CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 216: OLD MASTER KENDALL’S BIRTHDAY BANQUET

Old Crawford was a bit bewildered by Tanya Sinclair’s reaction.

"Your husband doesn’t have the last name Pierce? Then why did that Mr. Pierce go to so much trouble for you, working tirelessly..." Old Crawford scratched his greying head, a little confused.

Is this what young love is like?

He really was getting old.

Tanya slowly released her hand, her icy fingertips tingling slightly.

"Excuse me, is that person named Declan Pierce?"

Old Crawford: "That I don’t know; I just heard people around him call him Mr. Pierce. He’s really good-looking. I’ve lived half my life and have rarely seen such a handsome man, though being too handsome for a man isn’t necessarily a good thing..."

Yes, it was Declan Pierce.

Only he could leave such an impression with just his face.

Since she woke up, incidents after incidents, Declan Pierce seems to always appear at the moment she needs... but why?

The relationship between them wasn’t nearly deep enough for him to go this far for her...

To her, Declan Pierce was just a classmate during university who disagreed with her at every turn.

She had her suspicions and even asked Declan Pierce about his feelings.

He personally said he ’didn’t like’ her.

But then why do all this?

People don’t show kindness to others for no reason; they always have something to gain.

Back in the car, Tanya hesitated for a long time and sent a message to Declan Pierce: [When do you have time? I’d like to talk to you.]

But the message went out and sank like a stone in the sea, never receiving a response.

For the first time, Tanya couldn’t remain calm; she proactively called him, only to find his phone was off.

Tanya had to contact Janne Hayes.

Only to be told,

"President Pierce has gone abroad for some matters. Whenever he goes out, he uses a different phone." Janne asked, "Ms. Sinclair, is it urgent with President Pierce? I can pass the message on for you."

Tanya looked at the sky outside the window, seemingly about to rain, "Nothing urgent; I’ll contact him when he’s back."

"Alright."

After Tanya hung up, Janne immediately reported to Declan Pierce’s other phone.

Janne: [President Pierce, Ms. Sinclair finally asked about you on her own!!!]

Three exclamation marks in a row, an excited heart, a trembling hand, and President Pierce who is about to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Thousands of miles away, Declan Pierce sat in a garden, his head slightly down, looking at the message received on his phone.

His originally calm dark eyes sparked a trace of a smile.

"Second brother!" a young woman’s cheerful voice called out.

He put away his phone first, raised his eyelids, and looked at the beautiful girl jogging over, slightly curving his lips, "Long time no see, Wynn."

Wynn Winslow stood in front of Declan Pierce, her big, dark, and bright eyes boldly staring right at him. Declan leisurely sipped his tea, directly meeting her gaze without avoiding it.

The man’s eyes were as deep as a well, tempting one to explore but also fearing drowning within.

Finally, Wynn’s face turned red, and she shifted her gaze away.

"Dad’s done with his work, he asked me to invite you to the study."

"Alright."

Declan put down the teacup and stood up.

Wynn followed behind him, "Second brother, why were you smiling at your phone just now? Who sent you a message?"

Declan glanced at her indifferently, "Janne Hayes."

That was the truth.

Wynn was initially a bit unhappy, but hearing Janne’s name, she immediately relaxed. It must have been work-related news!

She walked briskly, persistently asking Declan, "What’s the good news?"

Declan shot her a glance, "There was an old lady, who lived to be one hundred and twenty years old. Do you know why?"

Wynn shook her head, curious, "Why?"

Declan: "Because she never pried into others’ business."

Wynn was momentarily stunned, then realized he was chiding her for being too nosy, furiously stomping her foot behind his back, "Second brother!"

...

The Lynn Family villa.

Cindy Lynn returned home, filled with anger, and went straight to Shelly Sullivan’s small meditation room.

"Mom, that bitch Tanya Sinclair recognized us from the start! She’s deliberately trying to lure Vincent back, I’m sure she wants to take him away!"

Shelly Sullivan finished reciting the last part of her scripture with her eyes closed and then bowed to the Buddha statue before standing up.

"Why the rush? You’ll disturb the deities!" She reproachfully glanced at her daughter, speaking as she walked out, "Right now, it’s Vincent who can’t be without you. In terms of feelings, you’re his savior, and career-wise, you can still assist him. Vincent isn’t a fool; he knows how to choose!"

"As for Tanya Sinclair," Shelly scoffed, "What can she do once she knows? To the outside world, your father only acknowledges you as his daughter! Your focus now should be on Old Master Kendall’s birthday banquet!"

Shelly picked up an exquisite box from a wooden shelf and handed it to Cindy Lynn.

"This is Old Master Kendall’s favorite antique, the Phoenix Dance bronze! Use it to please Old Master Kendall; you’ll secure connections with The Kendall Family."

Cindy opened the box, and inside was indeed a lifelike carved phoenix!

The day of Old Master Kendall’s birthday banquet arrived in no time.

The banquet was held at a mansion on the outskirts of the city under The Kendall Family’s name.

Two stone lions holding pearls stood majestically outside the gates, projecting power and authority.

The entrance was lined with luxury cars, some astonishingly expensive, and others seemingly ordinary yet featuring license plates symbolizing the owner’s status and power.

Today, Tanya Sinclair attended as Zion Monroe’s date.

"Mr. Monroe, thank you for bringing me along."

Actually, she was just trying her luck by contacting Zion Monroe. If Zion Monroe didn’t agree, she had other ways to get in.

But the most time-saving and labor-saving method was still to use the identity of Zion Monroe’s female companion.

What surprised her was how readily Zion Monroe agreed.

He was uncharacteristically dressed in formal attire today, suppressing his usual second-generation heir vibe, revealing his innate nobility.

"No big deal, just let me know if you need anything! I liked you the first time I saw you! You feel especially familiar to me!" Zion Monroe said with an inclusive attitude and added, "You’re like my future sister-in-law!"

Brother Pierce is certainly going to praise him for being smooth-talking!

Tanya Sinclair didn’t know Zion Monroe’s intentions and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

What kind of a metaphor is that?

As far as she knew, Zion Monroe’s big brother was named Jasper Monroe, a genuine heir to a wealthy family and a child of destiny.

She didn’t dare to climb that high.

Before the formal seating began, the guests were in the front hall. All those who came today were notable figures from various walks of life. Regardless of familiarity, everyone wore a falsely enthusiastic smile.

Zion Monroe’s status naturally brought people over to toast and chat.

Tanya Sinclair tactfully moved to the corner.

Over by the entrance, it suddenly became lively.

A group of people came in, and when Tanya Sinclair glanced over, she tightened her grip on the stemmed glass.

She saw Cindy Lynn and Vincent Hawthorne.

They were wearing matching couple outfits today—Cindy Lynn in a sparkling Shu embroidery cheongsam, her hair styled in an elegant low bun, as if she had stepped out of a Southern Chinese ink painting.

Vincent Hawthorne wore a modified Chinese-style suit, with the same cloud pattern embroidered on his lapel as Cindy Lynn’s cheongsam. His striking appearance and gentle demeanor suited the outfit well.

But what truly changed Tanya Sinclair’s expression was the couple Lin Shu Han and Shelly Sullivan entering with them!

Her gaze was fixed on Lin Shu Han’s face.

Twenty years...

She finally saw her ’good dad’ again, who abandoned his wife and child, taking over his ex-wife’s family assets for himself!

He hadn’t changed much from her memory. Money and power are a man’s best anti-aging solutions.

Lin Shu Han wore a dignified suit, looking both scholarly and handsome.

Yes, at his age, he could still be called handsome, living so glamorously, while her mother long lay in a cold coffin, becoming nothing but a skeleton!

The searing hatred almost burned Tanya Sinclair’s eyes.

In the crowd, Lin Shu Han seemed to sense something. His eyes scanned about and found Tanya Sinclair!

Their eyes met, and Lin Shu Han visibly flinched, but the next second, he coldly looked away, treating his daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in twenty years, as if she were air! Instead, he tenderly adjusted Cindy Lynn’s hair.

"Staring at your ex-husband like that, it seems Ms. Sinclair isn’t over Vincent Hawthorne." A man’s teasing, magnetic voice suddenly sounded.

Tanya Sinclair snapped back to reality, looking up to see Felix Kendall’s figure before her.

It was no surprise to see the eldest grandson here for Old Master Kendall’s birthday banquet today.

He assumed she was looking at Vincent Hawthorne...

"Oh, almost crying now." Felix Kendall saw Tanya Sinclair’s reddened eyes and squinted slightly.

Tsk, crying like this makes her face even prettier.

Tanya Sinclair naturally wouldn’t explain anything to Felix Kendall. She politely called him, "Mr. Kendall."

Then she lowered her head to leave, but Felix Kendall stepped sideways, blocking her path.

"What’s this? Trying to run now that I hit the mark?" He looked down at her, then suddenly chuckled with a mysterious meaning, "Loved Vincent Hawthorne for fifteen years, and after being kicked out, Ms. Sinclair is still not over it?"

Since encountering Tanya Sinclair outside the restaurant last time, Felix Kendall had taken an interest in her, casually inquiring, and ha, found her to be quite a startling sycophant.

Loving a man to such an extent, Felix Kendall felt he had discovered a new species.

Tanya Sinclair took a deep breath.

In Felix Kendall’s territory, it wouldn’t do to argue with him. Over there, Zion Monroe was surrounded, unaware of her situation.

"How did you get in here today?" Felix Kendall raised an eyebrow curiously.

"I walked in." Tanya Sinclair evaded, tugging at her mouth and suddenly pointing behind Felix Kendall, "Isn’t that Old Master Kendall over there?"

Felix Kendall instinctively turned around, finding no sign of his grandfather. Realizing his mistake, his grandfather was in the study meeting guests.

Realizing he’d been tricked, Felix Kendall turned back, and Tanya Sinclair had walked a good few meters away, avoiding him like the plague.

Ha, interesting.

She was probably the first woman not to pounce on him but instead made a detour?

Is she really that hung up on Vincent Hawthorne?

"Felix."

Felix Kendall turned to find President Quinn approaching with The Lynn Family to greet him.

His gaze lingered on Vincent Hawthorne for a moment, hinting ever so slightly at coldness.

Cindy Lynn and Vincent Hawthorne naturally needed no introduction.

President Quinn was about to introduce Lin Shu Han, "This is..."

"Uncle Lynn, I know." Felix Kendall greeted cordially, extending his hand, "Grandpa said you’ve arrived, so he asked me to take you and Ms. Lynn to his study first."

Felix Kendall’s voice was not loud, but those around him were all ears.

Those whom Old Master Kendall would meet privately before the banquet... The looks from the surrounding crowd conveyed not just curiosity but added flattery.

Cindy Lynn particularly enjoyed those eyes, holding her elegant swan-like neck high with a reserved and graceful smile.

"Vincent, I’ll go see Grandpa Kendall with Dad first." Her tone was as soft as if she were cooing, that ’Grandpa Kendall’ sounded particularly intimate. Cindy Lynn raised her hand to adjust Vincent Hawthorne’s clothes, reminding him, "Your stomach’s not good, don’t drink too much."

Vincent Hawthorne’s gaze was tender, enough to drip honey: "Mm, go on, don’t keep Old Master Kendall waiting."

And thus, they displayed their affection openly.

Felix Kendall discreetly glanced toward Tanya Sinclair’s direction, only to find her gone.

He raised an eyebrow, recalling the image of Tanya Sinclair’s reddened eyes moments ago.

Could she have gone somewhere to cry in secret?