Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival - Chapter 476

Chapter 476: Greed and Disdain
“Doctor Harlow? What a surprise. What are you doing here?” Mateo asked Ari who eyed him warily with a touch of distaste. When Mateo noticed the emotions in her eyes, he felt unjust and upset. He truly had no idea that Leila was his dear sister’s friend, if he had known that she was related to Ari –Mateo would have supported Leila even if she was in the wrong.

But no matter how much he regretted it now, there was no turning back.

“I am here because Leila invited me if you will excuse me now,” Ari didn’t want Leila to feel any more uncomfortable than she already was. However, just as she stepped past the man, Mateo came to a stop in front of her.

Ari raised her head and glared at the man fiercely but her voice was still polite as she asked him, “Is there something else that you want, Mister Ashford?”

Mateo smiled at Ariana. Even though she was distancing herself from him, Mateo did not feel offended. Ari was on guard with him because she cared for her friend, it only proved that she was a kind and caring woman. Unlike Penelope.

“Ari, I would like to invite you to the table where my seat is arranged. My brothers and Penelope didn’t make it, so there are a few chairs available. I would like it if you could sit together with me,” said Mateo, who wanted to spend a bit more time with his sister.

Ari wanted to refuse but she heard Mateo say, “Leila is also seated there, and if I am not wrong with three chairs, Ryan would take one of them.”

Ari who had opened her mouth to refuse paused, she looked at Leila standing in front of the table where she was supposed to sit with a troubled expression. Seeing Leila hesitating, Ari nodded.

“This way, please.”

Mateo spoke almost flatteringly to Ari which made Theodore and Kaylyn who were watching their exchange suspicious.

“What do you think is going on?” Kaylyn asked with a frown on her face. “Mateo is not this nice to even Penny… so why is he treating that woman so well?” the more Kaylyn looked at the woman beside her son the more she wished to find out about that woman.

Theodore also had the same thoughts. However, he didn’t say anything and simply watched the scene unfold in front of him. Earlier he and Kaylyn had relayed to Mateo that they were going to miss the party as their flight was delayed which was why Mateo came to attend this birthday party in his place.

However, as their flight was on time they arrived at the party and neither of them had the time to tell Mateo about it.

After all, the two of them thought that they would meet with Mateo in the party anyways and there was no need for them to tell him such a minor thing.

Getting to know the Bakers would only help Mateo in the long run as Mister Baker dabbled with antique paintings and art shows.

Never did they think that they would see a sight as shocking as this.

Mateo on the other hand had no idea that he was being watched, he led Ari to the table where he was sitting. The circular table only had eight chairs and two of them were already occupied by Leila and Ryan.

Because Ryan was sitting at the same table, Leila seemed flustered and annoyed. However, she was slightly relieved when she saw Ari arrive and sit right next to her.

However, Ari was not the only one who came to the table, Mrs Nelson, Mrs Baker and Mrs Kelly also came to sit down at their table.

Ari could understand why Mrs Baker and Mrs Kelly came to sit with them but she could not understand why Mrs Nelson had to take a seat and that too right opposite her.

Just as she was feeling a bit flustered, Nicolai walked over to her side and sat down on the chair right beside her.

When everyone had sat down, she heard Mrs Baker say, “What’s wrong with you, Leila? I asked you to sit with us at the centre table, why did you have to come and sit here?”

As she spoke she glanced at her son who was staring at Leila point blankly. Though Ryan did not speak much, she knew that her son desired Leila. Even Mrs Baker thought that Leila was the right woman for her son to marry but a few years ago something seemed to have changed between their dynamics.

While her son had become more and more of a philanderer, Leila had become more and more distant with them. This was not in the plans that Mrs Baker had in her mind. Not only was Leila a charming woman, she was also the only daughter of her parents.

If she were to marry Ryan, the Kelly Corporation would soon join her family.

This was the reason why Mrs Baker had been trying to get her son and Leila together for the longest time but Leila didn’t seem to agree with her.

“Thank you, Mrs Baker for the invitation,” replied Leila with a smile on her face. “But I would like to sit with my friend.”

Upon hearing her words, Mrs. Baker turned to look at Ari with dissatisfaction. It was as if it was Ari’s fault that she was not getting Leila as her daughter-in-law.

Mrs Nelson on the other hand laughed lightly. She told Leila, “You need to keep better company, Leila dear. Why are you staying with a woman who only knows how to divorce and break up a family for the smallest reason? If you stay with her, your mind will soon be corrupted.”

Small reasons? Ari furrowed her brows. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could Nicolai who was staring at the corner turned and said to Mrs Nelson, “So you mean to say that kissing another woman while being married is not a big problem? Would you like me to send a few women to Mister Nelson, Mrs Nelson?”