"Shouldn't you prioritize your fiancée?" Eden raised an eyebrow, teasing Ella.

Ella glared at Eden, but he pretended not to notice.

Lucien declined the toast, saying, "Ella can't handle her alcohol."

Eden smiled, but his smile seemed inscrutable. No one could tell what he was thinking, and Ella couldn't guess his intentions either.

Ella realized that Eden was nothing like the careless man he made himself out to be. There was more to him than met the eye.

Lucien, being protective of Ella, offered to drink on her behalf. He bluntly said, "If you don't mind, Eden, I can drink for Ella. I'll have two."

Eden replied, "Since you're so protective of your wife, I'll respect that." He then finished his own glass.

Lucien did the same, finishing one glass and then pouring himself another, drinking two in total. As he drank, he seemed to become more open and relaxed.

Whenever someone drank with Lucien, he would make sure to give Ella a substitute glass.

Jonas and Cendy continued singing for a while. Upon receiving Eden's signal, Jonas immediately put down the microphone and went over to initiate a toast.

It was obvious that they wanted Lucien as drunk as possible.

Cendy looked somewhat irritated by Jonas' move. She was in the middle of a song. Why was he interrupting? For a silly toast?

Cendy had originally intended to pass the microphone to Bowen, but Jonas' comment about couples singing 'You Belong to Me' possibly breaking up had made her hesitant. She decided to stop singing herself.

A low male voice filled the room, distinctively singing the lyrics, "Crossing the border of morality / We walk through the forbidden zone of love / Enjoying the illusion of happiness / Misunderstanding the meaning of joy."

It was Winston.

Cendy was stunned for a few seconds before she continued singing, … Just today not tomorrow / Watching love slip through your fingers / And saying goodbye."

"Not enough time to love you properly." Winston sings.

"Should have stopped… long ago," Cendy suddenly stopped singing and handed the microphone directly to Doris next to her, saying, "Your turn."

"No," Doris quickly declined.

Hedy followed suit, saying, "Me neither."

Cendy was left speechless by their responses.

Cendy couldn't help but look at Bowen, who was sitting in the corner. She knew that he had grown up in a different environment, making it challenging for him to fit in with this group of upper-class young men and women. He had only started working a year ago, and it had been even more difficult for him in the past to participate in such gatherings.

Cendy decided to abandon the microphone, leaving it on the coffee table, and went to Bowen's side. She had always been concerned about his feelings, fearing that he wouldn't feel comfortable in such environments.

As Cendy approached Bowen, he smiled faintly and embraced her naturally, showing that he was at ease in her presence.

Winston noticed Jonas and Cendy's embrace but didn't dwell on it. He made himself comfortable, continuing to sing to himself.

Jonas returned from his drink and saw Winston singing alone. Without hesitation, he picked up the microphone and joined in, singing the female part of the song. It seemed that the song suited Winston's voice quite well, and they made a great duet.

On the other side of the lounge, Lucien was being toasted one after another, and each time, he raised his glass on behalf of Ella. Despite drinking a considerable amount of wine, Lucien relished the compliments and praise he was receiving. He didn't decline any toasts and drank with everyone, even drinking quite quickly.

Before long, it became evident that Lucien had consumed a little too much alcohol. The effects of the drinks were starting to show.

Lucien whispered in Ella's ear, "I'm going to use the restroom."

Ella feigned concern and asked, "Do you need help?"

The two were acting intimately, drawing attention from everyone around. Hedy felt like she was going insane with jealousy.

Hedy couldn't help but feel resentful. If the Ford family industry hadn't been inherited by Ella's family, she would have been the center of attention as the great lady of the Ford family. Now, she felt like she was at rock bottom, unable to shine among all these people.

Tonight pissed Hedy off, and she was certain that her mother, Lisa, felt the same way.

Hedy couldn't help but envy Daisy, who had suddenly become popular and was now in the limelight. She resented the fact that if the Ford family estate had fallen into her family's hands, everything Daisy owned would've belonged to her mother. Everything Ella enjoyed should have been hers instead.

The envy and frustration were consuming Hedy, and she had to restrain herself from intervening aggressively. She wanted to go up and separate Lucien and Ella immediately. However, to her relief, the two of them had only exchanged a few intimate words before Lucien got up and left the private room.

Hedy hadn't even had a chance to react when Doris whispered in her ear, "Lucien is leaving..."

At first, Hedy was about to scold Doris for stating the obvious, but in the next second, she realized what Doris meant. Lucien's sudden departure had to be dealt with. Despite her annoyance and contempt for her half-sister, Hedy knew that Doris had a keen eye and could be of some help.

Without drawing much attention, Hedy quickly got up and left the private room as well, following after Lucien.

Ella watched as Lucien left, and after a while, he returned, appearing to be more sober. As soon as he was back, the others couldn't resist making more toasts to him, leading to another round of drinks.

Hedy also returned after a while, her face marked with a suspicious flush. Her expression was a bashful one.

The young people in the private room continued to drink and sing, and the atmosphere remained lively. Ella observed Lucien being pestered by Jonas for another drink and realized he was completely unaware of her absence.

Ella decided to leave quietly. As she left, Lucien still didn't notice.

As Ella walked out of the private room, she felt a sense of indifference toward Lucien. Whenever Lucien wanted to pursue his own interests, he tended to neglect her.

Ella waited at the door for a moment, and when Eden walked out, she immediately walked toward him. The two of them walked together deeper into the hallway, away from the lively atmosphere of the private room.

Ella expressed her plan to Eden, saying, "I'll find a way to get Hedy to take Lucien back later."

Eden nodded, listening attentively.

Ella continued, "When the time comes for them to leave, you'll have Jonas get someone to follow them closely."

Eden seemed skeptical, asking, "You're getting married in a month. Are you that sure Lucien would do something like that?"

"I'm sure." Dogs couldn't change their nature.

As long as Hedy initiated it, Lucien would never say no. Tonight, Hedy was so jealous that there was no doubt she'd take the initiative.

"Since you're so sure, then should I forget about the medicine I asked Jonas to prepare?"

Ella nodded, "It's not necessary."

Eden's lips curled up slightly as he sarcastically questioned, "Maybe not for Lucien… What about you, Miss Ford Are you leaving a way out for yourself?"

It took Ella a few seconds to grasp Eden's insinuation and intention.

She spoke steadily, “I’ve never done that, and I’m determined not to leave one for Lucien.”

"Is that so?" Eden seemed convinced.

"You'll find out tonight," Ella replied firmly. With those words spoken, she turned and began to walk away.

However, as she lifted her foot to take a step, her body was suddenly violently grabbed, and she was pushed against the wall nearby.

Eden reeked of alcohol, and right now?

He was dangerous.