Chapter 779 - 767: Romantic Entanglement (7)

Chapter 779: Chapter 767: Romantic Entanglement (7)

In the past, even if he showed a little concern for his sister Mika, Eleanor would throw a tantrum and fight with him.

But now, a strange woman was eyeing him covetously, and Eleanor was completely indifferent.

He gave a cold, self-mocking smile.

’So, even I, Archie Lockwood, can feel this dejected and angry over something so trivial...’

***

「The Vance Family Banquet.」

At eight o’clock in the evening, Archie Lockwood and Shirley Lockwood arrived at the Vance residence right on time.

The moment they stepped out of the car, Shannon Vance hurried over, her face alight with joy. "Archie, you’re here!"

"Hello, Miss Shannon!" Seeing Shannon Vance, Shirley Lockwood quickly darted past Archie Lockwood, greeting her with a sweet smile.

Shannon Vance looked at Shirley Lockwood and smiled gently. "Rory, you’re here too."

Shirley Lockwood winked playfully. "Of course! I had to come. Miss Shannon, you’d better remember your promise, okay?"

"Of course, I remember. How could I forget? When have I ever broken a promise to Rory?"

"Yay! Miss Shannon is the best! I’m so looking forward to it~!"

"Mhm~~ I definitely won’t disappoint you, Rory!" Shannon Vance also winked playfully.

Archie Lockwood walked ahead, while Shirley Lockwood followed behind, her arm linked warmly through Shannon Vance’s.

It was such a warm and lovely scene that to any outsider, they looked just like a happy family of three.

Basking in the admiring and envious gazes of the onlookers, the smile on Shannon Vance’s face deepened.

’What’s mine is mine. No one can take it away from me...’

’Not Archie Lockwood, and not Rory!’

Once inside the villa, Shannon Vance took Rory by the hand and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Archie Lockwood. Every time they passed an acquaintance, she would make a point to pause, nod, and smile.

Upon spotting the night’s guest of honor, her cousin Fiona Vance, Shannon quietly reached out and gripped Archie Lockwood’s arm.

Archie stiffened at the sudden grip on his arm, his brow furrowing in displeasure.

"Archie, can you do me a favor?" Shannon Vance asked, her face pale and her voice fraught with anxiety.

Seeing Shannon Vance’s unusually pale expression, Archie Lockwood stopped himself from shaking her hand off. He raised an eyebrow and asked coldly, "What is it?"

"I told my cousin I was bringing my boyfriend to the banquet tonight, so..." As she spoke, her expression grew even more strained, and she looked at Archie Lockwood with extreme nervousness.

"So, what are you getting at?" Archie Lockwood’s face darkened with displeasure as he raised his hand and shook hers off.

Panic seized Shannon Vance as Archie so bluntly shook her hand away. "Archie, don’t get me wrong! I—I had no other choice but to lie to my cousin and the others."

"Oh?" Archie Lockwood raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Archie, you move in the same circles. You know better than anyone how arranged marriages between powerful families work. The Vance Group is no exception—they’re willing to sacrifice the happiness of the younger generation for the sake of certain benefits."

Archie’s lips twisted into a self-mocking smile. "So, what does this have to do with me?" ’Even if she’s being forced into a marriage, what’s that got to do with me? Not just anyone can win my sympathy the way Eleanor did.’

"Archie, do you see that man over there?" Shannon Vance asked, swallowing her humiliation and tugging on Archie Lockwood’s arm again.

Following Shannon Vance’s gaze, Archie Lockwood’s expression instantly darkened...

Her voice caught in her throat as she said, "The man I’m supposed to marry... is him!"