His accusatory tone made Hailey's frown deepen.
"Are you still at the Blackwood estate? Send me your location, I'll come find you right now!" Adrian said again, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Don't..." Hailey instinctively started to refuse.
She had just been thrown out of the party by the Blackwoods.
If Adrian came over and saw her, it would be mortifying.
She had barely gotten a word out when Marianne bumped her hard, mouthing frantically, "Don't tell him."
Hailey blinked, instantly understanding Marianne's meaning.
She cleared her throat. "It's funny to hear you questioning me, Mr. Cole. You haven't answered a single one of my calls for days. How was I supposed to tell you anything?"
"Your disappearance made your intentions clear. Our families' engagement is off. Why are you calling me now?"
Adrian's voice softened. "Hailey, when did I ever say I wanted to cancel our engagement? I've just been busy these past few days..."
"Right, you were busy. So I won't bother you," Hailey said coolly, following Marianne's lead.
Adrian was clearly desperate to find out how she got into the Blackwood party, so he adopted a much humbler tone. "I was wrong, Hailey... You know how important the Cole family inheritance is to me. I've really been tied up with that..."
Hailey remained emotionally detached.
But she didn't hang up, which meant there was room for negotiation.
In the end, Adrian made a string of promises that finally softened Hailey's attitude.
Adrian seized the opportunity to ask again why she was able to attend Brianna's coming-of-age party.
Hailey knew perfectly well.
The only reason Adrian was calling her today was because he'd heard she was at the party and saw an opportunity.
She certainly wasn't going to tell him that her entire family had been kicked out by the Blackwoods.
She replied vaguely, "The eldest daughter of the Lancaster family loves my jewelry designs, so she recruited me for a hefty price to be a designer at her company, Aurayion Jewelers
"Miss Lancaster is engaged to a Blackwood, so she had a few extra invitations and gave one to me."
Adrian was shocked. He never thought that this gentle, dependent Hailey had this kind of ability.
She had managed to win the favor of the Lancaster heiress.
She had even become close enough to the Lancaster heiress to get an invitation to the Blackwood party.
If he could use Hailey to build a connection with the Lancaster family...
Wouldn't his claim to the inheritance be unshakable?
Adrian's tone became even more gentle. "I've neglected you lately because of the inheritance issue. Let's have dinner tonight as my apology, okay?"
Hailey glanced at Marianne, who shook her head.
She declined. "I'm still at the Blackwood's evening reception. I don't think I have time tonight."
"Then I'll come over..." This was a golden opportunity for Adrian.
But before he could finish, Hailey cut him off. "The invitation Isabella gave me only allows me to bring my family. Adrian, it's really not convenient tonight."