CHAPTER 263: THE PART [4]

Cedric clenched his fists, feeling humiliated beyond words. The people around had gone silent, watching the exchange like an unexpected show. Whispers started spreading.

He could feel the heat of their stares burning holes into his pride.

"Cousin," he forced a smile, his tone dripping with venom now, "you sure have an interesting choice of friends."

Damian tilted his head. "At least mine can fight without hiding behind their family name."

Things were now very heated, and Cedric was seriously reconsidering his life choices—wishing he had never approached in the first place. He didn’t even know how to walk away with his head held high.

Forcing himself, he drew his feet back while cursing Gabriel in his heart. At first, he had wanted to form a connection with him; however, that plan was now scrapped. Gabriel had just been added to his list of enemies to deal with later on.

"How did your talk go?" As soon as Damian sat down, one of the numerous Graves daughters spoke.

Her name was Talia Graves, whose beauty was comparable to that of Scarlet and Sophie. She had been observing Gabriel and Cedric’s conversation for a while now.

Like most women, she had found an interest in Gabriel as well—not just because of his strength, but also because of his accomplishments.

She had already had her eyes on him beforehand and was also the first person at the main table to recognize him easily.

"It went well," Cedric lied, lowering his head—a clear sign he didn’t want to talk about it.

Talia narrowed her eyes slightly, then shifted her gaze back toward Gabriel’s table.

Time passed slowly, and gradually, the hands of the clock began to approach 10 p.m.

The party was entering its climax as even the soft music from the beginning started to play louder, livening things up and urging couples to dance on the floor. With the first young man daring to invite a beautiful young lady, the center of the room soon filled with people of all ages dancing to the rhythm.

At that moment, the lights dimmed slightly, and the hall was illuminated by golden chandeliers that sparkled like stars. The orchestra in the corner began playing a softer, more romantic tune—one meant for couples to dance to.

A wave of murmurs and laughter filled the air as men began inviting women onto the dance floor.

Damian leaned back, sipping his drink lazily. "Here we go... time for the Graves family’s favorite performance—pretending they actually like each other."

Gabriel gave him a side glance but didn’t respond. At this point, he was bored. So far, there had been no speech, and he was still trying to figure out whether the event was just a simple family gathering or something more.

To kill time, he had even tried scrolling through the forum, but everyone was still engrossed in the "White Phantom" discussion. He simply logged out and refocused on the party.

Gabriel wasn’t a good dancer—perhaps this could be an opportunity to pick up one or two things from watching the others.

Meanwhile, Talia Graves stood elegantly with a glass of wine between her fingers. Her long auburn hair shimmered under the lights, and the blue silk dress she wore clung perfectly to her slender figure. She watched Gabriel intently, her crimson lips curving slightly as if she were contemplating something bold.

Then, as if making a decision, she stood.

The subtle motion caught the attention of a few nearby, including Cedric, whose face darkened when he realized where she was headed.

’Don’t tell me... she’s going to him?’ he thought, his pride stinging all over again.

Indeed, she was.

Talia stopped beside Gabriel, tilting her head slightly. Her confidence was radiant, her posture flawless. "Sir Gabriel," she said sweetly, "would you honor me with a dance?"

The nearby tables instantly quieted. Several young heirs exchanged glances—some jealous, others in disbelief. No one had ever seen Talia take the initiative like this.

Gabriel raised his eyes slowly from his drink, his expression unreadable. He studied her for a moment—her flawless smile, the faint perfume she wore, and the way her tone hinted at testing him.

Then he said, flatly, "No."

The word hit harder than a slap.

For a moment, no one moved. Talia’s expression froze, the smile still on her lips but her eyes flickering slightly. "...Excuse me?"

Gabriel leaned back lazily, not even bothering to meet her gaze this time. "I don’t dance," he said simply, turning his focus back to his drink.

A stunned silence fell across the hall. A few people gasped audibly. Even the music seemed to fade for a moment.

Cedric, who had been sulking, nearly choked on his wine.

"He... he turned her down?"

Even though they were cousins, he would kill for that opportunity! In fact, all distant relatives of the Graves family would.

"Did he just reject Talia?!"

The whispers started spreading like wildfire.

"He actually said no."

"Who does he think he is?"

"Well, he’s pretty famous and powerful."

"Still, refusing Talia like that... he must be crazy."

Talia blinked twice, regaining her composure almost instantly. She forced a polite smile, though her pride was clearly wounded. "I see," she said softly. "Then perhaps another time."

Gabriel didn’t respond.

The rejection, clean and effortless, stung worse than a public insult. Everyone could tell. Even Damian was torn between laughing and feeling pity.

For the rest of the party, whispers about what had occurred never died down. Talia kept her head lowered throughout the dance.

About an hour later, the soft music stopped as the main family stood up. A few seconds later, the head of the family stepped forward. His back was slightly bent, but his eyes were still sharp and cold.

Everyone who had been chatting among themselves stopped, their eyes turning to him.

The entire hall went silent as they waited for him to speak.

He tapped the microphone lightly, his old voice steady but filled with authority. "Tonight," he said, "we celebrate the founding of the Graves family. For years, we have stood strong and proud, building what others could not. We have conquered the business world, the military, and the academy."

His words carried weight, and everyone listened quietly. But soon, the tone in his voice changed—it became colder.

"However..." he paused, his eyes scanning the crowd until they stopped on Damian. "Not everyone has honored our name."