Ch. 2671..2680

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2671-"Also, I want to thank my beloved husband. Thank you for your support all this time. I love you. I'll continue to work hard in my acting career. Thank you, everyone!"

Lucas sat in the audience, smiling as he watched Melody. He had been by Melody's side all along and knew how hard she had worked to get here. This award was more like an acknowledgment for all of her efforts.

She could have had a smoother journey if it had not been for those setbacks, but no one could say for sure that they were meaningless. After all, perhaps it was due to all those setbacks that she was ever to reach all these new heights.

Most importantly, no matter how many horrible things she had experienced before, Melody had overcome them all. Lucas was forever proud of her.

After stepping off the stage, Melody immediately hugged Lucas. At that moment, she did not care about the numerous gazes from others. She just wanted to embrace the person she loved the most. When Melody was on stage, she could still pretend to be calm and composed like the adult she was. As soon as she felt the warmth of Lucas' embrace, she could not hold back her tears any longer.

"Lucas, I really did it!"

Lucas subconsciously kissed her forehead. "I know, and I'm so proud of you.

You deserve every bit of that award, my Best Actress."

It was only when they heard the host's teasing voice from the stage that Melody felt a bit embarrassed and reluctantly let go of Lucas. She quickly pulled him to sit.

"Ugh, I was so excited that I forgot that we're still on live," said Melody.

Lucas gently wiped away her tears. "We didn't do anything wrong. We're legally married, so us being affectionate is normal."

What they both did not know was the uproar their appearance together on the red carpet, and the embrace, had caused on the Internet. Melody rarely checked her phone those Won days, while Lucas did not care much about it. ,[Wow, Lucas and Melody are the best couple ever!] [Oh gosh, my mom asked me why I was screaming. Thank goodness Melody won the Best Newcomer Actress tonight, otherwise I would've been really upset.] [Yeah! I'm still upset that Nathan didn't win Best Newcomer Actor, but at least I've got to see Lucas and Melody being all lovey-dovey towards each other!]

Wow, both Melody's love life and career are thriving! Her fans are so lucky to know that she has such al catah oNà Husband! Not to mention, her acting skills can outshin@any other actresses! She's so lucky!

[I, as her fan, do indeed feel happy for her.]

At that moment, the audience had yet to realize that this was just the beginning. From then on, Melody!

seemed to have hit the jackpot, winning heavyweight awards with every film she starred in. Just three years later, she had already become a cornerstone among actresses.

After a busy period, Melody decided to take a long vacation. Beatrice and Cedric had been hinting not-so-subtly about wanting great-grandchildren, so they planned a honeymoon trip specifically for them.

Lucas agreed it was time to take Melody on a proper honeymoon since they had not had one after their marriagel i would also be an opportunity for Melody to meet his parents and sister and her husband abroad.

With work arrangements settled, they embarked on their honeymoon journey, and their happiness lasted for a very long time.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2672-Sherman picked up the remote control and turned off the TV. He was watching the live broadcast of the Golden Feather Awards ceremony and saw Melody win the Best Newcomer Actress award, which made him happy for her.

However, seeing Lucas beside her made him feel a sense of regret and disappointment. Quickly, that regret and disappointment transformed into a restless feeling. He turned off the TV, believing that out of sight, out of mind.

He admitted to himself that he really liked Melody because she perfectly matched his criteria for a partner in terms of both looks and personality. Most importantly, Melody bore a resemblance to the girl he had harbored feelings for many years, Claire Bourne.

Sometimes, thoughts really could become reality.

Sherman had just opened a bottle of red wine, intending to drown his sorrows alone when his assistant's call came through.

After answering the phone, he said in a subdued tone, "Whatever the matter is, let's talk about it tomorrow."

He was about to hang up when his assistant hurriedly said, "Sir, it's about Miss Claire! She's returned to the country!"

Sherman, holding the wine bottle, froze for a moment.

'What?' The next day.

Rita could not believe her bad luck. After finally securing an opportunity to work on an out-of-the-studio shoot, she realized some stranger had stolen her seat.

"Excuse me, sir. This seat is mine. Could you please check if you're in the wrong seat?"

The man, wearing a suit and gold-rimmed glasses, looked sophisticated and indifferent as he glanced at her.

Ignoring her words, he remained focused on waiting for the performance to begin. en.FindNovels.net 'What the heck is wrong with this guy? Didn't he hear what I just said?' thought Rita.

She felt a surge of frustration but still forced a smile on her face. She reluctantly asked again, "Sir, do you have trouble hearing? This seat is mine. Maybe you should double-check your ticket." en.FindNovels.net Rita had done extensive research online before deciding on this position, all to capture photos of Claire, the most famous newcomer in the world of performing arts. She had even asked a friend for help to secure this position because Claire's performance was so popular, so what gave this man the right to sit there without budging?

'Does he really think I'm that easy to bully?' thought Rita.

The man, irritated by Rita, frowned and said, "This kind of ganners Won't da in a performance like this. You should improve it."

Rita was stunned. Did he really say that to her? She even turned her head in shook to make sure there was no oñe behind her before facing him again.

She pointed at herself and asked in disbelief, "Are you saying I have no manners?"

Sherman looked up. "I don't see

anyone else here besides you. I don't know how you got in, but since you've managed to get front-row tickets, you should at least show some respect to Claire by being quiet!" en.FindNovels.net

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2673-"But I-I…" Rita stuttered. She was so angry that her mind went blank. "Clearly, it was you who lacked manners first by taking my seat and then blaming me! If I lacked manners, why would I buy front-row tickets? I did my research before coming here, okay? Unlike you, who thinks yourself civilized just because you're wearing those glasses. You're no better than a brute!"

As the lights dimmed throughout the venue, Sherman knew it was entering the countdown phase. He no longer wanted to resume bickering with the annoying woman beside him.

"Miss, I don't know how you came to believe this was your seat, but maybe you should check your ticket again," said Sherman.

There was no way it was his mistake since Claire had reserved that seat for him.

"Why you! I've double-checked multiple times. It's you who made the mistake.

You're sitting in 008, right?"

The number held a special significance between Sherman and Claire, and the repeated mention of it by this woman made him furious.

He stood up, his imposing figure causing Rita to take two steps back.

"What are you doing? I'll let you know that we live in a lawful society! You were in the wrong first. Even if we end up at the police station, the officers will be on my side. I'll also hire a lawyer to defend my rights. Don't you dare lay a hand on me—"

She screamed, and some people around them cast disapproving glances.

Sherman simply pulled her forcefully into the seat beside him.

"Perhaps you should consider if you bought fake tickets from scalpers. You claim to have done so much research, yet you dare to make someone with genuine tickets leave?"

Sherman's expression remained relatively unchanged, but the mockery in his eyes made Rita blush. "Watch what you're saying? I can well afford the thousand dollars to buy a front-row seat! The seat you're in is mine!"

The two remained steadfast in their beliefs, but Rita kept arguing while Sherman remained silent.

Although seat number 007 was decent, seat number 008 was in the middle and offered an excellent angle for taking photos. Rita glared at Sherman indignantly, knowing this was not the best time to argue further, especially with many audience members growing displeased.

As the lights dimmed completely, Rita clenched her fists and whispered to herself, "Hmph, I'll deal with you after the performance is over."

She thought her actions were subtle, but Sherman glanced at her as if she were insane. 'Is this woman really clueless or just pretending?' Rita then focused her attention on the stage. She was determined to capture the best photos possible. Despite being looked down upon by others and restricted from outdoor shoots, she had previously won the Best Photo award.

Rita was particularly interested in the social category, but her qualifications were not sufficient. Thus, she decided to hone her skills in entertainment photography.

The entire venue quieted down as all eyes focused on the center stage, where Claire, the youngest contemporary dancer to embark on a national tour, was about to appear.

Even Rita found herself intrigued. Claire was undoubtedly one of the top figures in contemporary dance with international newspapers once describing her as a graceful swan. This high praise reflected just hov highly regarded Claire was in the dance community.

Rita wondered what kind of grace

Rita would have something to show for her efforts if she could secure an interview with Claire. After all, while Claire was a standost ander, she Waslalso known for her modesty. and reluctance to do interviews. Previous attempts to reach out to her through her agent had been rejected, so Rita was hoping to try her luck at the performance.

However, she had not expected to encounter such an unlucky situation.

Rita gave Sherman a faint eyeroll!

but he seemed completely oblivious as his attention was fully focused on the stage. 'Hm, he really seems to 'thought enjoy contemporary dance…' thought Rita.

and elegance this 'swan' would display on stage to be able to captivate so many fans, Frontrovy tickets had been scalped for thousands, even tens of thousands, people were willing to pay for the best view. It had been a long time since Rita had seen such an enticing female dancer in the country.

.n

indicating just how far thousands,

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The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2674-As Rita observed Sherman's focused expression, she could not help but wonder if his interest was genuine. The fact that this man claimed the seat was reserved for him by Claire raised some doubts in her mind.

'Are they in a romantic relationship?' The thought surprised Rita. It was not entirely implausible. The fact that he was able to get Claire to reserve a seat for him hinted at his significance. What luck, she had stumbled upon such a big story! Her colleagues would surely be in awe of her if she were to bring this news back. It was totally a headline-worthy scoop!

With a plan forming in her mind, Rita decided to start with this man beside her.

Perhaps he could serve as a breakthrough point.

As the music started, Claire gracefully glided onto the stage from the left side like a graceful swan. Even Rita could not resist holding her breath, overwhelmed by the visual impact Claire's performance had on her, which surpassed anything she had seen in online videos.

"Oh, my…" she exclaimed, and the surrounding audience did the same. At that moment, she could not help but observe the expression on Sherman's face, only to see a slight smile curling up at the corners of his mouth.

'Oh, so he does know how to smile!' thought Rita. She had thought he had a poker face.

He seemed genuinely proud of Claire, which made Rita even more convinced of their relationship.

Having studied abroad and attended numerous theaters and Broadway performances, Rita had experienced her fair share of stage productions. Thus, even though Claire's performance had left a strong impression on her, it was only fleeting.

Afterward, she did not show much excitement. However, it was understandable that such a talented dancer was being highly praised in the country, where good dancers were rare.

Claire's graceful movements were sharp and precise, but the length of her arm did not seem particularly advantageous, making some of her movements appear somewhat awkward. However, the choreography of the dance was very ingenious, which Rita found quite fascinating to watch.

Two hours flew by in the blink of an eye, and she managed to capture many captivating photos of Claire leaping into the air, truly a delight to watch.

By the time the curtain fell, Rita had packed up all her equipment. She could not wait to rush forward and interview Claire. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Having persevered on stage until the very last second to deliver a great performance to the audience, Claire was exhausted. After stepping off stage she did not even feel like smiling. The staff was well aware of her habits and knew not to bother her at such times.

However, there was one exception.

She had just turned to look at the staff when they responded knowingly, "Mister Sherman is waiting for you backstage."

"1 Claire nodded. She did not even bother to change out of her stage costume as she proceeded lightly to the backstage dressing room.

At that moment, the staff asked again, "Miss Claire, there's a reporter named Rita Bourne waiting to interview you. She's from New Capital Times. Would you like to see her?"

New Capital Times was a top-tier.

newspaper in the country, originally focusing only on mainstream

interviews. However, with the rise of online media, it had transformedn itself and by expanding into the entertainment sector.

It would be excellent to be featured in this publication since itould bel beneficial for their publicity.

Claire was even smiling as she glanced lightly at the staff and said, "You should know my style."

The staff quickly lowered their head. "I'm sorry."

He simply felt that forgoing an interview with New Capital Times would be a shame.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2675-Sherman was seated next to Rita, so she noticed that he had left after the curtain call. When the lights came back on, Rita once again confirmed the seat number on her ticket and compared it to the one Sherman had occupied.

"Hmph, and he had the gall to say I got the wrong seat. Ooh, I'm going to catch him, or my name isn't Rita Russell! Now I have both eyewitness and physical evidence. Let's see how he tries to argue his way out of this."

After gathering her evidence, she followed him.

Rita found the staff she had asked to convey a message earlier and looked at him expectantly.

The pressure was on for him. He did not want to disappoint such a beautiful reporter, but Claire had a temper and was unwilling to accept interviews from anyone, whether it was from New Capital Times or elsewhere.

"Sorry, Rita. Miss Claire doesn't really like doing interviews, so…"

"Could you please help me arrange a meeting with her? I represent New Capital Times! Just one meeting, and maybe after that, she'll be convinced by what I have to say. Please…"

The staff had to stop Rita no matter what. "I'm sorry. Miss Claire had just finished a two-hour dance performance, so she's quite exhausted and is resting backstage now. It might not be convenient for you to go over there right now.

How about I'll ask her again later? But please understand if she still doesn't want to do the interview."

Rita thought the staff was just making up excuses, so she refused to believe him.

'If Miss Claire is really that tired, then how did that man get in?' thought Rita.

She watched Sherman walk past her and into the backstage. If she had access, she would have confronted him directly.

That alone proved that the staff were accustomed to Sherman's presence. They even treated him with respect as they watched him walk in It was obvious that this was not the first time Sherman had acted thus, so there must be something going on between him and Claire!

"Please, I'm begging you. I just want to see Miss Claire, even if I can't interview her. I just want to tell her I'm a big fan of hers. Look, I've taken so many beautiful photos of her. Isn't that enough to prove that I'm her fan?" Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The staff glanced at Rita's camera, somewhat surprised. Indeed, her photos were even better than those taken by their studio, especially in capturing the dynamic movements.

Rita indeed had some skills. She was able to capture moments that truly portrayed the vitality of a. dancer. Something like this was not possible unless one possessed both artistic taste and photography skills.

He had underestimated her. He had thought Rita would be like those gossip reporters, only bothering Claire with trivial questions.

Just as the staff hesitated whether to take another risk and ask, Glaine's !!

agent walked towards them. He immediately felt relieved.

"Miss Serena, this is a reporter from New Capital Times. She wants to Interview Miss Claire, but Miss Claire declined to do the intervlew when 1 asked," the staff explained. Serena Swanson was frowning, but when she heard that Rita had taken an exceptional set of photos, her face brightened with a smile. "How should I address you, Miss?"

Rita felt a bit uncomfortable. "My name is Rita Russell. You can just call me Rita."

To gain their trust, Rita reluctantly showed them a few photos she had taken. She beliaved that after seeing these photos, they would develop a favorable impression of her.

"Okay, Rita. Can I see the photos you took of Claire?"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2676-"These photos are indeed impressive. Might I know if you're looking for another job? If you do, why not come work for our studio? Our studio could use a photographer like you who understands both photography and dance," said Serena.

Rita gave a faint smile. Serena sure knew what she was doing. She did not give a definite answer about letting Rita interview Claire but instead offered her a photographer position at their studio. 'Do they really see me as just another reporter from those gossip magazines?' wondered Rita.

"Sorry, but I've signed a long-term contract with New Capital Times. Miss Serena, you should be aware of the weight our newspaper carries. An interview with Claire would be a win-win situation. It would not only elevate her reputation

domestically but also help the public understand her better. Why wouldn't you seize such an opportunity? You should also know that our newspaper doesn't interview just anyone." Reporters from New Capital Times all had a sense of pride, and Rita was no exception. Serena started to waver.

Since Claire returned from abroad after her studies, she only had gained some semblance of reputation within the dance community. In other words, many in the public did not know about her yet. Moreover, it would not be sustainable for any artist's career to be obscure. As Claire's agent, Serena understood this point the most.

However, the artist she represented was extremely stubborn. Despite having so many good opportunities presented to her, she stubbornly turned them down. As her agent, Serena felt both frustrated and helpless.

Thus, she could not bear to let an interview with New Capital Times slip away.

"Alright, please wait here for a moment. I'll go and ask her again. Whether she agrees or not, I'll make sure to give you a satisfactory answer," said Serena.

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Rita nodded with a smile. The only answer she would be satisfied with was Claire agreeing to do the interview. She did not understand why Claire insisted on declining the interview. After all, New Capital Times was the most prestigious newspaper in the entire country! Doing the interview would only bring Claire benefits.

The people interviewed by New Capital Times were all top figures in various fields. Some people even sought after getting interviewed by them but could not get them.

'Is Claire afraid that her relationship with that man will be exposed?' wondered Rita.

Sherman looked somewhat familiar to Rita, but she could not quite place where she had seen him before. Lately, she had been working round the clock with the senior reporters to the point of even skipping the dinner her father had asked her to attend.

'That man is definitely influential. I'll probably run into him again at some gala,' thought Rita.

Serena quickly came back with an answer. "I'm very sorry, but Miss Claire still refuses to accept the interview. I apologize for having you make this trip, Rita."

Rita never expected Claire to be so unyielding. At that point, she could not return empty-handed.

She told Serena firmly, "Give me two minutes-no, just one minute. I only need a few words with Miss Chaline I've compé all this way, Miss Serena, so surely you can at least agree to this request, right? It'll be hard for me to explain to the newspaper if I return empty-handed."

Rita decided to put on some pressure, since she was working for New Capital Times.

Serena did not want to sour their relationship with them finally she gritted herdeath and nodded. "Alright, come with me."

Rita breathed a sigh of relief. There was no way New Capital Times M would support her unless she got that interview with Claire.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2677-Rita was sure her colleagues would prefer her to return in defeat. In fact, it would be better if they were to never see her face again. Those old fogies were probably hoping for her to embarrass herself! As Rita approached Claire's dressing room, she could hear voices from inside. Claire's sweet voice sounded so different from her crisp movements on stage. However, it was understandable she would act so adorably around her boyfriend.

"Rita, please wait here for a moment while I go in and inform Miss Claire,"

Serena said.

Rita nodded, her arms crossed confidently, piquing Serena's interest.

After all, if Claire was difficult to deal with even for her as an agent, how was somebody as young as Rita going to persuade her otherwise?

However, since Rita only requested to meet Claire, Serena decided to play along. At least this way, it would be impossible for New Capital Times to criticize them. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Miss Claire, a reporter from New Capital Times would like to have a quick word with you. It'll only take a minute of your time," Serena informed.

Claire frowned, and her expression darkened. "Didn't I tell you? I don't have time right now. I'm not taking any interviews. Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

Sherman glanced toward the door. "Does this always happen to you after you've come back from abroad?"

Claire's face showed a hint of weariness as she let out a resigned smile. "You know I dislike dealing with people. Except for performing for my audience on stage, I prefer to stay away from crowds. But a dancer won't last long if they don't have some fame. It's just I'm not even really that famous yet, and I'm already annoyed with all the requests for interviews.

"I mean, why would they want to interview me? Those reporters don't understand dance at all, so what's there to tell them? The people who truly appreciate me will come to watch my performances, and those who learn about me through magazines or newspapers don't really know me at all."

"I'll take care of all the reporters if you don't want them bothering you," said Sherman, his voice as gentle as a summer breeze.

Claire smiled and shook her head. "I know you're busy with your work too, so you don't need to handle such trivial matters for me. Besides, the reporters would usually give up after ve rejected them a couple of times. I don't know what's gotten into this reporter today. She just couldn't take no for an answer!

"I've already declined her request two or three times, yet she still insists on seeing me. You know what? I'm going to let her in since she only asks for a minute of my time. I'm curious to see what she can say in a minute."

Even in her exhaustion, Claire could not hide her gentle nature. Sherman looked at her with even more concern, but she had already opened the door to let the reporter in. Sherman immediately recognized the reporter as soon as the door was opened. 'It's that annoying woman!' "Oh, it's you," he said out loud.

Claire turned to look at Sherman with surprise. "Do you know this reporter? If you do, maybe I can consider letting her interview me."

Sherman shook his head and scoffed. "I don't know her. You really shouldn't allow that."

Rita had not expected Sherman to say such a thing.

"Oh? And why is that?" asked Claire.

"She's arrogant and meddlesome, so you can't possibly expect a reporter like this to groduce any high-quality content from the interview. It's better to forget about it," replied Sherman.

Rita's eyes widened. She could not believe what she was hearing.

'This man is spouting nonsense.

Clearly, he was the one whe tookimy seat, and nowhe's trying to sabotage seat, and now he's trying to sabotage my work?'

 

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2678-"Stop talking nonsense! You were clearly in the wrong for stealing my seat! Sir, do you think you have the right to slander me like this just because you're friends with Miss Claire? I'm sure she'll be very shocked once she knows just what kind of person you really are!"

As they continued to argue, Serena quickly closed the door.

"What happened? It's best to clear up any misunderstanding as soon as possible," she said.

Seeing the two of them acting like sworn enemies, Claire became even more displeased with the pushy Rita.

"Miss Rita, I think I've made it quite clear to you through the staff that I won't accept any interviews from any newspaper, not even from you. And especially not when there's a conflict between you and my friend!"

"Do you really not want to become famous, Miss Claire? After returning home from your studies, you shouldn't confine yourself to the stage of this theater. You belong on a larger stage, and your audience isn't just these mere two thousand people. If your ambition is limited to this, you can just take it as I've never come today. If you want to go further in your career, please give me a chance. This interview will open up doors for you and boost your reputation!

"As for the conflict between me and your friend, that's strictly between him and me. I hope you won't take it out on New Capital Times, as it's with the utmost sincerity we invite you to accept our interview." Rita's words were earnest. She was confident she could persuade Claire because, after watching videos of Claire's earlier dance performances, she realized she was dealing with a highly ambitious woman. Claire had steadily built her reputation internationally yet, in the end, had chosen to return home. There, she lacked a breakthrough opportunity to become famous despite her remarkable talent and loyal fan base.

Clearly, she would not settle for this little fame only.

Rita believed Claire's ambitions extended beyond her lukewarm reception. The interview with New Capital Times could be the perfect stepping stone for Claire, propelling her from a stage where she could only perform for two thousand people to a stage where she could perform for tens of thousands of people.

While art was indeed a pure and beautiful thing, in modern society, Claire and her team might end up with nothing to show for it if they relied solely on that aspect.

Rita placed her business card into Claire's hand and turned to Sherman. "As for you, I have proof that you've stolen my seat. Here, take a good look at them."

Sherman held Rita's phone with both hands and looked at the photo with disdain. "So what if I was sitting in seat number 008? That seat has always been reserved for me."

Claire felt a ball of emotions after hearing what Rita said, but she to reserve seat number el.net nodded along. "Sherman's rinnet Miss Rita. It's always been my habit 008 for him."

en.swhovels.net Rita's face reddened. "But I bought a ticket for that seat, and even when the show started, seat number 007 remained empty. Doesn't that prove he took my seat?"

Claire smiled gently. "You must've made a mistake, Miss Rita. I'd never reserve the wrong seat. Perhaps you bought scalped tickets, which was why you ended up with the same seat as Sherman. Don't worry, make sure to look into this matter as I won't allow scalped tickets to circulate in the market."

"I bought this ticket with my own money, and it was my friend who et helped me buy it. I didn't resorta scalpers just because I didn't want to spend a little extra money."

Rita felt like she was swallowing, a bitter pill and could not speak up.

'They didn't even bother to check if they had reserved the wrong seat!!

How dare they just assume I bought How dare they just assume I bought scalped tickets?'

Rita hated being wrongly accused, especially when there was more than especially when there was more than one accuser. The man, in particular, always seemed to have a hint of mockery in his eyes.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2679-"Miss Rita, you've misunderstood me. I didn't mean to imply you intentionally bought scalped tickets. Perhaps your friend was unintentionally deceived by scalpers, too? As for the interview you mentioned, I'll reconsider it and give you a response within twenty-four hours. If there's nothing else, please leave my dressing room. I need to rest," said Claire.

Rita was thus escorted out of the dressing room. Even as she was pushed out of the door, she still wore a bewildered expression.

"What? I didn't even get a chance to explain myself, but they just assumed it was all my fault!"

Rita stomped in frustration. What rotten luck! She had spent a fortune buying the ticket, only to be accused of purchasing a scalped one by those two. What was even more frustrating was that she did not even get the chance to defend herself. Claire just pushed her out of the dressing room, leaving her feeling utterly aggrieved.

As Rita left the room, Sherman's gaze remained fixed on her.

Claire only noticed Sherman's expression when she turned back. "What?

Couldn't bear to see her leave?"

Sherman looked at her with a horrified expression. "Dealing with such a meddlesome woman once is more than enough. Now that she's gone, I think I'll head back too so you can have a good rest." Sherman picked up his suit jacket and was about to leave when Claire grabbed his wrist.

"Sherman, are you going to come tomorrow?"

Sherman remained silent for a moment. He did not dare to turn to see her expression. In the end, he simply said, "I'll come as long as you have a performance."

He pulled his hand away from Claire's grasp, despite her trying to keep him.

After he left, she stood where she was for a long time, staring blankly at nothing until Serene came in. "Sherman didn't say anything, did he?"

Claire lifted her head and smiled coldly. "What could he possibly say?"

"That's good, then," said Serena with a sigh of relief. "I asked the intern to reserve the seat, but he couldn't even handle this small task property. I repeatedly reminded him to reserve seat number 008, but he somehow ended up with seat 007 and Sold that ticket! Luckily, Sherman didn't complain about it, or I wouldn't know how to make it up to you…"

"What did you say? The ticket that was sold was for seat number 008?"

…

Rita had a frustrating day. Not only did she not get the interview, but she was blamed for something she did not do as well.

Just as she was about to hail a cab to meet her friends, her father called her again.

Vince Russell's voice carried a hint of authority as he said, "What else goula it be? We're hosting)a dinner party at it be? We're hosting a Ginner party at home tomorrow night, and this time, you're not allowed to come up with any absurd excuses to skip it.

"What?" Rita was surprised by the news; she could already feel a headache coming. "pad, why areiwe having another dinner party? Our house is starting to feel like a club.

"Sweetie, where are you now?""Dad, I just finished today's interview and was about to have ginner with friends before going back. What's ub?"

"What?" Rita was surprised by the news; she could already feel a headache coming. "pad, why areiwe having another dinner party? Our house is starting to feel like a club.

Why do we keep having dinner parties every other day? I just want to have a good rest at home."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2680-"How could you say such a thing? All these dinner parties are held specifically for your benefit. I know you don't like these kinds of gatherings, but you missed a lot of opportunities to meet new people since you didn't show up last time.

Your stepmom said that most people your age are already in relationships, yet you're still single. How do you think it makes your old man feel?

"I'm not forcing you to go on blind dates or anything, just to get to know some people. You're still young, and it's good to make more friends," said Vince.

Rita's smile fell as soon as her stepmother was mentioned. 'What did he mean, not forcing me into blind dates? He's clearly pushing me to meet new guys. I bet all that stepmom of mine wants me to do is to find someone from a similar

background and get married quickly so I won't fight with her daughter for the inheritance.' Rita's heart churned with bitterness and resentment. Unfortunately, she could not express those thoughts out loud to her father.

"Your stepmom is only looking out for you. With her taking care of things for you, I can also rest easy."

Vince was not getting any younger, and hearing her father say that made Rita feel a pang of sadness. "Dad, please don't say things like that, okay? You're making it sound like you're going to leave me soon." "Silly girl, is that any way to talk to your old man? Anyway, you better not skip the party tomorrow, got it? I'm going to cancel your card for a month if you don't come back tomorrow." "Ugh!

That's just cruel, Dad!"

No matter how much she did not want to go, it seemed like she had no choice but to do so. She had no doubt that her father would follow through on his threat if she failed to show up at the dinner party.

It was out of pure interest that she was working for New Capital Times, and it would be hard for her to make ends meet without her father's financial support.

To make matters worse, she had failed to get an interview with Claire. She was not in the mood to go back to the office or meet up with friends, so she returned to her apartment alone and dejected.

After hanging up the phone, Vince looked at his smartphone and shook his head with a smile.

Rita had moved out on the day she came of age. He felt more guilty than loving towards her. Rita's mother passed away early, and alt he could offer Rita was a luxurious life. After all, no matter how hard he tried, he could not give her the motherly love she so craved.

Thus, he chose to remarry. Unfortunately, Rita did not get along with her stepmother.

Although Karen Parr had done nothing wrong, and she did her best to bond with her stepdaughter, all her efforts came to nothing. Rita remained emotionally distant toward her no matter what.

Vince knew that it was difficult for

Rita to compromise. After all, there was only him, Karen, and their second daughter left living at home.

No matter how much he tried to repair his relationship with Rita, they could never return to how it was before.

Seeing Vince sighing, Karen.

approached him gently. She tenderly massaged his temples andfasked, "Is убил headache acting up again?

Weren't you just on the phone with Rita? Why the sigh?"