Xavier completely missed the look of sheer disbelief on Owen's face and just kept talking.
"After our race that day, I really thought about it."
"Since you were in love with her sister, there's no conflict between us. I was way too hot-headed back then."
"If you still want to be with her sister, Jocelyn can help you reconnect."
"As for what happened, Jocelyn already explained everything to me."
"It was all her parents' doing. She never even wanted her sister to take the exam for her."
"That's why she chose to go abroad in the end, instead of going along with her parents' manipulative plans."
Having learned from Xavier that Owen had spilled the secret, Jocelyn had instantly spun a new narrative to protect herself.
She had effortlessly flipped the script, transforming herself from the perpetrator into a helpless victim. No one played the innocent damsel better than her.
And somehow, Xavier had swallowed every single word of it.
He had even brought her to the Churchill gala specifically to patch things up with Owen.
In Xavier's mind, Owen was probably still pining after Jocelyn's sister.
He figured if they helped Owen get the girl, Owen would finally let go of his grudge over the past.
"I seriously need to ask your mother if she dropped you on your head as an infant!" What kind of brainless logic was this?
Owen deeply regretted that anyone knew he and Xavier used to be friends. He felt his own IQ dropping just standing near the guy.
"Owen, I'm being completely serious!" Xavier genuinely felt he had misunderstood Owen in the past and was actively trying to mend fences.
Tonight felt like the perfect opportunity.
He hadn't expected Owen to completely blow him off.
"I'm being completely serious too. Use that pea-brain of yours for five seconds. If Jocelyn didn't want it, would her sister have been able to take the test for her?"
"You're the only idiot who still thinks she's some innocent little victim!"
Owen wanted to grab Xavier by the ears and scream some sense into him.
Jocelyn's eyes were already brimming with fresh tears. "Please don't fight because of me. This is all my fault."
"No matter how you look at it, I benefited from my sister's sacrifice. It's perfectly normal that Owen is upset."
Even though Xavier had decided he
only wanted a platonic friendship et
with Jocelyn, seeing her cry stiff
tugged a
his heartstrings.
"Jocelyn, stop. It's not all your fault. You can't control how overbearing your parents were."
Pfft-
Claire couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a sharp laugh.
Was Xavier's brain actually eaten by zombies?
"Who's there?"
Xavier snapped his head toward the sound, shouting to cover up his embarrassment.
Claire and Dane hadn't moved an inch from their seats.
Xavier immediately recognized Claire.
She was practically the guest of honor tonight.
Back in the day, Xavier had no idea Owen even had a sister, nor had anyone ever mentioned Melissa.
It was only when the news broke
that Claire was the Churchill heiress that he finally put the pieces together.
Still, her status didn't give her the right to laugh at him!
While Xavier was staring at Claire, Jocelyn's gaze inevitably drifted to the man sitting beside her.
It only took one glance for her to realize that this man was leagues above both Xavier and Owen.
He was the absolute pinnacle of elite.
A man like that completely commanded the atmosphere. It was impossible to look away from him.
Claire and Dane both noticed her predatory stare, but neither paid it any mind.
They were entirely used to people looking at him like that.
one
"What are you two doing out here?" Xavier visibly relaxed when he
realized it was Claire. At least
was somewhat in the circle
She
He had already embarrassed himself in front of her once at Ridgeview Pass; what was one more time?
Besides, she was Owen's sister.
That practically made her his own sister, too.
However, his relief vanished the second he realized the man beside her was Dane Green.