CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: INTERESTS AND UTILIZATION

Shane walked over, resisting the urge to take off his coat and drape it over Audrey’s shoulders, and simply extended his hand toward her.

Audrey, who was cautiously descending the stairs in high heels while holding the banister, saw the hand in front of her, looked up to see it was Shane, and immediately smiled, placing her hand on his to continue down the stairs with his support.

Shane’s gesture of offering support was very clear in its intent.

It was to show the watchful and restless men that this woman was his.

Flora saw this and immediately acted coquettishly with her boyfriend, "I want to be supported too~"

"Support, support, support!"

Barry Barrett and Seraphina Vaughn exchanged a glance, then Barry Barrett mimicked Flora deliberately and said to Seraphina Vaughn, "I want to be supported~"

Seraphina Vaughn said, "Support, support, support!"

Then the two linked arms and simultaneously said, "Disgusting~"

After a simple breakfast, Audrey was touching up her lipstick in a small mirror when someone informed her to head to the seventh-floor terrace to prepare for seating, as the wedding was about to begin.

The weather was nice today, with mild sunshine and warm sea breezes.

The wedding venue was set up so dreamily that it was clear The Sterling had spent a fortune for Clarissa Morgan’s marriage.

Audrey even thought that her wedding with Shane was too simple in comparison.

When it was time to take their seats, Audrey left Shane and switched places with Arthur Sutton to sit and gossip with her girlfriends.

Shane didn’t say anything, because Audrey was sitting in front of him and every move she made was in his line of sight.

Seraphina Vaughn said, "This is definitely today’s big news again. The Sterling family has great stature in the jade industry and with the well-known Clarissa Morgan, this marriage is a strong alliance."

Flora said, "Even if it’s sensational, it can’t compare to when Audrey married Third Young Master Warner. When the news broke, it crashed the X servers. I couldn’t refresh the page for ages."

Barry Barrett: "A perfect match. My goddess has managed to marry into a wealthy family through her own abilities."

Audrey just listened without speaking, because she knew what kind of person Clarissa Morgan was, and thus understood that no matter how grand the wedding or how compatible they seemed, the marriage wouldn’t be simple.

However, it was clear that Quentin Sterling truly loved Clarissa Morgan; you can’t hide the way you look at someone you love.

For a woman like Clarissa Morgan, who is adept at concealing herself, if Audrey didn’t know her true nature, she might also admire and look up to such an outstanding person like Barry Barrett and the others did.

If she were a man, she would probably want to marry a wife like Clarissa Morgan too.

Watching the groom and bride exchange rings, Quentin Sterling lowered his head and kissed Clarissa Morgan amid applause and cheers.

Audrey glanced back at Shane, expecting to see some regret or loss on his face when witnessing such a scene, but instead saw him slightly nodding, listening to Arthur Sutton with a small smile, not even looking at the bride and groom.

Seeing this, Audrey felt at ease in her heart.

After the ceremony, Grandfather Sterling took the microphone and, supported by the butler, stepped onto the stage, speaking with a booming voice, "Today is not only Quentin’s big day, but I also have an important announcement to make."

"I personally mentored Quentin, and now he’s surpassed me in jade research. It’s time for this old man to pass on the baton, so I’m officially handing over The Sterling’s jade industry to Quentin. I hope all of you seniors will give him your guidance. I trust he won’t let you down."

You could hear Grandfather Sterling’s affection for Quentin Sterling between the lines.

Grandfather Sterling had two wives; after his first wife passed away, he remarried and had Quentin Sterling.

Even though Quentin Sterling is a generation apart from Miles Sterling, they’re of similar age and often compared with each other.

The two are like polar opposites in the Sterling family: Quentin Sterling is gentle, wise, and resourceful, while Miles Sterling is considered a hopeless fool.

The messes Miles Sterling gets into have brought nothing but shame to the Sterlings.

Miles Sterling also attended the wedding, bringing a magazine’s house model as his date.

The two sat together, flirting as if no one was around, as if wanting to announce to the world there’s a black sheep in the family.

After the wedding ended, a group of men stood around discussing business; Shane and Franklin Sutton were among them.

Audrey, surrounded by her sisters, couldn’t be bothered about her husband, and the four of them were busy snapping photos with their phones.

Flora’s boyfriend became her human selfie stick.

When women start taking photos, they never seem to stop. Fortunately, Flora’s boyfriend was patient and went along with whatever Flora wanted.

Posing for the camera, Audrey noticed Chloe Swift waving to her from outside the frame.

"You guys keep taking photos, I’m going over for a bit."

Audrey approached Chloe Swift, who still had that pensive look.

"Miss Swift, is there something you need?"

Chloe Swift gave a wry smile and said, "My heart feels heavy, I wanted someone to talk to."

Audrey suddenly felt a bit sorry for Chloe Swift, realizing that even though they weren’t really friends, and had only met once, Chloe Swift was turning to her, likely because there was truly no one else around for her to talk to.

Standing by the railing, Chloe Swift looked out at the endless blue sea and softly asked, "Are you two getting along well?"

Audrey: "...Pretty well. How about you?"

Chloe Swift smiled bitterly, "Do you know what it’s like to have a man close to you, but his heart is never really with you?"

Recalling everything Chloe Swift had said before, Audrey guessed Vincent Warner probably had a girl he liked before, and she quietly asked Chloe Swift, "...Is he still in contact with that woman?"

Chloe Swift shook her head, "I don’t know. He never tells me his affairs, nor does he let me inquire."

"Do you like him?"

Chloe Swift didn’t hide it, slightly curled her lips into a smile, nodding, her gaze distant as if recalling beautiful memories.

If faced with such a situation, Audrey herself would probably be troubled, so she didn’t know how to comfort Chloe Swift.

Chloe Swift looked at her and said, "I’m not trying to cause problems between you and Third Young Master Warner, but there are some things I think you should know. Your Sutton family’s status isn’t low. Even if Third Young Master Warner is treating you well now, he might be leveraging you for long-term benefits, so don’t be fooled by appearances. Be cautious."

Audrey felt Chloe Swift’s words were like an elder sister’s advice, without any malice.

She couldn’t help but glance at Shane, who was standing not far away with Arthur Sutton.

Comforting herself internally, the Suttons may have status, but it doesn’t compare to the Warners’. Even if it’s for long-term benefits, it’s mutual. If Shane were maintaining the marriage for benefits, Audrey actually thought it would be a good thing for her.

It at least showed she had some value for Shane to use.

She used to look down on those who compromised in love, never thinking she’d humble herself to this extent now.