Chapter 6 Hidden Connections

Isabella Grayson spotted them too and walked over in her high heels with a smile.

"Astrid." Isabella greeted the expressionless Astrid first, then turned to Oliver with a sweet smile.

On the night Astrid's mother, Lillian, died, her father, Arthur Prescott, moved in with Catherine and her daughter Isabella.

She only found out later that Catherine was actually Arthur's first love, and he had only married Lillian for the sake of the Prescott family business.

Short after Lilian's death, he couldn't wait to give Catherine her rightful place.

Isabella was always trying to climb the social ladder, so whenever there was a high-society event, she'd find ways to attend. Arthur had gone to great lengths to help her with this.

Astrid found their behavior disgusting.

"What are you doing here?" Astrid asked coolly.

Isabella's eyes flickered unnaturally as she considered how to answer.

Seeing her hesitation, Astrid said calmly, "Is it that hard to answer? Did tonight's host from the Montgomery family bring you here?"

She deliberately mentioned Silas to see their reaction.

"No, she came to me saying she wanted to attend the party. I only agreed because she's your sister," Oliver quickly explained.

"Yes, Oliver brought me." Isabella hurried to agree.

A big shot like that wasn't someone she could just attach herself to. If someone heard and the word got back to him, she couldn't handle the consequences.

"Oliver is so handsome and kind. He knows I love attending events, and he couldn't resist my begging, so he agreed to bring me." As Isabella said this, her expression became increasingly sweet, as if the person she was praising had a special relationship with her.

"I really envy you, Astrid, having such a great boyfriend. You don't know how many other girls want to be Oliver's girlfriend." Isabella even winked at Oliver. "Am I right, Oliver?"

Astrid's gaze moved between them.

Isabella called him so intimately.

If she wanted to come, she could have just called Astrid first, but she didn't.

And Oliver, beside her, clearly looked uncomfortable, his hand at his side moving restlessly.

The image of Oliver waiting for her on the street earlier flashed through her mind, making her feel uneasy.

"Really?" Astrid pretended to be surprised, looking at Oliver questioningly.

"Don't listen to her nonsense. You're the only one in my heart," Oliver answered quickly, unconsciously moving closer to Astrid.

"I'm not talking nonsense," Isabella said urgently. "You have always been so considerate of Astrid. You brought me here for Astrid's sake, and you're so loving together."

"Isabella admires you, so how could it be nonsense?" Astrid pretended to agree while looking puzzled, taking Isabella's side.

But inside, she was thinking, 'Everyone in Cypress Bay knows about the Montgomery family's influence. Isabella, as my stepsister who often socializes, lit up when she learned about the business marriage between the Prescott and Montgomery families. With Isabella's personality, she wouldn't be picky about any Montgomery family member. Oliver is good-looking and smooth-talking, easy to win hearts.'

Looking at it this way, the two of them might have been secretly close behind her back.

Oliver heard the suspicion in Astrid's words and didn't want them to continue talking.

He took Astrid's hand and started walking. "This is your first time here. Let me take you somewhere nice."

Isabella watched their intertwined fingers, her smile instantly disappearing.

She wanted to follow but knew she had no reason to, the envy in her eyes gradually transforming.

Astrid became more certain that Oliver was feeling guilty. She stopped walking and pulled her hand from his, asking in confusion, "When did you two become so close? Isabella seems to know you very well."

"I'm not close with her," Oliver blurted out. "You know what Isabella is like. How could I possibly associate with her?"

This was the first time Oliver had been so eager to explain and clear things up in front of her.

Before, no matter what happened, he would just find ways to make her happy, always providing plenty of emotional support.

Astrid watched his serious expression as certain thoughts became clearer.

"Really?" Astrid still looked unconvinced.

"Of course," Oliver answered firmly.

Astrid's expression gradually softened, her tone becoming gentler. "I misunderstood you then."

Oliver's heart finally settled. "It's not your fault. Isabella was talking nonsense."

As they were talking, someone walked over, nodded politely at Oliver first, then spoke respectfully to Astrid, "Ms. Prescott. Mr. Montgomery requests your presence. Please come with me."

The man was in a sharp suit, all business.

Oliver's expression became respectful when he saw him. Astrid guessed his identity; he was one of Silas's people.

"Astrid, you go ahead. I'll wait here for you," Oliver urged, worried that Silas might get angry if kept waiting.

"Okay," Astrid agreed and started walking.

After a few steps, she remembered that night Silas had torn her underwear, and just now he'd applied medicine to her private area. She felt a cooling sensation that made walking uncomfortable.

If she hadn't run into Isabella, she would have already gotten away from Oliver and found a quiet corner to deal with this discomfort.

She'd just shaken off Oliver, and she had nothing to talk about with Silas anyway.

With this thought, Astrid deliberately slowed down. When someone passed by, blocking the view between her and the man ahead, she seized the chance to slip away. Seeing a door, she headed straight for it.

Meanwhile, upstairs.

Silas stood with one hand in his pocket, the other holding a wine glass, watching that cunning and alluring figure clearly.

The person reporting to him noticed his increasingly serious expression and nervously asked, "Mr. Montgomery, is there a problem with this project?"

Silas didn't answer, his gaze never leaving Astrid.

Feeling eyes following her from behind, Astrid looked back and immediately spotted Silas standing on the second floor.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, standing straight as a pine tree, his serious expression making it seem like the whole world was under his control; completely different from the uninhibited person in bed at night.

Astrid felt uncomfortable under his gaze. Her feet betrayed her and turned back, just in time to meet the person who'd come looking for her. She quietly followed behind him.

No matter how wild he was, he surely wouldn't do anything in front of everyone.