After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back (Aveline and Lucas) novel Chapter 1092

Ian spoke up, his tone calm and polite. "I met Jolie half a month ago. It was love at first sight for me. After spending some time together, I grew quite fond of her, and we decided to be together. I apologize for not informing you sooner, Mr. and Mrs. Quin. That was my oversight."

Jolie playfully blinked at her parents and added, "Mom, Dad, I just wanted to surprise you."

Surprise? This was clearly a shock!

However, with Ian standing there, Terence and Daisy couldn’t say much. They forced polite smiles and nodded.

"Alright, as long as you’re both happy. Go on and enjoy yourselves for now," Daisy said with a strained smile.

Jolie looped her arm through Ian’s and led him a short distance away.

"Phew..." Jolie exhaled deeply, glancing at Ian as she blinked mischievously. "Well, I’d say I’ve made it halfway through with my family."

Ian raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Why only halfway?"

Jolie sighed. "To be honest, my parents will never agree to us being together. They’ll find ways to make us break up."

Ian studied her intently for a moment before asking, "Because the Quin family is looking for a better match?"

Jolie handed him a glass of champagne and replied with a wry smile, "People always aim for the top, just like rivers naturally flow downhill."

If Ian didn’t genuinely care for someone, he’d likely choose a more influential heiress to pursue as well. The Quin family, after all, was respectable but unremarkable in Larbor City.

Ian accepted the champagne, clinking his glass with hers. "Then it’s up to you now."

Jolie nodded resolutely. "I won’t give in."

She would never let their plans succeed!

As she sipped her champagne, she suddenly felt a piercing gaze on her. The intensity of it was impossible to ignore, its presence looming over her like a tangible weight.

Her grip on the glass tightened, but she refused to look in that direction.

The dance floor remained lively for a while longer before the cake-cutting ceremony began. Jolie approached the towering cake, holding the knife as she prepared to cut it.

Nibbling on her cake, she gazed out at the pitch-black sea, its vastness like an endless abyss, as if it could pull her in at any moment. Lost in thought, she stared blankly at the horizon when the massive cruise ship suddenly rocked. The unexpected movement threw her off balance, and her cake slipped from her hands, tumbling straight into the ocean!

"Ah!"

She yelped, her body lurching forward as she nearly fell over the railing into the dark waters below. She couldn’t swim!

Just as panic overtook her, a strong arm suddenly encircled her waist, pulling her back and away from the railing.

Instinctively, she clung to her rescuer, steadying herself. Her face was still pale with fright.

"Thank you," she managed, her voice trembling.

When she looked up to see who had saved her, her words caught in her throat.

It was him.