CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: BROTHER, YOU WON’T BLAME ME, RIGHT? (NEW)

Talia lowered her eyes, shifting her gaze downwards.

Adrian Jennings was holding her hand, their fingers interwoven, and he said sarcastically, "Date? You think Talia would still fancy someone like him after being with me?"

The words might be crude, but they aren’t wrong.

Talia smiled gently and leaned towards Adrian Jennings’s embrace, looking all coquettish and demure, "Adrian’s so right. I only have eyes for Adrian now. Why would I think about those nonsense flings I had in my reckless youth?"

Ethan Grant’s smile froze, his face turning dark.

What a phrase—those nonsense flings in reckless youth.

Does she really think so little of him?

Ethan Grant’s hand tightened into a fist by his side as he struggled to suppress the anger and bitterness within him.

Meanwhile, a flicker of jealousy flashed in Selina Hughes’s eyes, which she quickly buried as she cursed Talia Rhodes a thousand times over in her heart.

Just then, Yvonne Coleman interjected with a mocking tone, "Miss Yates, no wonder the Yates Family can’t show off at social events. Who else would you want to fawn over other than Ethan Grant, someone Talia’s already tired of?"

"Who are you calling a worn-out shoe?" Ethan Grant couldn’t hold back, angrily questioning.

Ivy Yates was furious and about to argue with Yvonne Coleman when she caught sight of Ryan Quinn standing behind Yvonne and bit her tongue.

She doesn’t dare mess with the Quinn Family.

"I’m talking about you," Yvonne Coleman wasn’t afraid of the drama, casually watching Ethan Grant.

"You’re Ethan Grant, right? Dating Talia’s like leaving a criminal record. Lucky she wised up and kicked you to the curb. Otherwise, I’d have put a knife to her throat to make her break up with you. Didn’t you get together with that so-called treasure of yours? How come you haven’t brought her out to strut today in this nice weather?"

Ethan Grant was practically about to explode with rage.

Seeing that he was about to lose his temper and yell at Yvonne Coleman, Selina Hughes hurriedly grabbed him, "Okay, okay, everyone just stop arguing. Today’s just a misunderstanding, my fault, my fault. I didn’t know Ethan Grant and Sister Talia were an item before."

Selina Hughes bit her lower lip lightly, tears in her eyes as she looked at Adrian Jennings, with a pitiful, teary expression.

"Adrian, I really didn’t know Ethan Grant was Sister Talia’s ex-boyfriend. I just thought...

I thought he was just a friend of Ivy’s... You’re not mad at me, are you?"

Adrian Jennings was just about to speak when Talia beat him to it, mimicking Selina Hughes’ sweetly innocent tone, "My sister made a mistake unintentionally, why would I be mad at you? Your brother wouldn’t be mad either."

Adrian Jennings didn’t know what Talia was up to, but since she said so, he played along, keeping his face cold and saying, "If Talia’s not mad at you, I’m not either."

Selina Hughes was speechless, confused, looking at Talia Rhodes, who rewarded her with a sweet smile. It made Selina’s skin crawl. What kind of game was Talia playing?

Talia internally sneered, ’Let’s see who gets to be disgusted in the end.’

At that moment, Andrew Donovan, who’d been watching the drama unfold, suddenly spoke, "Let’s not just stand around; let’s eat something and rest so we have the energy to climb the mountain."

The audience dispersed, and everyone took out the folding tables and chairs they’d prepared ahead of time. After setting up, the tables cloths were spread, and various ready-to-eat foods, drinks, and fresh ingredients were neatly arranged.

The picnic was complete with a barbecue grill, charcoal, cartridge stove, pots, and pans — everyone got busy; some grilling meat, some cooking.

Talia and Yvonne both loved barbecue, so they teamed up to grill.

Yvonne: "Why don’t you make him leave?"

She was referring to Ethan Grant.

Talia leisurely brushed sauce on her beef skewers, "Can’t make him leave. Even if he leaves once, he’ll come back again. I’ve tried several times before; it doesn’t work."

"Talia, am I right? Selina Hughes is not easy to deal with. Do you believe she didn’t know Ethan Grant was your ex, or that I’m the first emperor of China?"

"I know she did it on purpose. I suspect Selina Hughes has been secretly in touch with Ethan Grant, colluding to break me and Adrian apart. Since they are so eager to disgust me, I’ll play along with them, see who disgusts who."

Yvonne gave a thumbs-up, "Spot-on, correct, sharp as ever. Your sister’s got your back!"

Ryan Quinn popped up nosey as ever, "Talia, is that fool your ex-boyfriend?"

Talia was about to answer when Ryan suddenly yelped in pain, clutching his head.

Adrian Jennings’s cool voice came from behind him, "Don’t pry into private matters willy-nilly."

Ryan Quinn looked at Adrian Jennings, indignant, "Why did you flick me? Ah, it hurts! I just care about Talia."

"Don’t you have anything better to do?" Yvonne thrust a bunch of fresh lamb skewers and chicken wings into Ryan’s hands, "Grill these."

Ryan Quinn: "..."

Adrian Jennings hugged Talia from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, his arms around her waist, his tone sticky and sweet: "Talia."

Talia let him hold her, continuing to grill meat, "These skewers are just about done."

"Mm." Her body was completely enveloped in his breath.

Adrian Jennings kissed her neck here and softly bit her earlobe there, the warmth of his breath tickling her, making Talia giggle.

When Adrian tried to nibble her ear again, Talia laughed and dodged, "Stop it, everyone’s watching."

Adrian Jennings’s voice was deep and sexy, "Who cares? Let them see how sweet we are."

Nearby single Ryan Quinn: "Hey Yvonne, do you smell something?"

Yvonne sniffed, "What smell? All I smell is barbecue."

Ryan Quinn, sarcastically: "It’s the stench of love in the air."

Adrian Jennings held Talia as he lazily said, "What are you talking about? Love is a sweet smell."

Selina Hughes glared at Adrian Jennings and Talia Rhodes, lost in their affection, so tightly she almost audibly cracked her knuckles in anger.

When the meat was ready, everyone gathered around the tables to eat.

At two tables, Talia, Adrian Jennings, Ryan Quinn, Andrew Donovan, Winter Donovan, and Yvonne sat together, while Selina Hughes, her two friends, and Ethan Grant were at another table.

Talia and Adrian Jennings had just sat down when Selina Hughes came over, holding a bowl of something.

Selina Hughes placed the bowl in front of Adrian Jennings on the table, leaning forward, almost pressing herself against him.

"Adrian, I just made this oden, try it."

Adrian Jennings slightly shifted his body closer to Talia, creating some distance from Selina, and pushed the bowl towards Talia, "Talia, it’s your favorite oden, taste it."

Selina Hughes’s smile froze.

Talia picked up a pair of disposable chopsticks, and grabbed a fish ball to taste.

After finishing the fish ball, Talia turned to Selina, her eyes smiling, "Hmm, tastes good, thank you, sister."

It didn’t stop there—Adrian took the chopsticks and picked out a piece of beef tripe to feed Talia, "Try this."

Watching this scene, the group at the table instantly admired Adrian Jennings.

Thinking: He’s mastered the art of using someone else’s resources to please his own. Brilliantly refused the sister while sweetening the wife—amazing!

Yvonne joined in at the right moment, "Oh my, young love is sweet, showing affection everywhere. Selina, look at how loving your brother and sister-in-law are."