53 Engagement Party 2

After a few moments of idle chatter with the couple of the evening, something that clearly erased Isabella's foul mood, Ci-ci and Milana continued down the garden path to find a lovely scene.

Furthest toward the back, a raised platform draped in pristine whites likely acted as location for the main players for this event. The two empty chairs centered in the middle were for Dalton and Isabella, with another four or so empty seats to the right of that. Two seats were filled to the left, though.

Ci-ci couldn't help but slightly frown when he saw a dark-skinned couple, who he assumed were Isabella's parents, sitting alone without companionship. Although the party around them seemed to be completely normal, Ci-ci's sharp senses couldn't help but see that something was off.

Behind the raised platform where the black couple sat, was an elegant arrangement of flowers and well-trimmed bushes, while at the forefront, were well decorated tables with the names of guests gracing their center pieces.

Ci-ci immediately found the table marked with his name and could only chuckle when he noticed that it was located in the outer-most fringe. But, it couldn't be helped. Table arrangements were yet another painstaking and labor-intensive process for such events. It was easier for Isabella to offend him than place a high-ranking official too far from the center.

Still, Ci-ci strolled in the confidence of an Emperor, choosing not to make his way to his table, but to instead take Milana with him to greet Isabella's parents.

The moment Ci-ci and Milana came into view, it would have been nonsense to say that no one noticed their presence. However, when they saw that they didn't recognize who Ci-ci was, many turned away. It wasn't until they did a double take after catching Milana out of the corner of their eye did they turn back with interest.

That said, Ci-ci continued to walk without noticing and it soon became clear to everyone that the tacitly ostracized couple was their goal.

Completely oblivious to Ci-ci and Milana's actions, the Patterson family Head and his wife tried to combine an odd dichotomy of remaining dignified while keeping their heads down. They both knew that they had to be here and support their daughter, but clearly their fairy tale of leaping into the skies and forming a relationship with a sub-pillar family was nothing but wishful thinking.

Now, Mr. Patterson who was used to lording over hordes of people could only sit silently and do his best not to anger those around him. This was a feeling he hadn't felt since he was kid and it filled him with rage.

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The Patterson family could be said to have been built up in his hands. Before he became the first to succeed in their bloodline, they had been little different from the families living in the projects of North York.

Luckily, he had been stubborn and ambitious, leading to him barely making it into a top 50 university and eventually landing a position at Patterson and Gravelle which had been known as Newman and Gravelle at the time before the current head of the council resigned from his position and passed the torch to him.

His only child, Isabella, did him proud when she entered an even better university than him and managed to catch the eye of such a great young man. The fact that Dalton was a Cox was only supplementary to him, what he truly loved the boy for was the fact he was willing to go to the ends of the Earth to protect Isabella.

When he learned of their engagement, he thought that his job was finally done, that he could finally smile and relax. The Patterson family finally meant something now. Yet… Reality was cruel.

'Even after all this time, my work… My legacy… It means nothing. I have to work harder to pay back today's humiliation.' He gently squeezed his wife's delicate hand, reassuring her.

When Mr. Patterson was almost about to let a sigh to slip through his full lips, he suddenly noticed that the space in front of him had considerably darkened as a shadow was cast.

Mr. Patterson looked up only for his eyes to widen in surprise as he noticed a young man with looks slightly above average clasping his hands and bowing to him in respect.

To say that he was stunned by this action was a complete understatement. This sort of bow wasn't the norm in West Continent culture. Although it was more accepted in East Continent as a way of showing filial piety, it was rare even there these days. This young man's actions were akin to throwing down a gauntlet without speaking a single word.

A blazing fire swelled in Mr. Patterson's chest as he once dull brown eyes shone fiercely.

"This young one greets Mr. and Mrs. Patterson. I've long since heard of your names and feats, I would be remiss if I didn't greet you two properly." Ci-ci spoke humbly.

Milana didn't lag behind even a half-step, curtsying with the grace of a Princess as she slightly lowered her head.

Ci-ci smiled brightly, straightening himself. "I'm Lucius Grant, a junior –"

Mr Patterson shook his head. "I'm well aware of who you are, Lucius." He wanted to stand, but something in Ci-ci's eye told him not to. When he sensed this, he felt even more gratitude toward this young man. "It seems that the stories can't compare to the real thing. And this is…"

Milana came forward with a smile. "I'm Lucius' girlfriend, Milana. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, Isabella and Dalton are a lovely couple."

Mrs. Patterson's dull expression finally brightened for the first time that day as the four of them began a lively interaction.

Although Ci-ci hadn't said anything, there was a rage building up within him too. Since these arrogant bastards wanted to play a game of image, semantics and nobility, he'd really like to see which one of them dared to challenge him. There was nothing he hated more than undeserved arrogance.

In the distance, a young man who looked like a more mature Dalton noticed Ci-ci's challenge, and judging by the slight glint in his eye, he didn't like it… Not one bit.

Surrounded by influential young men of his generation, he took a sip of champagne, his eyes trained onto Ci-ci's back.

'Interesting.'