“Miss Kaur, are you joking? Drinking red wine doesn’t show sincerity. Drinking white wine is the real deal!” Lara said, raising her glass. “Miss Andrews, I’ll drink first.”
She downed her drink in one go, showing Sylvia the empty glass as if to prove a point.
Sylvia watched her with a faint smile, as if she were observing a ridiculous clown.
She said nothing, and soon the other socialites exchanged glances. Seeing Lara drink, they hesitated briefly before following suit, one by one.
When it was Miss Hayes’s turn, she looked reluctant but didn’t dare offend Lara. With a stiff face, she said to Sylvia, “Miss Andrews, I toast to you.”
She then drank her glass of wine.
According to the rules of the table, Sylvia was supposed to toast each person in return.
There were about eight or nine of them, which meant Sylvia would have to drink eight or nine glasses.
Drinking that much white wine was something only seasoned drinkers could handle.
How could a young woman possibly drink so much?
They wanted to see how Sylvia would manage it.
Especially Lara, who felt particularly smug inside.
“Miss Andrews, not drinking would be disrespectful!” Lara said with a sincere expression and then told the servant behind her, “Fill Miss Andrews’s glass.”
The servant, familiar with Lara, quickly walked over and filled Sylvia’s glass to the brim with white wine.
“Miss Andrews, who will you toast first? Miss Hayes, Miss Li, or me?” Lara’s red lips curved slightly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Sylvia looked at Lara expressionlessly. This woman had gathered so many heiresses under the guise of friendship but was actually setting a trap.
Did she think Sylvia was a fool? Or did she think Sylvia was as brainless as she was?
Drinking so much white wine would surely make her sick.
She wasn’t someone who could drink endlessly without getting drunk.
Just as Sylvia was about to say she would drink one glass for all of them, a strong hand suddenly snatched the glass from her. A man’s sexy, raspy voice followed, “It’s our honor that so many ladies want to be friends with my wife. I’ll drink for her.”
With that, the man tilted his head back, his Adam’s apple moving up and down as he downed the entire glass in one gulp.
Without any hesitation, he told the servant, “Keep pouring. I’ll drink all of it for her.”
Lara watched jealously as Franklin protected his wife so dominantly. After a moment, she said, “Mr. Maskelyne, you’re breaking the rules. This toast was meant for Miss Andrews. If you drink it all for her, doesn’t that make our toasts meaningless?”
“A husband and wife are one. Toasting her is toasting me. If I drink, it’s as if she drank.” Franklin’s deep voice carried an undeniable authority.
Lara’s ears burned with anger.
She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, but she couldn’t say a word.
Franklin drank several more glasses of white wine in quick succession.
The surrounding guests noticed the commotion and gathered around. “My goodness, Mr. Maskelyne can really hold his liquor!”
“These are full glasses! Drinking so many is impressive!”
“So domineering!”
“Such a protective husband!”
“Miss Andrews is so lucky.”
“They must really love each other.”
Lara’s chest heaved with rage. She hadn’t expected her scheme to backfire so spectacularly.
Instead of embarrassing Sylvia, she had become a stepping stone for Franklin and Sylvia to show off their love.
Now everyone knew how deeply they loved each other and how much Franklin adored Sylvia.
She felt like a clown being toyed with and humiliated by Franklin and Sylvia.
Once might be forgivable, but twice?
Suppressing her anger, she forced herself to speak. “Mr. Maskelyne is truly unbeatable in spoiling his wife. Miss Andrews is so fortunate to have a husband who shields her from drinking.”
Her words were laced with bitterness, nearly causing her teeth to crack.
“Miss Fox sees things clearly. My husband does spoil me and love me endlessly.” Sylvia smiled sweetly as she linked arms with Franklin, looking charming and adorable.
In front of Franklin, she exuded a unique allure that she never showed to others.
Franklin finished the last glass of white wine and set the glass down. He extended his long arm and pulled her into his embrace.
His handsome face carried a faint scent of alcohol as he looked at her with eyes full of affection that could make anyone swoon.
“I’m feeling a bit drunk,” he murmured huskily, his gaze growing more unfocused. “Let’s go!”
Before Sylvia could react, she found herself lifted into a strong embrace. The man’s powerful arms cradled her as he carried her away. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Honey-”
She called out softly, her moist eyes gazing at his handsome face up close.
Franklin’s lips curved into a seductive smile. His long eyes sparkled with an intoxicating light. His little woman-how could she be so beautiful? Even after being apart for so long, she remained stunningly attractive. Just one look and he was captivated.
His body, already tense with longing, could no longer endure his desire.
He didn’t want to spend another minute with these people; he only wanted to find a secluded place to be with her intimately.
Unable to resist, he lowered his head and pecked her red lips before striding out with her in his arms.
The President panicked!
He hurriedly chased after Franklin, shouting as he went, “Stop him! Stop him!”
The banquet was only halfway through; how could the main guest just leave?
Damn Sylvia!
That seductive woman had lured away his son.
He had organized this event not for their reconciliation but for something else entirely!
But Franklin moved quickly. By the time the bodyguards reacted, they only saw him getting into a black car and driving away.
The President gritted his teeth in frustration. “Keep chasing! What are you standing around for?”
Mollie watched the scene unfold with amusement and whispered to Clare, “I didn’t expect Mr. Maskelyne to be so domineering.”
“Of course! Their relationship is very passionate,” Clare said with a wicked glint in his eye. “Wife, let’s go home too!”
“But the event isn’t over,” Mollie hesitated.
Clare gave a mischievous smile. “Because I also want some passionate time alone.”
“You’re terrible! How can you be so naughty?” Mollie blushed and playfully punched his chest, only for him to catch her small fist. “Let’s go home.”
Tristan stood in a corner, his face dark and brooding.
He had been watching Sylvia and Franklin closely. When Franklin kissed Sylvia, he nearly punched him in the face.
That woman-what a tease!
Damn it!
She acted all aloof and unattainable around him but turned into a flirtatious vixen around Franklin. It was infuriating.
“Still thinking about her?” Marcelo asked coldly.
“What else can I do?” Tristan licked his teeth.
The thought of Sylvia being intimate with Franklin made him want to tear everything apart.
“Put in more effort! Snatch her back so we can both enjoy,” Marcelo said maliciously. “Her body is incredible!”
Inside the speeding black car, Franklin’s eyes were like those of a wolf as he stared intensely at Sylvia.
Sylvia noticed his flushed face and the scent of alcohol filling the car’s interior.
They gazed at each other passionately for a long moment before Franklin suddenly leaned over and wrapped his arms around her tightly. His lips crashed onto hers in a frenzied kiss.
The atmosphere in the car ignited instantly, like it was on fire.
Jasper noticed and immediately drove towards a nearby hotel at high speed.
In just a few minutes, the car came to a steady stop.
Franklin carried Sylvia out of the car and strode into the hotel lobby straight into an elevator.
Meanwhile, Jasper handled the check-in at the front desk.
Inside the room, Franklin pressed Sylvia onto the bed as if he wanted to devour her whole.
“I missed you… missed you so much!”
“My bones ache with longing; my chest feels like it’s going to burst,” he whispered in her ear repeatedly.
“Kissing you makes me happy; it satisfies me.”
“Holding you makes me feel at ease; it comforts me.”
Sylvia looked at him with dreamy eyes and finally wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
“Me too, me too,” she murmured before offering him her lips…
Meanwhile, the President’s assistant had arranged for numerous bodyguards and subordinates to search for Franklin’s whereabouts frantically. They scoured everywhere like headless chickens.
Clare and Mollie returned directly to the Hipps family residence.
“Where’s Sylvia?” Old Mrs. Hipps asked eagerly; waiting for her granddaughter had become her daily routine.
“Mr. Maskelyne took her away,” Clare laughed. “Mom, don’t worry too much. The couple is just rekindling their love after some time apart. You should get some rest.”
Old Mrs. Hipps stood up helplessly. “Really! So did the President let them go?”
“No way! Mr. Maskelyne had some drinks and just ran off with Sylvia,” Mollie said with starry eyes. “It was so cool!”
Clare looked at her jealously. “Am I not cool? Am I not handsome?”
Mollie quickly reassured him, “Of course my husband is handsome-super handsome.”