The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 170

The Sovereign Club.

When Jocelyn arrived with Liam in the evening, Sarah practically sprinted across the room like an excited puppy.

Liam immediately stepped in front of Jocelyn, shoving Sarah back.

"Watch it! Are you trying to kill her? She's basically royalty right now. Handle with care!"

Sarah stumbled backwards, completely losing her balance, and nearly hit the floor.

Thankfully, Julian grabbed her arm just in time.

The sudden physical contact, accompanied by the clean, distinct scent of Julian's cologne, made Sarah freeze for a split second.

She quickly stepped back, flashed him a highly exaggerated look of gratitude, and turned back to Liam.

"Right, right, completely forgot! My bad!"

Sarah linked arms with Jocelyn and carefully guided her toward their private booth.

"I am so incredibly happy you actually came! Look at this place—it's just a bunch of dudes. I'm the only girl here."

“Isn’t it perfect? A room full of guys just to make you two look like the stars of the show.”

Sarah dramatically pitched her voice an octave higher.

"Oh my! It's an absolute miracle! Liam Bancroft is actually speaking like a civilized human being!"

Liam flashed a wicked, shit-eating grin.

"Too bad the flower is a screeching loudmouth."

Sarah was in too good of a mood to even bother fighting with him.

Jocelyn noticed the extra bounce in her step.

"You seem incredibly happy tonight."

"My parents finally stopped forcing me to go on blind dates!" Sarah cheered. "Of course I'm happy!"

"How did you manage to convince them?" Jocelyn asked.

"I just told them I had a boyfriend."

Even Liam looked surprised at that.

"Let me guess. The 'boyfriend' is me, isn't it?"

"Wow, look at you using your brain!"

"Damn it!" Liam groaned. "Sarah, you can't just keep exploiting me without my permission!"

"I let it slide last time because you were helping Jo out. But this time? Absolutely not."

Sarah blinked innocently.

"But I'm Jo's best friend in the whole world."

"And?"

"So... do it for Jo?"

Liam's bright, calculating eyes shifted.

"You are dangerously quick on your feet. Fine! For Jocelyn's sake, I'll bail you out one last time."

"I owe you my life!"

That was what a real match made in heaven looked like.

Liam scoffed dismissively.

"Alright, losing to Julian? I'll accept that. But he's already taken, so you guys can just drop that fantasy right now."

Sarah immediately latched onto the gossip.

"Wait, tell me! What kind of woman is Mr. Vance's fiancée? What's she like?"

Liam realized he had probably said too much. He waved her off.

"Go ask your boss yourself."

He immediately bolted toward the karaoke machine to pick a song.

Sarah chased right after him. "Come on, tell me!"

"Get lost!"

"Liam? Mr. Bancroft? Leeiammmmm..."

Jocelyn sat back, watching them bicker and chase each other around the room, a genuine smile on her face.

Julian finished his conversation and walked over, handing her a glass of juice.

"What's so funny?"

"Just watching those two," Jocelyn said. "It's nice. They look really happy."

Julian glanced over at the chaotic duo.