Jasper Kingston had a sudden realization. No wonder Miss Yara Lockwood had insisted he attend the ball.
He smiled faintly. "Miss Lockwood, you’re really putting me on the spot. Just look at the way Nathaniel is glaring."
Without turning her head, Estelle Lockwood replied nonchalantly, "And you’re worried about that, Mr. Kingston?"
Jasper Kingston chuckled softly. "You’re right, Miss Lockwood. I’m not worried at all."
He bowed slightly in a gentlemanly gesture. "In that case, it would be my honor to oblige."
Estelle Lockwood lifted her chin, giving a lazy acknowledgment. She then turned her gaze back to Nathaniel Sloan and said slowly, "The first dance should be started by Mr. Sloan. Mr. Kingston and I wouldn’t want to steal the spotlight. Mr. Sloan, you should pick another partner."
The entire hall fell silent. No one dared to speak. They felt the current situation was far beyond what ordinary guests like them should comment on.
’Has Yara Lockwood lost her mind?’
’Mr. Sloan rejected Noelle Lockwood and went against Mrs. Sloan for her sake, but she... she actually turned him down! Isn’t she afraid of offending Nathaniel Sloan?!’
As if echoing their thoughts, Estelle Lockwood spoke.
She gave a meaningful smile. "Mr. Kingston, do you think that by refusing Mr. Sloan, I’ve made him angry? Do you think he’ll blacklist me?"
Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze was dark and profound.
Liam Sloan, standing to the side, frantically pressed the philtrum below his nose. ’No, no, wait a minute. What is going on? My sister-in-law rejected my brother, picked some random guy, and is now provoking my brother with that sarcastic tone.’
’She’s got a death wish!’
Estelle Lockwood’s smile grew even more brilliant and dazzling.
’With so many people watching, would Nathaniel Sloan, the esteemed head of the Sloan Group, feel humiliated after being rejected by a woman?’
’But so what? When Nathaniel Sloan abandoned her and invited Noelle Lockwood, did he ever consider that *she* would be humiliated?’
Hundreds of people were present—guests of the Sloan Family, employees of the Sloan Group and Evernight International. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were watching her, Mrs. Sloan, arrive in her fine gown, only to receive not a single glance from her husband. He was dancing elegantly with her sister, while she was left looking like an abandoned wife.
’Nathaniel Sloan was the one who humiliated her first, leaving her to be mocked and judged. So, he couldn’t really blame her for this scene today, could he?’
Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was calm, but his heart was in turmoil.
He didn’t mind that Estelle Lockwood had rejected him. What he minded was—Estelle Lockwood had found another man!
Beneath his gold-rimmed glasses, Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes glinted with a cold light as he strode closer, step by step.
Estelle Lockwood met his gaze without flinching. "What, I’m not willing, so now Mr. Sloan plans to take me by force?"
Jasper Kingston also smiled gently, stepping in front of Estelle Lockwood. "Nathaniel, dancing requires willing participation. Since Miss Yara Lockwood is unwilling, what’s the point in forcing her?"
Liam Sloan watched, his heart pounding in his chest. ’What kind of epic disaster scene is this?!’
The entire hall fell dead silent. The very air seemed to freeze.
Just as Iris Sloan was about to say something to ease the tension, everyone suddenly saw Nathaniel Sloan lunge forward and pull Estelle Lockwood into his arms!
Liam Sloan’s jaw dropped. ’Holy crap, bro! You really are my brother!’
After Jasper Kingston finished speaking, Estelle Lockwood’s lips curved into a smirk. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly heard a faint ’SNAP’.
Before she could react, she suddenly felt a chill on her back—
Estelle Lockwood’s face went pale. The strap of her gown had broken!
She was wearing a form-fitting mermaid gown today, which left a large expanse of her fair back exposed.
The top was held up by only two straps designed to look like fish scales. Normally, there wouldn’t be any issue with a dress like this, but Estelle Lockwood suddenly recalled that Laura Jennings had sent someone to approach her earlier. It was possible Laura Jennings had tampered with her gown then!
’Laura Jennings wanted to humiliate me, to have me exposed in front of everyone!’
Estelle Lockwood instinctively raised her hands, trying to cover her chest.
But with the strap broken, the gown began to slip uncontrollably. Her hands wouldn’t be able to hold it for long. The dance was definitely out of the question—
"Ah—" Estelle Lockwood let out a small gasp.


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