After that, it became difficult for anyone to truly relax at the reunion.
First, with three of them present, the boys were subconsciously restrained the whole time.
Second—and more importantly—Jason's true net worth had been exposed.
Even though Jason behaved as casually and approachably as ever, no one dared to joke freely anymore. Everyone was afraid of saying the wrong thing, afraid of offending him without realizing it.
There was no helping it.
When the gap between people became too wide, genuine interaction naturally disappeared.
That was an unchanging truth.
After having a few drinks with them, Jason finally made an excuse to leave.
Naturally, he couldn't drive after drinking—even though, with his physique, the alcohol hadn't affected him at all.
Jason took out his phone, preparing to call Olivia to pick him up.
At that moment, Tanya Covell suddenly stepped forward.
She hugged Jason's arm without hesitation, her voice soft and clingy.
"Jason, I didn't drink tonight," she said sweetly. "I can drive. Let me take you home."
The boys watching nearby instantly felt their hearts tighten.
Her intentions were painfully obvious.
The intimate contact. The offer. The implication.
As long as Jason nodded, Tanya would belong to him tonight.
Lucas's eyes turned red immediately.
His voice came out hoarse as he spoke,"Tanya… how can you do this? How long have you even known him? What has he done for you?"
But his words were completely unnecessary.
Because Jason coldly pulled his arm away.
He smiled faintly, but his tone carried no warmth at all.
"No need," Jason said calmly. "My assistant will come pick me up."
The boys were stunned.
What?!
A beauty throwing herself at him—and he rejected her outright?
What kind of behavior was this?!
On the other hand, Ethan weren't surprised at all.
They had seen scenes like this before.
At the previous alumni gathering, Tanya had asked Jason to open the car door for her. Not only had he refused—he had simply walked away and left her standing there.
At that moment, Katherine seized the opening.
She quickly stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Jason's other side, smiling brightly.
"Senior Jason," she said sweetly, "let me take you back. I'm good at cooking. I can make a nice dinner for your aunt and uncle."
The boys' eyes widened again.
Good heavens—this had already escalated to meeting the parents?!
But Jason's response was just as decisive.
He pulled his other arm free, his tone still indifferent.
"That won't be necessary," he said. "We have a maid at home."
The boys were completely speechless.
Another beauty—rejected.
Fine.
So beauties were really worthless in your eyes, huh?
What made it even harder to accept was—
Even after being rejected like that, Tanya and Katherine didn't get angry at all.
They still hovered close to Jason, unwilling to leave.
Just then, Ava Summers smiled and spoke up.
"Jason," she said gently, "I'll take you back."
Her smile was sweet, with a hint of playfulness.
She had clearly noticed that Jason didn't want to deal with Tanya or Katherine.
"Alright," Jason replied without hesitation. "Thanks, Senior."
He didn't refuse this time.
After all, he genuinely had a good impression of Ava.
From the very beginning, she had made people feel comfortable.
When the false bankruptcy rumors spread, her attitude toward him hadn't changed at all—not a single bit of contempt, not even a trace of distance.
The boys suddenly understood.
So this was the one Jason liked.
But that realisation only made things worse.
Three beauties offering to take him home—
And Jason only needed to passively choose the one he preferred.
This was the first time in their lives they had seen girls be this proactive.
And not just one—
Three at the same time.
The gap between people had never felt more cruel.
Jason walked toward the Bentley Flying Spur, unlocked it, and got in.
He took the passenger seat, while Ava sat in the driver's seat.
The engine started smoothly, and the car drove off into the night.
Only then did the people standing outside suddenly realize—
This Bentley belonged to Jason.
But strangely, no one felt shocked anymore.
If this had happened at the beginning of the reunion, it would have caused an uproar. But now, after learning that Jason had invested two billion dollars into Brookside City, a luxury car worth a few million felt… normal.
If anything, it would have been strange if his car wasn't worth that much.
Watching the Bentley disappear down the road, Tanya Covell stomped her foot in frustration.
"I liked Jason first!" she snapped angrily. "What right does Ava have to cut in? I never realized she was this kind of woman before."
The moment those words left her mouth, Ellie's expression darkened.
As Ava's best friend, she was instantly displeased.
"You liked him first, so he belongs to you?" Ellie shot back coldly. "Ava treated Jason kindly from beginning to end. What about you?"
"When you saw the fake news about Jason's bankruptcy, you looked down on him. And now you expect him to like you back?"
"Don't be shameless."
Tanya was stunned.
"You—you—who do you think you are? What right do you have to talk to me like that?"
She had only been venting. She never expected Ellie to tear into her so mercilessly—and for a moment, she couldn't even find a proper rebuttal.
Ellie sneered.
"Which part of what I said was wrong?"
"Didn't I see you being rude to Jason at the entrance that day?"
"Jason wanted to buy a house. Your mother is a real estate agent. And yet you made excuses and refused to help. That didn't happen?"
"Of course," Ellie added mockingly, "I should thank you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten the chance."
"Jason bought a multi–million-dollar villa, and I earned fifty thousand dollars in one day."
She paused, then delivered the final blow.
"Oh, and by the way—Jason acquired a Piano Group, valued at 720 million dollars, just to pave the way for Ava's music career."
"That should make things clear enough, shouldn't it?"
"You don't stand a chance."
Ava had only told Ellie about this after returning. Ellie had never planned to spread it—but she couldn't stand Tanya's attitude anymore, nor could she allow her to interfere with Jason and Ava.
She wanted Tanya to retreat knowing her place.
What Ellie didn't expect—
Was that people thought very differently.
Tanya was indeed shocked.
But what shocked her wasn't Jason's feelings for Ava.
What crushed her—
Was that 720 million dollars hadn't been spent on her.
Her heart twisted with regret.
I should have treated Jason well from the very beginning, she thought bitterly.At that alumni gathering… if I had just been nicer…
Maybe I would've been the one who got to him first.
If Jason is willing to spend that kind of money on women… how amazing would it be to be his woman?
Tanya Covell: Favorability +3
Nearby, Ethan and the others were once again dumbfounded.
Spending 720 million dollars just to support a woman's musical dream?
At that moment, they didn't dare to feel envy anymore.
Jason Carter deserved to have campus beauties throwing themselves at him.
Across the room, Natasha trembled.
Ellie's words felt like they weren't just scolding Tanya—but also her.
When the fake bankruptcy news had spread, Natasha's reaction had been no different.
And now, hearing that Jason had casually spent 720 million dollars for Ava's dream—
Her heart was thrown into total chaos.
Meanwhile, Katherine's eyes gleamed strangely.
She was far calmer than Tanya and Natasha.
Almost instantly, she took out her phone and searched for the so-called "bankruptcy news" about Jason Carter.
With the right keywords, it was easy to find.
The more she read—
The brighter her eyes became.
Her vision was far higher than Tanya's or Natasha's.
At a glance, she could tell how fake the news was.
What she saw wasn't bankruptcy—
It was the sheer scale of Jason Carter's assets.
Katherine's breathing quickened.
With his backing, she thought, I wouldn't be limited to this small City at all.
A small county-level city is nothing.
I could choose Los Angeles, Chicago… any of them.
Reaching office in the future would be almost effortless.
The ladder of power is right in front of me.
Her heartbeat grew faster.
Even if he were an old man, I'd still be willing—if he could truly push my career forward.
But he's young. Handsome.
Not only is there no disgust… there's even that legendary physical attraction.
Without question—he is the most perfect partner.
Katherine's pulse raced.
Katherine: Favorability +30
Katherine's favorability has exceeded 80. Status updated. Please check.
Name: Katherine
Age: 20
Appearance: 8.1
Height: 165 cm
Weight: 48 kg
Favorability: 0 → 80
Ex-boyfriends: 1
STDs: None
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