Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 93

Vanessa offered a modest smile. "I learned a bit from my grandfather when I was young. It's nothing too profound."

"You don't need to be so humble. The doctors said the old man's condition was critical. If it had been anyone else, he probably wouldn't have made it."

Watching the two hit it off so seamlessly, Giselle clenched her fists under the table, a venomous spark of jealousy flashing in her eyes.

If she had known Vanessa could win Arthur's favor with medical skills, she would never have refused her grandfather's offer to take them to Savannah for the summer.

If she had learned a little medicine and saved the old man, she would be the one getting engaged to the Howard family right now.

Giselle immediately spoke up. "If Vanessa hadn't run away from the engagement three years ago, a catch like you would have married her long ago, Mr. Howard."

What an awkward thing to bring up.

But the man merely chuckled. "Perhaps the old man's sudden request was too abrupt. It's completely understandable that Ms. Grant needed time to process it."

"Oh, please, she just didn't want to. She left Sterling City for Savannah, immediately got a boyfriend, and even moved in with him. They only broke up recently."

"Giselle!"

Elaine feigned a scolding tone, though the gleeful satisfaction in her eyes was impossible to hide.

She turned to the man she thought was Ace, her face a picture of pure apology. "I am so sorry, Mr. Howard. Giselle is just too blunt for her own good. Please don't take it to heart. I've watched Vanessa grow up, and her character is absolutely flawless."

Her defense only made things sound ten times worse.

Instead of easing the tension, the atmosphere grew stifling.

Vanessa merely curled her lips into a faint smile, in no rush to defend herself.

She had known from the start that these two had crashed her dinner with malicious intent.

They wanted to expose her past romances in Savannah right in front of her fiancé.

No ordinary man could stomach that kind of public humiliation, let alone the proud heir of the Howard dynasty.

Giselle's actions were the equivalent of slapping him in the face and stripping away his pride.

As the saying went, three women made a circus, and right now, he was sitting front row for the show.

The man's gaze shifted to a perfectly calm Vanessa. "Do you have anything to say, Ms. Grant?"

Vanessa smiled softly. "We were all young and reckless once. Everyone has flaws and a past. I'd like to think a man of your stature isn't the type to hold a petty grudge."

"Oh? What makes you so sure I don't mind?"

"Oh my god, I am so, so sorry... I didn't mean to!"

Giselle feigned pure panic, grabbing a fistful of napkins and frantically swiping at his chest. As she leaned over, she made sure to give him a full view of her plunging neckline.

"Giselle, why are you so clumsy?!" Elaine barked, furrowing her brows.

"It's fine," the man said, standing up. "Please, continue. I'm going to step out and change."

With that, he turned and headed for the door.

"Let me help you..." Giselle quickly scrambled after him.

The private room was suddenly left with just the two of them.

Vanessa took a slow, deliberate sip of her wine before raising her eyes to Elaine.

"Elaine, you really went above and beyond to ruin this for me."

"Are you blaming Giselle for talking too much?" Elaine maintained her perfectly fake, gentle smile. "I actually think it's a good thing. It's better to get everything out in the open now rather than let Mr. Howard find out after the wedding and build resentment. Don't you agree, Vanessa?"

"Then I suppose I should thank you and Giselle for caring so deeply," Vanessa replied, her smile utterly devoid of warmth. "But honestly, if someone doesn't even have the self-respect to value herself, how can she expect a man to truly respect her?"