The elevator finally came to a stop, and Aidan led Leanna out. Only then did the men heave a sigh of relief. Their backs were already drenched with sweat. Guess the celebration is going to be one heck of an event.
Leanna walked into the wall chuckling while holding Aidan's arm. He's always such a prankster. I bet those men are going to have nightmares just thinking about Pearson.
Since there were too many guests this time, not even the hotel's biggest ballroom could house everyone, so the company reserved two ballrooms. Each one was on a different floor. One floor was for the employees, while the other was reserved for the bigwigs in the entertainment, business, and political world. Almost all of the guests had arrived, and they were chatting around as they drank.
When everyone saw Leanna and Aidan, they stopped talking and stared at them. This was the first time Aidan appeared in public ever since he left the company. Aidan looked around, causing everyone to look away and pretend that they weren't just staring.
Leanna looked around as well, and she saw Theodore among the crowd. She cocked her eyebrow in surprise.
Aidan looked in the direction she was looking. "What is it?"
"When was he discharged?"
"A few days ago."
"It's been more than a month. His wounds should be healed, but why are there scabs on his face?"
"Maybe someone beat him up again?"
Huh? Leanna met Aidan's gaze and tilted her head to the side, asking a silent question.
Aidan said, "Yep. It was your brother."
"Oh my God, he tried to touch Daphne again?"
"Hey, the only good man is a dead man." After a short pause, Aidan said, "Except for me, of course. I'm a good man all the time."
"No, I think that quote suits you perfectly."
Noticing their gaze, Theodore turned around. His smile froze and his face fell, and hatred appeared in his eyes. He then turned back and resumed chatting with the other guests.
Leanna asked, "So when's the event starting?"
"Nine."
"Guess we'll have to wait, then."
Just when they were about to find some seats, Joseph approached them. "Mr. Pearson, Miss McKinney."
Aidan said nothing. It wasn't time to declare an all-out war yet, so Leanna nodded. Joseph wasn't surprised that Aidan was giving him the cold shoulder, but he told Leanna, "Sorry for what I had to do, Miss McKinney."
Leanna said coolly, "Don't be, Mr. Woodley."
Joseph said, "I bought the ring from Mr. Frost to give it to you, but you didn't want it. My sources told me that there's going to be a charity dinner during this celebration, and I had no use for the ring, so I thought I could use it to help those who might need it. It would be what the ring's original owner wanted."
"That's a respectable intention indeed," said Leanna.
"Ah, just trying to reach the noble heights the people before us reached."
After some small talk, Leanna turned to leave, but then a commotion happened at the hall's entrance. Leanna turned her attention to the entrance and saw someone familiar coming in. She then heard sounds of discussion coming from the crowd.
"Oh my gosh, he is handsome."
"Yeah. I thought Aidan was the most handsome man I've ever met, but this guy is on par with him."
"So, who do you think is the more handsome one?"
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