Shermaine walked gracefully toward the Tysons, welcomed them with open arms, and held onto Margaret’s arm affectionately. At the same time, she kept stealing a look at Matthew.
Almost everyone could sense that Shermaine was exceptionally close to the Tysons.
Nobody would miss the intense affection in her eyes when she gazed at Matthew. In everyone’s eyes, they were undoubtedly a pair of lovebirds. Some of the guests started to huddle together and gossiped about the pair. They could even foresee that the Tysons would have an announcement on Matthew’s marriage soon.
However, Matthew barely spared any glance at Shermaine. He greeted everyone from the Wynters courteously and handed Hannah the birthday gift on behalf of the Tysons. Both his parents and Hannah had known each other earlier. Sitting together at a corner, they were engaged in a pleasant conversation.
Shermaine was keeping them company all the time, playing her role well as Hannah’s caring granddaughter, listening attentively to their conversation.
They could not help smiling approvingly at the patient and demure young lady.
“Shermaine, you don’t have to accompany us here. Just go ahead to have a chat with your friends and mingle with other young people. You’ll get bored with our old folks’ topics,” Hannah patted on her hand and said gently.
Shermaine shook her head and smiled at her. “Grandma, no issue. Since I need to get back to work again tomorrow, I’ll only be able to meet you again when I’m back next round. Just let me spend more time with you now!”
Margaret said with a smile, “Shermaine is such a caring and considerate child. When she visited us previously, we had so much to chat about. Hannah, you’re really blessed to have such a thoughtful granddaughter.”
Hannah smiled meaningfully at Margaret. Her eyes gleamed with a glint of wisdom.
“Who’s actually more blessed? Looks like Shermaine will only be by my side for a short while before she gets married. You’re actually more blessed than me in a way!” Hannah replied jokingly but her intentions are obvious.
Both Margaret and Hannah smiled knowingly at each other. Upon hearing this, Shermaine could not help but blush
“Grandma, what’re you talking about?” Shermaine mumbled in embarrassment.
“I’m sure you know well about what I mean. Since you’re leaving tomorrow, don’t just sit with us the whole night here. I know you keep stealing glances at a certain someone. Just go ahead and spend more time with him. Don’t let the chance slip by,” Hannah chuckled and teased her.
Shermaine’s cheeks turned red as she stood up and excused herself. Needless to say, she was heading toward her target of the night.
Hannah grabbed the opportunity to bring up the topic of the potential marriage arrangement for Matthew and Shermaine.
“I actually don’t have the complete picture of the whole matter, but Shermaine is undoubtedly drawn towards Matthew. What’s your point of view on this?”
Margaret smiled again. “I’m more than pleased with it. I can hardly wait for the day that Shermaine officially becomes the member of our family.”
Hannah nodded and did not say anything else as her mind sank into contemplation.
It will be great if the Wynters and the Tysons can really become in-laws!
At the same time, Matthew was in a conversation with Jacque. Jacque caught a glimpse of Shermaine who was approaching them and was pretty sure that she must be looking for Matthew. He instinctively waved at her.
“Ah! Shermaine, you’re here.”
“Uncle, are you in the midst of an important discussion with Matt? If so, I’d better don’t interrupt you.”
“No, we’re just having a chat. By the way, Shermaine, Matthew addresses me by my name. You call me Uncle, yet address him as Matt, does it make sense?”
Jacque was apparently having a good mood and could not help teasing his niece.
Shermaine blushed on the instant, feeling awkward, and was at a loss for words.
Jacque glanced at Matthew mischievously and laughed heartily. “Matthew, if you and Shermaine are married, you have to call me Uncle as well! Haha…”
Unexpectedly, Matthew’s face turned grim in an instant.
“Jacque, please stop joking on this,” he refuted at once with his icy-cold tone.
Jacque was dumbfounded by Matthew’s reaction. He was in puzzlement and started to make a wild guess. He doesn’t like people to joke about him, or he’s actually not in a relationship with Shermaine?
He was about to clear his doubt by asking Matthew, yet Shermaine had moved forward and blocked in front of him. Nudging Jacque’s arm, she said coquettishly, “Uncle Jacque, don’t say anything again. You know that he doesn’t like people to joke about him, don’t you? Look, more and more guests have arrived. You’d better go ahead to entertain them.”
Jacque glanced at Matthew, yet the latter remained silent with a grim look on his face. He could only smile bitterly and walked away.
To ensure nobody spotted their tense situation a while ago, Shermaine maintained her sweet smile all the time and continued to gaze at Matthew with intense affection. She was apparently putting on a good show with her convincing body language.
Arranged marriage was a normal trend especially among prestigious families like the Tysons and the Wynters. What put them in the limelight was their stunning looks. It was just natural for people’s excitement to be spurred when they detected a sense of romance among the two person who appeared to be a perfect match for each other.
Matthew’s eyes darkened as he stared coldly at Shermaine.
Even so, Shermaine pretended that she was not aware of the intimidating coldness in his eyes and forced herself to smile as charmingly as ever at him. It’s my debut as a member of the Tysons tonight so I mustn’t let it be tarnished.
With piteous eyes, she pleaded with Matthew softly.
“Matt, this is my debut as a member of the Wynters. Everyone is having their eyes on my family as if they are watching a drama. Some of them even look at me with distrust and gossip about my new identity. I hope you can understand my situation. I really have a hard time and you won’t know how much I have endured all this while. Please don’t let me be humiliated by them again. At least just for tonight, for this moment… Please…”
If Matthew turned and left at once, Shermaine would surely be humiliated by those who spotted something amiss between them.
Matthew did not turn and leave at once, yet he did not look at Shermaine as well. Standing motionless, he looked out of the window in silence. The two of them just stood there with their backs to the crowd, and they seemed to be talking to each other.
Nobody sensed the tense atmosphere between them. No matter how Shermaine tried to bring up something more relaxing to ease the situation, Matthew remained indifferent all the time.
When it was finally the cake cutting session for Hannah, Shermaine stood alongside her with her parents, surrounded by relatives and friends. Everyone was touched by their warm family moments.
Nonetheless, somebody was obviously not happy and smirked at the sight of the happy family.
As Ellie reached later with Damon, she did not join her family members. She observed coldly at how Shermaine and her Uncle Matt stood alongside each other as if they were newly-weds accepting guests’ congratulatory words at their reception. Rage surged within her instantaneously, even she herself did not know if she was actually infuriated by Shermaine or Matthew.
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