Chapter 822
Yet, others saw this as a golden opportunity. Earning the favor of a man like him was a guaranteed one-way ticket to unimaginable wealth.
However, rumors suggested he had zero interest in romance, with some whispering that he already had a fiancée who was significantly younger than him.
As Dane approached, several women looked ready to throw themselves at him. Claire noticed Amelia and Beatrice staring so hard their eyes were practically popping out of their heads.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as the devastatingly handsome man stopped right in front of Claire.
Amelia and Beatrice delusionally thought he was approaching them. Amelia even took a bold step forward, flashing her best smile. “Hi, I’m—”
Dane’s icy gaze swept right past her, instantly softening with warmth the second it landed on Claire. “Are you finished?”
“Yeah.” Claire covered her mouth as a delicate yawn escaped her. “I’m exhausted.” “You can sleep in the car.”
Dane was heading back to Cabinda tonight, and since Claire was supposed to travel there as well, the Churchill family had specifically asked him to escort her.
Even though she was more than capable of handling herself, the Churchills still viewed her as a precious girl in need of protection.
Since he was making the trip anyway, taking his little fiancée along was a perfect arrangement. Naturally, Dane had zero objections.
They had worked out the logistics yesterday. Once the SUNNY event concluded, he would pick her up directly from the venue.
“Alright.” Claire took a sluggish step toward him, her exhaustion causing her foot to slip on the polished marble.
Dane’s strong arm shot out, catching her waist instantly.
She didn’t resist his grip. Instead, she leaned into him, letting his solid frame support most of her weight. Glancing at the dumbfounded onlookers, she flashed a brilliant smile. “Let’s go, Dane.”
He knew she was being intentionally playful and didn’t mind indulging her, wrapping a protective arm around her as he guided her toward the car.
Shirley and Sophia stood frozen in place, momentarily forgotten as they watched their friend get swept away by a billionaire.
Thankfully, Claire remembered them just before she ducked into the vehicle. She waved cheerfully over her shoulder. “I’m heading out! Catching my flight to Cabinda.”
The two girls finally snapped out of their daze. They had completely forgotten she had mentioned her travel plans earlier that day.
A short distance away, Tabitha James twisted the hem of her dress, letting out a soft sigh. “She’s stunning. I could live a hundred years and never pull off a move that smooth.”
Tabitha was painfully aware that if she tripped, she’d likely hit the floor before anyone offered a hand. And even if someone caught her, she’d be far too embarrassed to simply melt into their embrace like that
Still, watching such an attractive couple was like a scene straight out of a romance novel. As far as she was concerned, ven if Claire had
slipped on purpose, no man alive
would ever push her away
“Your ex-fiancée—-oh, wait, your former ex-fiancée-is not only gorgeous, but she’s
brilliant. Are you out of your mind for letting that engagement fall through?”
She directed the question at her own fiancé, York, who had arrived to pick her up. In truth, York had gotten
there just a minute before Danonet
However, with the entire crowd
fixated on the Vertex CEO, York had completely blended into the
background.
York’s hands tightened into fists. “She isn’t a true member of the James family. Our arrangement was null and void.”
It wasn’t that he actively wanted to end things; it had been a mutual business decision orchestrated by their parents.
“Well, thank god it was null. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up with a guy that hot,” Tabitha teased, thoroughly enjoying his discomfort.
York had absolutely no comeback for that.
The truth was, he had heard those two spiteful women mocking Claire earlier. He had been on the verge of stepping in to defend her, right up until Dane made his grand entrance.
As much as it bruised his ego, he couldn’t deny the painful reality. Dane was completely out of his league.