After a brief chat with Mrs. Yates, Chloe Preston put her gift down and followed Evan York out of the room. Evan York was wearing a dark blue suit. He carried himself with a noble yet gentle air. As they walked, he glanced at her. "Ivy mentioned your ex-boyfriend is back?" Chloe Preston was taken aback, then lowered her gaze and nodded. "Mmm." "Are you two living together?" Hearing this, Chloe couldn’t help but choke, a faint blush spreading across her pretty face. "You’re very direct." "It’s been four years. Do you still like him that much?" Chloe Preston’s eyes flickered, but she remained silent. Evan York remarked, "He must be a great person." At that, Chloe nodded gently, a trace of a smile in her eyes. "Yes." Evan York saw her smile, then looked toward the sky and mused, "It’s a shame I’ve never met him. By the way, what’s his name?" "Why are you asking?" Chloe looked at him. Evan York shrugged. "Just curious. It’s fine if you don’t want to say." "Come on, I’ll take you to the banquet hall. I’m going to introduce you to some big shots!" Chloe Preston arched an eyebrow. "Big shots?" Evan York smiled lazily. "Let me tell you, one of them is my cousin. He’s really something. His word is law in all of Kryton!" "He left a few years ago and came back recently for some unknown reason. He’s a strange guy—very cold and arrogant. Every time I see him, he looks like his wife just died!" "When you meet him later, don’t let him scare you!" Chloe Preston smiled. "I won’t be scared." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noᴠelfire.net She figured no one could possibly be more ruthless and heartless than Donovan Xavier. Evan York raised an eyebrow with a grin. "Don’t be so sure. You haven’t met him, so you don’t know how formidable he is. Every time I see him, I still get a little intimidated!" "Later, when he’s in a good mood, I’ll ask him to take you on as an honorary sister. With him backing you, you’ll be able to walk sideways through Kryton!" Chloe Preston’s brow furrowed slightly as she laughed. "Walk sideways? Am I a crab?" Still, his words piqued her curiosity about this "big shot." Could he really be more powerful than Donovan Xavier? She followed him toward the banquet hall. The hall was resplendent and opulent. The guests moving about were all successful members of high society, scions of prominent families, and influential figures. They gathered in groups, trading toasts amid an intoxicating atmosphere of luxury that could easily overwhelm the senses. Chloe Preston swallowed unconsciously. She couldn’t afford to provoke a single person here. If she did, they could crush her as easily as stepping on an ant. "I see my cousin! Come on!" Evan York suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her forward. Donovan Xavier was standing at a billiards table. Tall and imposing, with long legs and a lazy air about him, he carelessly cleared the table with a beautiful shot. He set down his cue—his knuckles prominent on his long, slender fingers—and casually picked up a nearby glass of whiskey, taking a small sip. A voice called from behind, shouting a little too loudly, as if afraid of not being heard. Donovan Xavier turned around. Tapping the rim of the glass lightly with his fingertip, he lifted his gaze to the person before him, his brow furrowing. "How old are you? Still so reckless." His tone was cold and harsh, carrying a natural, understated authority. The next second, when his eyes landed on the woman beside Evan, he froze. Chloe Preston’s gaze met his at the same time. Her pupils constricted, and she was completely frozen to the spot. No way... Wh-why is Donovan Xavier here?! Evan York stepped forward with a lazy smile. "Cousin, don’t be so serious all the time!" Hearing this, Chloe’s jaw dropped, and she froze again. What was happening? Donovan Xavier was Evan York’s cousin? The next second, Evan York waved a hand in front of her face. "Chloe, are you scared stiff?" Chloe Preston forced a twitch of her lips. Scared stiff was an understatement. At that moment, she wished she could just faint and get it over with. Just then, Adrian Rhodes and Leo Sterling walked over from the side. They sized up the woman before them with unreadable smiles. Adrian Rhodes stood beside Donovan Xavier, leaned in, and raised an eyebrow, teasing in a low voice, "Mr. Xavier, how did your ex-girlfriend get lured over here by your own cousin?" "Judging by the looks of it, she’s about to become your cousin-in-law!" Cousin-in-law? Ha! She wouldn’t dare, not even if you gave her twenty times the nerve! Donovan Xavier turned his head slightly, shooting Adrian a sinister glare that was cold enough to kill. "Scram." Adrian Rhodes retreated to the side and shut his mouth. Unaware of their history, Evan York pulled Chloe Preston forward and smiled at the others. "Chloe, these are some of the most prominent figures in Kryton!" "This one, you call him Adrian! Go on!" Chloe Preston was speechless. "And the one next to him, you call Leo! He’s a lawyer, a really good one!" Chloe Preston remained silent, her mind blank. Leo Sterling leaned lazily against the table, swirling the drink in his hand. He gazed at the woman before him and chuckled lightly. "Don’t worry, Miss Quinn. I’ve been following up on your aunt’s divorce case. I guarantee a win." Chloe stammered, "Th-thank you." "It’s no problem," Leo said, turning his head to glance at the silent Donovan Xavier. He smiled thoughtfully. "After all, I was asked to help, and I like to see things through." Hearing this, Evan York raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Leo, you know Chloe?" Leo Sterling replied ambiguously, "Someone knows her." As soon as he spoke, Chloe Preston risked a glance at a certain someone’s icy expression. She immediately lowered her head again, a shiver running through her. His gaze burned with rage and a menacing air, both of which he was struggling to suppress. It was as if he was seconds away from pouncing on her. Suddenly, Evan York looked at her and smiled. "Chloe, this is my cousin. Just call him Donovan!" "No, wait, just call him cousin like I do! It sounds closer!" Donovan Xavier laughed. Closer? They were getting ’close’ every single night, without a moment’s rest. Donovan Xavier’s grip tightened on the glass in his hand. His dark eyes were fixed on her, cold and indifferent, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Miss Quinn, go ahead. Call me cousin." Chloe couldn’t get the word out. She stammered, unable to form a single syllable. Donovan Xavier narrowed his eyes at her, a cold sneer escaping his thin lips. "What, can’t say it?" "Then again, it makes sense. After calling me ’husband’ so many times, you’ve gotten used to it. ’Cousin’... How could you possibly bring yourself to say that?" Evan York stood by, completely perplexed. "What husband?" Donovan Xavier took two steps forward. He dug his large, bony hand into the woman’s soft, slender waist, deliberately squeezing hard enough to hurt. He leaned in, his face close to hers. His jet-black eyes were full of ice as his deep voice cut into her, sharp and severe. "What, you didn’t tell him who I am?"