''What''s the fuss about?'' Lnd scoffed, "Looking down on us? That''s not new, okay?"


    He had never taken a liking to Kieran''s arrogance.


    "What are you talking about?" Fearing others might overhear it, Johanna hurried after Kieran. She was concerned Lnd might have upset him.


    From a distance, the Ramsey family could see that although Lnd had his charms, he was nothing more than a pretty face with little substance. They couldn''t hold back their disdain.


    Half the people at the party were there for a business merger between the Suttons and the Dawsons, which made the whole event even more of a social must-do.


    Seeing Lnd daring to offend Kieran made them contemte leaving.


    "Ms. Ramsey, may I have the pleasure of yourpany for a stroll?" Lnd approached Violet. Given it was Lnd''s event, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey could only signal their daughter to indulge him briefly. But the Ramsey family weren''t fools. Mrs. Ramsey''s look suggested Violet entertain Lnd for a moment before returning.


    Violet nodded. "Sure, let''s take a walk."


    Believing his exchange with Kieran had impressed Violet, Lnd puffed up with pride.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Not part of the elite circle, his friends came over.


    "Happy birthday, Mr. Dawson! My dad sent this as a gift. Hope you like it."


    "Oh, Mr. Dawson is a real catch, Ms. Ramsey. If you end up as his wife, you''d be lucky!"


    "Yeah, Mr. Dawson''s got the works. He''s got a cool bike and knows all the right people. Plus, he''s about to be Mr. Sutton''s brother-inw! Ms. Ramsey, you''d better not let this one get away."


    ...


    Lnd''s friends, far from high society, ttered him endlessly.


    Violet frowned upon hearing their words. Even if she and Lnd had known each other well, such talk would repulse her. What status did her family hold? And the Dawson''s?


    Without the Freya connection, Lnd wouldn''t even be allowed in the doors of the Majestic Manor Hotel.


    Unaware of Violet''s disgust, buoyed by the ttery, Lnd felt superior. At his age, it was easy to get carried away.


    He downed his champagne and told Violet, "They love to talk nonsense. Don''t mind them."


    I


    "Sure, it''s all nonsense. I certainly


    won''t take it to heart," Violet replied coldly. "After all, I have no intention of getting engaged to you, Mr. Dawson. I n to study abroad i assume you prioritize your studies as well, right?"


    Lnd''s smile stuck on his face. His buddies, who''d been sucking up to him and Violet, looked at each other, puzzled.


    "I have other matters to attend to. Mr. Dawson, since your friends are here, continue chatting." With that, Violet turned and left. "What''s with her? Talk about disrespect!"


    "Seriously, Lnd, you''re going to be Kieran''s brother-inw. They''re just a business family. They can''t dismiss you like that!" "Lnd, it''s your birthday. How can you let a woman treat you like this?"


    These people were unaware of the dynamics within their social circle. They knew Kieran was influential but didn''t realize the Ramsey family owned a major corporation, fa` surpassing the Dawson family in status.


    Fueled by alcohol and the embarrassment before his friends, Lnd coldly said, "The Ramsey heiress thinks she''s a treasure? I''ll find a way to make her apologize in tears!"  en