"Lillian, you don't have to be so cruel to Xavier. He's your biological son. I know you're only saying these things because of me."
"But I really have no intention of driving a wedge between you.”
"I just hope you don't keep treating him like a child, otherwise he'll never mature."
"Don't you want an heir who can hold up the family legacy, rather than hoping he becomes a mediocre slacker living off his parents?"
Jocelyn Thorne spoke with self-righteous indignation; anyone listening would think she was purely standing up for Xavier's sake.
"Let him fight for power, only to listen to you and be controlled by you?"
It had to be said that a shrewd woman like Lillian Vance could easily see through Jocelyn's ambitions.
Only her own foolish son still thought this woman was an innocent angel.
“Lillian, that's a bit harsh. Xavier is your son. Don't you trust him?”
"We're just good friends. Why would he listen to me?"
Jocelyn looked wronged, casting a glance at Xavier.
Xavier felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.
He wasn't good at handling this kind of drama. He excelled at partying and having fun, but when it came to women, he was actually quite naive.
Lillian knew this woman was using her son's weaknesses to manipulate him, so she decided to send him away.
"Didn't you say you came here today to make up with Owen? Aren't you going inside?"
"I already apologized." Xavier believed he had done his part.
At that moment, a car suddenly pulled up in front of the three of them.
The driver's window rolled down, revealing a sharp, capable beauty with short hair.
"Lillian!" It was Serena Wade.
She had been called over by a single phone call from Lillian.
Lillian was worried she couldn't handle her son on her own, so she called for backup.
In truth, her son had always listened to Serena more since they were young.
Serena indeed had a fiery temper, but she could keep Xavier in check, which Lillian loved.
At the very least, the girl had a good heart.
Originally, Serena was supposed to attend the banquet with Xavier today.
But Serena had other plans to discuss a business deal, which gave Jocelyn the opportunity to step in.
Lillian knew Serena didn't have
strontic feelings for her son,
but she was incredibly
on e
Land
knew exactly what she wanted.
She was highly rational, meaning she wouldn't care about Xavier's foolishness when
it came to romance.
This was the best choice for the Vance family.
"Serena, you made it." Lillian flashed a warm smile at Serena.
"Xavier said he wanted to wait outside for you. He was worried about you coming alone."
"Let's go, I'd take you inside." Lillian
was preparing to introduce the
Vance family's connections to her
fe daughter-in-law.
Serena gladly accepted, but when she saw Xavier and the girl standing next to him, she paused.
"Xavier, who is this?" she asked proactively, looking at Jocelyn.
Her gaze was predatory and intimidating, making Jocelyn extremely uncomfortable.
Baget
It also made her understand why Xavier said this woman had a bad temper and had bossed him around their whole lives.
A woman like this had a completely different personality from her own.
She really was like a tomboy.
It was only natural that Xavier didn't like her.
Feeling a bit more at ease, Jocelyn was confident she wouldn't lose to this tomboy named Serena.
"Hi, I'm Xavier's good friend, Jocelyn Thorne."
Jocelyn took the initiative to introduce herself.
"I just got back to the country and wanted to see some old friends, which is why
Xavier brought me here today."
"I hope you aren't mad at him."
She had spoken first, wearing an apologetic expression.
It was as if her relationship with Xavier was far more intimate than his dynamic with
his childhood friend, Serena.