only did he get the looks, but he was also loaded with money.

Adrienne put on her best smile. "Congratulations on your engagement, Ayla. You and Alistair make a beautiful couple."

Ayla beamed. "Thank you! I’m so happy that everything worked out for us."

Adrienne couldn’t resist a slight smirk. "Yes, I heard about it. You certainly moved fast."

Ayla’s smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Well, when you know how persistent I am, Addie, I don’t like what is mine being hounded by others."

"Oh, dear. I assure you, you are the only ’bitch’ who would like to be with him, Ayla." Adrienne laughed behind her hand and gave her cousin a mocking look.

Ayla was taken aback, but her mask of being a virtuous woman forbade her from retaliating against Adrienne.

"Please enjoy the party. There’s food and drinks over there," Ayla gestured towards the buffet table. "I have to go greet some more guests. Excuse me." She said in a hurry. Ayla wanted nothing to tear apart Adrienne’s face then, but hearing Old Madam Han’s voice brought her back to reality.

As Ayla walked away, Adrienne couldn’t help but feel uneasy. She knew Alistair could be somewhere in the building, which made her nervous. She didn’t want to face him after what happened between them months ago during Lennox’s return to Chiangshi.

"Are you okay, Addie?" Lennox whispered in her ear, sensing her discomfort.

Adrienne nodded but couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. He was too familiar with how Alistair looked at her, and she had no doubt he would be dissatisfied to see her arrive with Lennox tonight.

"You don’t need to force yourself to be here if you are uncomfortable, Addie. Just say a word, and I’ll take you away from here." Lennox murmured; they were so close to each other that others couldn’t help but notice them.

Adrienne was already famous for being such a great beauty, but seeing Lennox Qin next to her only heightened her allure. His tall, commanding presence and intense gaze drew attention from everyone in the room. People couldn’t help but wonder what had brought these two captivating individuals together.

The party continued, and everyone waited for Alistair to arrive. Ayla’s smile started diminishing as she overheard the murmurs and speculations in the crowd. She purposely invited Adrienne to force Alistair to show up, knowing how crazy he was for her cousin. Ayla also wanted Adrienne to see that, at the end of the line, Alistair would be hers.

As Alistair finally made his grand entrance, the room fell silent. His presence commanded attention, and all eyes were on him. Ayla’s plan worked as Adrienne’s expression turned from curiosity to surprise. It was clear that Alistair’s arrival had stirred up a whirlwind of emotions, leaving everyone eager to witness what would unfold next.

Alistair’s eyes were immediately drawn to Adrienne. As he spoke to the guests, he occasionally glanced at her without caring if others could see it.

"Don’t look at him, Addie. Remind yourself that he has no power over you now, and you are my wife, not his." Lennox held her hand and his eyes with such tenderness that he only gave them to Adrienne.

The sight of them being together infuriated Alistair, but he couldn’t make a scene at his engagement party, much more to express his desire to marry Adrienne over Ayla.

Ayla appeared next to him and chuckled. She knew Alistair couldn’t resist going there, knowing Adrienne would be here, though Lennox Qin’s attendance wasn’t on her plan.

"Do you see now? Lennox Qin is head over heels for Addie. He can’t take his eyes off her, and it’s clear that she’s the one he truly loves." She taunted Alistair.

Alistair clenched his fists, feeling anger and jealousy towards Lennox. He hated seeing Adrienne with another man, and just thinking of her being touched by Lennox made his blood boil.

Lennox met his gaze head-on, not backing down one bit. He leaned closer towards Adrienne, putting his arm around her shoulders.

The emcee called Alistair and Ayla to join them on stage, but Alistair struggled to keep his composure. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to smile and hide his emotions. On the other hand, Ayla seemed delighted by the situation, eagerly leading him towards the stage.

Lennox looked around, seeing that there weren’t enough media personnel covering the engagement party. Ayla was an actress after all. She should have a following by now considering her new film with Sofia Yun was to be released in public soon.

"Ayla isn’t popular enough to make a splash on the news. She’s a newbie star who has yet to prove her worth in the showbiz industry." Adrienne told him when he voiced his concern to her. "Those journalists are only here because of Alistair Han."

"Do you think Ayla managed to marry him after your passing?" Lennox asked curiously but then felt embarrassed and said, "You don’t have to answer that, Addie. I’m sorry for bringing it up."

Adrienne turned to face him and placed a hand on his face, drawing attention from other guests nearby. They were seated away from everyone’s ears, which allowed them some privacy.

"You don’t have to be on the edge when you are with me, Len. I told you my secret because I have faith in you. Please don’t treat me differently or feel the need to tiptoe around certain topics. I’m strong enough to handle any conversation, no matter how sensitive it is." Adrienne’s words reassured Lennox, and he smiled gratefully at her.