Jack looked back down at his plate before anyone else could say something.

He would rather stare at the unappealing feast before him for hours on end than look at Vivian's face for another second

“You heard Mr. Blake," Mrs. Jenkins said to Vivian, her voice colder than usual. "Don't embarrass us any further and take your leave." She was afraid that Jack would be offended by Vivian's lingering presence.

As soon as Vivian made her exit, old Mrs. Jenkins resumed fawning over Jack with renewed enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Vivian was in a panic.

She rushed over to the butler, who stood at attention outside the hall.

“That man... Is he really the guest that the family is expecting?"

The butler was well aware of what had transpired just now, and he couldn't help but admonish her.

“I must say that your performance in there was rather disappointing, Miss Vivian. Old Mrs. Jenkins gave you such a rare opportunity, but you bungled it up."

“I..." Vivian was at a loss. Even the butler was blaming her!

“Mrs. Jenkins was planning to introduce you to Mr. Blake," the man continued, “in hopes that you might marry him in the future. Sadly, you let that chance slip away."

Vivian's breathing grew labored with outrage. How dare he say that?! Her marrying Maria's chauffeur?

Impossible!

How had things come to this?

As her mind slowly cleared, Vivian realized she had more important things to worry about.

If the Jenkins family revered Jack, then he must be truly powerful. And his boss... he should still be working for Anthony.

Anthony, that disabled man she had rejected. In the past, Vivian thought that he had lost his right to become the family heir, and therefore never deserved her.

If the Jenkins family held Jack in such high regard, how much more Anthony?

“What the hell did I throw away?" Vivian murmured mournfully.

Her words didn't escape the butler's notice, who thought that she was referring to the matter of Jack. "You threw away your only chance to be with Mr. Blake," he said sarcastically. "I'm afraid there is no hope for another one in the future."

Hearing this, Vivian spiraled into yet another bout of panic.

At this point, she couldn't even bring herself to expose Jack and tell everyone that he was just Anthony and Maria's chauffeur

No, this was the right thing to do. She wouldn't tell them the truth! Otherwise, the Jenkins family was bound to change their opinion of Maria.

Perhaps, the Jenkins family would think highly of Maria even though she was talentless.