As soon as Jasper Hart and Ray Dunlop entered the room, they attracted countless glances.
Although many people coveted the high status of the Hart family, Jasper Hart was notoriously unfriendly, and no one dared to approach him.
Jasper walked straight up to Frederick Gates and called out, "Mr. Gates."
Just that one sentence drew a wave of attention.
What kind of status did Jasper Hart have? He rarely made appearances at ordinary gatherings, and now, not only was he here, but he was also personally greeting Frederick Gates. This was a huge honor!
"Mr. Hart! It's an honor to have you here!" Frederick Gates exclaimed, clearly surprised. This was his first time meeting Jasper, and the young man's presence was indeed a bit intimidating.
Jasper nodded slightly. "Thank you for your help with the last matter, Mr. Gates. I came to express my gratitude."
"Oh, it was nothing! Just a small favor!" Frederick Gates replied with a smile. "Feel free to enjoy yourselves. I'll go get the old man from the back."
"Please, take your time."
After Frederick left, a sudden gasp rippled through the crowd. Jasper and Ray turned to see a stunning woman descending the staircase in a light blue gown.
The girl had a graceful figure, with slightly curled long hair cascading to one side, revealing her left cheek that bloomed like a peach blossom. Her delicate features and sparkling eyes resembled a clear mountain spring, refreshing and captivating.
Ray Dunlop nearly choked on his drink. "Isn't that... isn't that the one with the... um..."
Before he could finish his thought, Jasper Hart shot him a warning glance that silenced him instantly.
Piper Gates glanced down and immediately spotted the striking figure of Jasper Hart. Seeing the stunning man she had shared a challenging night with right in front of her made her momentarily lose her footing.
Jasper Hart swiftly stepped forward, grabbing Eileen to prevent her from falling flat on her face in front of everyone.
Looking at Jasper's breathtakingly handsome face, Piper smiled brightly and said, "Hey there, handsome! What a coincidence!"
Before Jasper could respond, Cisco Gustin's furious voice cut through the air. "Piper Gates! What do you think you're doing?"
Piper turned to see Cisco's expression, which looked as if he had just been betrayed. With a playful tilt of her body toward Jasper, she replied, "What am I doing?"
"Piper Gates, Michelle told me you went out drinking with a man last night, and I didn't believe it! But now here you are, being so intimate with someone else in public. I guess all that deep affection you claimed was just an act! We're still engaged, and you—"
Cisco Gustin's face turned a deep shade of anger
Although he didn't have feelings for Piper, she had been his shadow since childhood. Even if they were breaking off the engagement, she shouldn't be looking for someone else so quickly!
Michelle Gates tugged at Cisco's shirt, whispering, "Cisco, stop. Piper has already explained what happened last night. It's really—"
Jasper Hart suddenly interjected, "Last night? What did she say?"
Michelle was taken aback by Jasper's question. She looked startled and struggled to find the right words, finally stammering, "She said she... gave herself to another man last night..."
"Cough, cough!" Piper Gates coughed out loudly, hoping Michelle would stop making things worse with her clueless remarks.
But Cisco's expression remained cold as he replied, "Why are you coughing? Are you embarrassed to admit what you did? Didn't you say that man was strong and well-endowed?"
"Pfft—" Ray Dunlop choked on his drink, spraying it everywhere.
Jasper Hart tilted his head to look at Piper Gates and asked lazily, "You think so highly of him?"
Piper's face turned bright red as she shot a glare at Cisco Gustin. "Cisco, your IQ is truly touching!"
She grabbed Jasper Hart and dragged him out to the small garden outside the banquet hall.
Jasper let Piper pull him along, her warm little hand tightly gripping his. It was the first time a woman had taken his hand like this, and surprisingly, he didn't mind at all.
Watching the girl rush ahead, with her left ear nearly as red as a tomato, he couldn't help but chuckle.
As they reached the garden, Piper stumbled, and Jasper quickly caught her. She was yanked back into his solid chest, and the sudden impact made her nose sting, causing tears to well up in her eyes.
Leaning against a pillar, Jasper held his glass of red wine, somehow managing not to spill a single drop. He raised an eyebrow at Piper. "You bumped into me, so why are you crying?"
"I'm just having a physiological reaction!" Piper Gates shouted.
Jasper Hart nodded and asked, "So the man you spent the night with last night was strong and well-endowed..."
"Shut up!" Piper quickly covered Jasper's mouth with her hand.
Her warm palm pressed against his thin lips, and Jasper raised an eyebrow, feeling no disgust at all.
He whispered, "Ms. Gates, you seemed so composed last night. I didn't expect your thoughts to be..."
Piper felt overwhelmed, gritting her teeth as she replied, "I was just saying that to get a rise out of Cisco Gustin. Do you really believe it?"
Jasper nodded seriously. "I do."
It was clearly a compliment, so why wouldn't he believe it?
Piper was left speechless, looking at Niles with exasperation. "Listen, handsome, I..."
"Jasper Hart."
"What?" Piper blinked in confusion.
"My name is Jasper Hart. 'Jasper' as in divine glory, and 'Hart' as in hero and firm," he said with a grin.
Piper Gates nodded. "Okay, Mr. Hart. You saved me last night and even found a doctor for me. I'm really grateful, and I..."
"So, when do you plan to repay me in action?" Strangely, Jasper Hart found himself quite interested in this girl from the Gates family.
Piper scratched her head. "Uh... how about tomorrow? I can treat you to dinner?"
"Sounds good." Jasper felt a surprising sense of happiness at her invitation.
Piper let out a sigh of relief. "Shall we head back then? Your friend is probably still waiting for you."
She turned to lead the way, but suddenly felt a sharp tug on her scalp, causing her to wince.
"Don't move," Jasper said as he pulled her back. "Your hair got caught."
Resigned, Piper stepped back slightly, bending her knees and lowering her head as she waited for Jasper to untangle her hair from the button. All she could see was the hem of his tie, and she complimented, "Nice tie."
"Thanks," Jasper replied, his hands still working. Seizing the rare opportunity, he asked, "What do you want to eat tomorrow?"
Piper Gates shook her head. "I don't know yet, I haven't decided. Is it done yet? My knees are starting to ache."
"Almost there."
"Why don't we just find some scissors and cut your hair off?"
"Do you think I carry scissors around with me?"
Piper could only lower her head in resignation. Just then, Ray Dunlop happened to stroll into the garden and called out, "Jasper, you..."
Upon seeing their position, Ray's mouth dropped open as if he had stumbled upon a new discovery...