Chapter 753
Chapter 753
Kareem also noticed the young man at the entrance. The man had a tall and handsome figure, and his
appearance was full of a sunny and bright charm. He observed Katie's expression and said, "Isn't that
the guy you used to chase after in college?"
Katie had a difficult look on her face, and her carefully adorned face revealed a faint hint of resentment.
"Why is Brayden here? Wasn't he in that nowhere Larro town?"
Back in her college days, Katie had relentlessly pursued Brayden, but he had rejected her advances,
almost turning her into a laughingstock on campus.
She couldn't believe she was running into this man here.
When Katie was in her freshman year, Brayden was already a senior. She had fallen in love with him at
first sight and had pursued him ardently, but no matter what she did, he remained indifferent.
Soon after, he graduated and left the school.
She heard he had returned to his hometown in Larro.
Her pursuit of him during those days had come to naught.
It had been several years since she last saw Brayden, and now he seemed like a distant memory. She
gazed at the man at the entrance, and he was still as handsome and upright as ever, but now he
appeared even more mature and composed than when he was in school.
In Brayden's expression, there was an indescribable charm that came with the maturity of a man.
Katie was feeling a flurry of emotions, and she was about to approach him to say hello when she saw a
young girl wearing a pink dress and white Martin boots rushing up to Brayden. The girl was cute and
sweet-looking, holding Brayden's hand intimately and looking up at him. Her rosy lips were moving, and
she appeared to be talking to him.
Brayden raised his hand affectionately and ruffled the girl's hair.
Katie had never seen Brayden look this gentle and affectionate before. Envy grew within her like wild
weeds, causing her to feel uncomfortable, bitter, and angry.
How could this man be so close to another woman besides her?
She quickly downed the glass of water in front of her.
Kareem hadn't realized what was happening yet when he saw Katie impulsively approach Brayden,
and he hurriedly followed her.
It was already noon, and very few guests had arrived. Brayden had greeted a few people and was
discussing whether to start the meal since it seemed like no one else was coming.
At that moment, an angry female voice sounded nearby.
"Brayden, senior! Long time no see!"
Brayden furrowed his brow and looked toward the voice, seeing a somewhat unfamiliar face. "Excuse
me... who are you?"
There was no recollection of this face in his memory.
However, the girl had just called him senior. Could she be a former classmate?
Katie almost choked on her breath and nearly fainted. She gritted her teeth and said, "Brayden, senior,
I'm your junior, Katie. Don't you remember?"
Katie? That was a familiar name. Wasn't she that recent headline about the heiress of some
conglomerate in the entertainment section? Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Brayden contemplated for a moment, wondering if he had a classmate named Katie. Out of politeness,
he nodded and said, "Hello. How have you been? I heard you've become a star?"
Katie finally felt a bit relieved, "Yes! I'm about to participate in a variety show called 'Back to First Love'.
Brayden, would you consider being my guest on the show?"
Brayden found it strange to receive such a straightforward invitation. What did her appearance on a
variety show have to do with him?
So, he politely declined, "I'm sorry, but I'm quite busy, and I don't have the time."
Katie felt a lump in her chest, "Busy with what? Is it because you have a girlfriend now?"
She pointed at Jenna, "Is that why you're refusing me? I can't believe you'd be into these childish
types."
Jenna, caught off guard, was wordless.
She had an instinctual dislike for Katie, especially her condescending attitude, which made Jenna feel
quite uncomfortable.
"Miss Mcguire, I believe we haven't reached the point of discussing our preferences in partners, have
we?" Brayden raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Katie. He spoke clearly, "My taste in women has
nothing to do with you."
Katie's expression contorted, "How does it not concern me? Brayden, it's been so many years. If you're
still unmarried, then you'll be my man for life!"
Her feelings for Brayden bordered on obsession. From childhood to adulthood, there was nothing she
couldn't have, except Brayden. The more he dismissed her, the more she desired him.
Mrs. Wright stood nearby, watching the overly confident and assertive girl who had suddenly appeared.
She was not very fond of her. If she were to choose a daughter-in-law, she would never pick this girl.
Just then, Sabrina and Alondra, the sisters, approached Katie. Alondra, with a cheerful smile,
presented Katie with a gift, "Katie, this is a birthday gift from me. Let's see if you like it."
Paula also joined in, looking at Katie with affection. "Katie, your aunt prepared a gift for you too. Oh my,
our Katie is so beautiful. Who knows, maybe in the future, some lucky young man will get to enjoy your
charms."
Katie was the princess of the Mcguire family, and she did not have much regard for the ordinary
heiresses of Urgford. But in Katie's presence, she needed to maintain a certain facade, despite
privately thinking of Katie as a simpleton with an empty head.
She placed a bag with an "X" logo in front of Katie. "Katie, this is a global limited-edition jewelry set that
I snatched after staying up all night. There are only ten sets in the world!"
Katie was a fan of X designs and had a complete collection of their clothes and accessories. She
always needed to have the latest releases, and if she couldn't get her hands on limited-edition items,
she would pay a high price to acquire them.
Katie's mood was still soured, and even though she received three precious gifts, she couldn't shake
her discontent. However, since her aunts had always been kind to her, she managed to force a faint
smile and accepted the gifts, saying, "Thank you, Sabrina, thank you, aunts."
Alondra held Katie's hand and advised her, "We're all family here, no need to be so polite. Today, your
birthday celebration at Balfax Hotel is attended by many celebrities. You must conduct yourself with
dignity, not as capricious as you used to be, understand?"
Katie nodded and replied, "I understand."
Kareem, in a soft voice, added, "The event space is being prepared by my sister-in-law inside. Aunts,
Miss Hogan, please go inside."
Alondra and Paula, the high-ranking sisters in the family, had never held Kareem in high regard,
thinking of him as nothing more than a servant. Upon hearing Kareem's invitation, Alondra didn't even
give a smile and replied, "Kareem, you've been so helpful. Continue welcoming the guests here. We'll
go inside with Katie."
Their condescending attitude was clear, treating him like a mere servant.
Kareem concealed his annoyance and maintained a polite smile, saying, "Aunt Alondra is right. Please
go inside."
Paula wasn't as explicit as Alondra, and as they walked toward the entrance, she said, "It's quite
strange. My husband, the old Mr. Bennett, and Jonathan said they have business engagements and
won't be coming. But why are they so busy? It's Katie's birthday."
Katie shrugged and replied, "If they don't come, it's fine. We don't need them."
Alondra then inquired, "What about my brother-in-law?"
Paula answered, "Salvatore Bennett? He's on his way. He'll be coming directly from the office."
The Bennett family had a close relationship with the Mcguire family, and they were on good terms. As
Salvatore approached, Paula waved at him, calling out, "Honey!"
Salvatore walked over, and with a warm smile, said, "Honey."
The Bennett family and the Mcguire family were in-laws, and their relationship was excellent. Brayden
breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Katie was distracted by familiar faces. Mrs. Wright recognized some
people from the Bennett family, as she remembered having a close friend, Tiana, who was married into
the Bennett family.
As she pondered this, a black car pulled up at the entrance of Balfax Hotel.
Tiana, Jonathan, and the old Mr. Bennett stepped out of the car and made their way to the entrance.
Jonathan offered his assistance to the old Mr. Bennett once more.
Paula, seeing them, was pleasantly surprised. "Dad, didn't you say you couldn't make it?" she inquired,
her face glowing.
Alondra also welcomed them, saying, "The old Mr. Bennett, you're here! Please come inside."
The old Mr. Bennett chuckled and wasn't shy about it. "I apologize. Today, we're also having lunch at
Balfax Hotel, but we're going to the Wright family banquet. Katie is so young; having an old man like
me attend her birthday might bring her bad luck!"
Upon hearing the old Mr. Bennett's words, the Mcguire sisters' faces turned incredibly grim. It was as
though he was directly slapping them in the face.
Katie felt a bit awkward. According to their seniority, she should address the old Mr. Bennett as her
grandfather. Her face turned bright red, and she said, "The old Mr. Bennett is right. I'm still young;
what's there to celebrate? The main reason for all this is that my dad enjoys having a big gathering."
The old Mr. Bennett added with a sigh, "With your older brother's life hanging in the balance, your
father seems quite untroubled. I feel so sorry for Carolyn."
This remark was a brutal slap in the face to the Mcguire family. Lukas was still detained, yet here they
were, celebrating extravagantly. The irony was palpable.
The Mcguires were left feeling embarrassed, and for a moment, none of them spoke.
Mrs. Wright was taken aback. She hadn't expected the old Mr. Bennett to bring his daughter-in-law and
grandson to Cody's feast.