Chapter 781 - 769: Attracting Romance (9)

Chapter 781: Chapter 769: Attracting Romance (9)

Archie Lockwood listened to Fiona Vance’s taunts, a cold smile on his face. He took the wine glass and had a sip.

It was as though the person Fiona Vance was talking about wasn’t him, as if it had nothing to do with him whatsoever.

Seeing Archie Lockwood’s unfazed expression, Fiona Vance also raised her glass and took a drink.

Shannon Vance watched from the sidelines, completely bewildered. She quietly pulled Shirley Lockwood aside, leaning in to ask what was going on.

’One rival, Eleanor Bishop, was enough to make her anxious. Just great. Now it seemed her own cousin was a rival too.’

’And what’s more, Archie Lockwood didn’t even try to argue against her cousin’s taunts. It was clear their relationship was anything but ordinary.’

When Shannon finished questioning Shirley, she looked up to find that both Archie Lockwood and her cousin, Fiona Vance, had disappeared. Panicked, she grabbed Shirley’s arm and frantically scanned their surroundings.

Just then, music swelled through the hall. An instant later, she saw Archie Lockwood and her cousin, Fiona Vance, step into the center of the floor in an embrace, leading the first dance.

Seeing this, Shannon Vance stomped her foot in anger.

’In the blink of an eye, her cousin had snatched him away!’

’She had worked so hard to convince Archie Lockwood to pretend to be her boyfriend tonight! How could her chance to dance with him be stolen just like that?’

In the center of the hall, Archie Lockwood stared at the woman before him, his gaze deep and complex.

’She was right. It wasn’t just his identity and status that had changed—even the heart he’d had back then was gone!’

’If it weren’t for the unexpected appearance of Eleanor Bishop, perhaps he would have ended up with this woman...’

’Because of Eleanor Bishop, his desire for revenge against the Lockwood Family had only deepened.’

’That was why he had forced himself, step by step, to get to where he was today.’

’He had power and wealth now, but he wasn’t happy or content.’

’The Archie Summers of the past, though not very ambitious or powerful, was at least happy.’

’He was surrounded by family and would occasionally get together with friends.’

’But the Archie Lockwood of today was high above it all, too lonely, too cold...’

"Are you serious about Shannon?" Fiona Vance asked, her voice cold. Her gaze was complex as she stared at Archie Lockwood’s familiar, handsome face.

"What do you think?"

"Hah. I don’t think you’re serious about her." The Archie Summers she knew never truly gave his heart to any woman.

Flitting from one woman to the next, toying with them as he pleased—that was Archie Summers!

Archie Lockwood scoffed, his voice tinged with self-mockery. "Maybe this time it’s the real deal."

"Even if it were real, it definitely wouldn’t be for Shannon." Fiona Vance’s gaze drifted to where Shannon was standing not far away, a confident smirk playing on her lips as she spoke.

Archie Lockwood found her words particularly ironic. "Fiona Vance, you think you know me so well?"

"I’d like to think so. In this entire world, if you’re looking for the person who knows you best... I’m afraid that would be me." ’It was precisely because she understood him so well that they could never end up together.’

’And it was because he would never truly fall for any woman that she had managed to pull away in time, before she got in too deep.’

"So, Fiona Vance, why did you leave all those years ago?" Archie Lockwood lowered his head, his gaze turning grim as he looked at her. "Was it because my status wasn’t good enough for you?"

"Archie Summers, you’ve always been so conceited!" ’If he’d only been willing to be faithful, would she have ever left?’

’Hah... Conceited? If I’d had my current status back then, would she still have left?’