Chapter 219: Prue, I’ve Finally Married You

Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Prue, I’ve Finally Married You

No matter how high his tolerance was, he couldn’t withstand round after round of toasts from all the guests. Amidst the clinking glasses and endless drinks, Jared Hawthorne was finally drunk.

Seeing this, Vesper Grayson immediately instructed Maxim Chandler and Leon Quillan to carefully help the slightly swaying man back to the bedroom to rest.

The rest of the Hawthorne Family split up to personally see the guests off Moonlight Isle. In the end, only the closest relatives of the Hawthorne and Grayson families, along with their intimate friends, remained.

Vesper Grayson carefully settled Jared Hawthorne in. Just as she straightened up, intending to tiptoe out of the room,

the man, who had been sound asleep with his eyes tightly shut, seemed to sense her intention to leave. He suddenly shot out a warm, strong hand, gripping her wrist firmly. With a slight tug, he gently pulled her into his warm, broad embrace.

"Prue, don’t go. Stay with me."

The man’s deep voice was thick with the heavy scent of alcohol, husky and rough, completely devoid of his usual cold and aloof demeanor. Vesper Grayson looked up, gazing at the side of his face, which was faintly flushed from the alcohol. Her fingertips couldn’t resist gently pinching his soft cheek.

"Do you even know who I am, asking me to stay with you?"

"You’re my wife."

Jared Hawthorne slowly lifted his heavy eyelids. His eyes were clouded with drunkenness, yet they were still clearly fixed on her. His arms tightened instinctively, holding her closer, and his tone carried a hint of drunken coyness. "My own wife... How could I possibly mistake you for someone else?"

’Not bad, he still recognizes me even when he’s drunk.’

The corners of Vesper Grayson’s lips curled up slightly as she teased him softly, "President Hawthorne, are you really drunk, or are you just pretending?"

Jared Hawthorne didn’t reply. He lowered his head and buried his face deep in the crook of her neck. His searing hot breath fanned across the delicate skin of her throat, making her shiver and instinctively shrink back.

"That tickles..."

"Prue, I’ve finally married you."

The man’s deep, affectionate voice, filled with utter joy, fell upon her ear like a soft murmur.

"Did you know? Marrying you... has been the longest-held dream hidden in my heart, ever since we were kids..."

Vesper Grayson listened, completely baffled and confused.

’Ever since we were kids? But they hadn’t known each other for that long.’

’He must be drunk. Why else would he be talking such nonsense?’

And yet, the soft way he called out "Prue," so gentle and intimate, felt inexplicably familiar and dear to her.

It was as if someone from the distant past, deep in her memories, had also called her "Prue" with such intimacy.

She didn’t dwell on it further. Instead, she gently raised her hand and patted his back, softly comforting the drowsy, drunken man.

Just then, a series of urgent knocks suddenly rang out, and Maxim Chandler’s respectful voice came from the other side of the door.

"Ma’am, the sobering soup is ready."

Vesper Grayson gently pried Jared Hawthorne’s arms from around her waist, carefully got up, and opened the door to take the sobering soup.

"Assistant Chandler, could you please give me a hand? He’s too heavy, I can’t manage him by myself."

A drunken man is dead weight.

Maxim Chandler quickly stepped forward and gently supported Jared Hawthorne’s shoulder.

With his eyes closed, Jared Hawthorne’s hands groped around as he mumbled a name.

"Prue... Prue, I really, really like you."

Vesper Grayson’s face flushed. ’Why is he confessing his love while he’s drunk?’

She quickly took his hand and coaxed him softly, "Honey, open your mouth. Be good now, drink the sobering soup."

Maxim Chandler, standing to the side, "..."

’The missus sure is something else. She’s coaxing President Hawthorne like he’s a three-year-old.’

’It’s like she doesn’t see him as a person at all.’

’All he could do was keep his eyes down and make himself invisible.’

After much coaxing, they finally managed to get him to drink the entire bowl of sobering soup.

Vesper Grayson couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Assistant Chandler, is he always this childish when he gets drunk?"

Maxim Chandler quickly shook his head. "I’ve been with President Hawthorne for many years, and I’ve never seen him drunk. Today is the first time, which just goes to show how genuinely happy he is today."

"Is that so?"

"Every word is the truth."

’Today, she finally understood why Maxim Chandler was Jared Hawthorne’s most capable and trusted confidant.’

’His ability to read people and situations is first-class!’

"Alright, let’s let him get some proper sleep."

Vesper Grayson gazed at the man’s weary eyes and brows, her heart aching for him. From last night until now, he had barely rested. The two of them had only managed to get to sleep at four in the morning, and by six, they were already rushing to Moonlight Isle to prepare for the wedding. He had been busy the entire time; by her count, he had slept for no more than two hours.

She turned and went to the second floor. Sebastian Kensington and Julian Sterling were waiting in a guest room. Besides them, Jenson Whitman and Renee Rhodes were also in the room.

A flash of surprise crossed Vesper Grayson’s face.

"Godfather, Godmother, what are you two doing here?"

Renee Rhodes quickly stepped forward, took her hand gently, and explained in a soft voice, "Vesper, we only found out after arriving that President Kensington had also brought Julian with him. Do you remember I told you we came back to the country this time to visit relatives?"

Vesper Grayson nodded lightly.

"Miss Sterling is my husband’s grandaunt, which makes Julian my husband’s younger cousin."

Vesper Grayson was slightly taken aback, surprised by the significant age gap between the two. However, it wasn’t uncommon in large families for there to be late-born children and large age differences between generations, so it wasn’t that strange.

She collected her thoughts and got straight to the point.

"Godmother, I assume President Kensington has already explained the Sterling Family’s situation to you?"

"He has. He told us that the Sterling Family’s illness is due to poisoning."

"Right now, I’ve only confirmed what kind of poison Miss Sterling was given. I haven’t yet figured out the specifics of the poison in the others."

Sebastian Kensington, who had been burning with anxiety, quickly stepped forward and spoke with urgency.

"Miss Grayson, the antidote... have you developed it?"

"Yes, I just finished making it last night."

"Then when can we start the detoxification?"

Vesper Grayson sighed helplessly, a hint of exhaustion and resignation in her eyes.

"President Kensington, I understand your urgency, but today is my wedding day. Could you please allow me one day to rest before I begin the treatment?"

Hearing this, Sebastian Kensington’s face immediately filled with guilt, and he apologized profusely.

"I’m so sorry. I was being too impatient and inconsiderate. I’m just worried that the longer we delay, the more complications might arise."

"I understand. I will personally go to the Sterling Family’s home tomorrow. I’ll contact you then."

"Okay, thank you so much, Miss Grayson!"

Sebastian Kensington’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. He could finally bring back some good news to make his grandmother happy.

Vesper Grayson nodded slightly, then turned her gaze to Julian Sterling, who was standing quietly to the side. She slowly walked toward him.

"Mr. Sterling, please put your hand on the table. I’m going to take your pulse."

Julian Sterling instantly broke into a clean, pure smile, like an innocent child. He reached out and stuffed a handful of wedding candy, which he had been secretly clutching, into her palm.

"Fairy sister, eat candy."

Vesper Grayson didn’t refuse. She accepted the candy, her voice becoming even more gentle and patient.

"I’ll take the candy. Now, can you give me your hand?"

Julian Sterling hesitated for just a moment before obediently extending his wrist to her, well-behaved and compliant.

"Here."

Her fingertips rested lightly on his wrist as she focused on taking his pulse. After a moment, Vesper Grayson’s expression gradually grew solemn.

His pulse was deep, choppy, and sluggish. His heart meridian was scattered and disordered, his spirit meridian was deficient and unstable, and his qi and blood were stagnant. Residual poison had lodged itself within his meridians.

"Judging from his pulse, the poison has damaged the meridians of his heart, mind, and brain. Although the main poison has been neutralized, the residue has entered his system, clouding his consciousness. His cognitive functions have been impaired, and his spirit is scattered, which is why his mental state has reverted to that of a young child."

Sebastian Kensington’s expression instantly darkened as he asked, his voice filled with anxiety.

"Then... is there still a way to treat it?"