Chapter 278: Skylar’s Birthday (6)

The newly arrived guests were familiar faces. They were three of Zachary’s closest friends.

They had finally arrived, completing the group of guests Sienna had been waiting for.

Skylar happened to glance toward the entrance first. His face immediately brightened.

"Uncle Scott, Uncle Kevin, Uncle Ethan! You all are here!" he called excitedly, lifting his hand and waving toward them.

Skylar’s loud voice drew Sienna’s attention. She turned around and followed his gaze, and a happy smile appeared on her face when she saw the three men.

Finally, all of their guests had arrived.

Sienna was glad to see them, especially since she had been expecting them for some time. Riley, however, did not share her reaction.

The moment his eyes landed on Kevin, the relaxed expression on his face disappeared.

He stared at the man, barely moving as he tried to make sure he wasn’t mistaken.

’Kevin Richardson...!’

There was no way he could have forgotten that face.

Riley’s hand slowly clenched on his lap. His mind immediately connected the man standing a few steps away from him to Cresswell Tech, the company he knew all too well. It was the same company that had tried to stop them from securing the Norvayne Military project.

He had never expected to see Kevin here, of all places.

Riley kept his expression under control as he watched him from a distance, but the questions in his mind continued to pile up.

’Why did this man come to Skylar’s birthday party?’

’Did he know Uncle Zach?’

His hand clenched tightly.

’Yes, this man must be Uncle Zach’s longtime friend, close friend... This is why Skylar and Sienna seem to know him so well.’

Riley’s gaze remained fixed on Kevin as he tried to make sense of the unexpected connection. Nothing about the situation made sense yet, and he knew better than to jump to conclusions.

Still, he couldn’t ignore the uneasiness settling in his chest. If Kevin was here because of Zachary, then there had to be a reason why this man’s company tried to stop him from getting the project.

Just thinking about Kevin’s company was enough to fuel Riley’s determination.

He couldn’t afford to lose this time, especially after his father had warned him not to fail. If he did, there was a real possibility that his father would remove him from his position as the CEO of Sterling Tech. The thought alone made him more determined to prove himself, even though seeing Kevin here had caught him completely off guard.

Kevin, meanwhile, seemed completely unaware of Riley’s thoughts. He cheerfully greeted Sienna as he joined them in the seating area. "Sister-in-law, sorry we’re late."

Sienna smiled at him and then gave Ethan and Scott a friendly glance. "You aren’t late. The event hasn’t even started yet."

She gestured for the three men to take their seats before settling back into her own chair. She was glad they had finally arrived, especially since Skylar had been waiting to see them.

"I’m relieved," Scott said as he sat down next to Kevin. He looked at Skylar and smiled. "Birthday boy, you look much taller than the last time I saw you."

Skylar calmly looked at him before answering, "Uncle Scott, that’s because I’ve been eating more and exercising."

His serious and matter-of-fact answer immediately brought smiles to the adults’ faces. Even Scott looked amused by how naturally Skylar explained himself.

"Oh, by the way, Sky... Arthur has your gift. You can ask him about it later," Ethan added.

Skylar’s eyes brightened slightly. "Thank you, Uncle Ethan."

"You’re welcome," Ethan replied with a smile.

Kevin, Ethan, and Scott continued chatting naturally with Skylar. They asked him about his birthday, talked about his recent activities, and listened as he answered them without any hesitation.

Although they were not people Skylar had often met, the conversation seemed surprisingly easy. They interacted with him so naturally that it almost seemed as though they had known him for a long time.

Sienna couldn’t help feeling happy as she watched them. Seeing Skylar so comfortable around Zachary’s friends made her feel relieved. She had initially worried that he might be shy or uncomfortable around so many unfamiliar adults. Still, he seemed to be doing just fine.

After allowing them to talk for a while, Sienna eventually drew their attention away from Skylar and introduced them to her close friends, including Riley.

The introductions were easy and friendly, with everyone exchanging greetings and a few polite words.

Sienna was no longer surprised that Riley already knew Kevin. The two men worked in the same industry, so it was entirely reasonable that they would know each other. However, as she watched them interact, something else caught her attention.

Riley seemed uncomfortable around Kevin.

His expression was too controlled, and Sienna noticed the slight tension on his face and the way his gaze remained fixed on Kevin, even though he tried to hide it. There was something different about him compared with how he usually behaved around other people. He seemed to be trying hard to remain calm, but his discomfort was still evident, at least to her, his close friend.

Sienna observed them for a few moments before leaning slightly closer to Riley.

"Why do you seem to dislike Kevin?" she asked quietly.

Riley glanced at her before lowering his voice so only she could hear him. "He is my business rival, so I can’t stand talking to him at this moment."

Sienna was speechless for a moment.

She had expected there to be some reason for Riley’s discomfort, but hearing him admit that Kevin was his business rival made her understand the situation more clearly.

At the same time, she couldn’t help worrying that the man sitting beside her might not really be ready to become the CEO of a major company like Sterling Tech.

He was too easy to read.

Even though Riley had tried to keep his emotions under control, Sienna had noticed them almost immediately.

She couldn’t help but compare him to her husband. Whenever Zachary talked about business, it was almost impossible to tell what he was thinking or feeling. He could sit across from someone while discussing a business matter and remain completely calm, never allowing his emotions to show on his face.

Riley, on the other hand, had practically made his dislike of Kevin obvious.

Sienna didn’t say anything more about it, though. She knew it wasn’t her place to lecture him, especially when they were surrounded by their friends and family. Instead, she let the conversation continue, allowing everyone to mingle and talk naturally.

While the adults continued their conversations, Skylar remained close to Ava and Mia, occasionally joining the others when they spoke to him. The atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.

Sienna glanced around the hall and realized that it was almost time for lunch. She then looked toward Arthur and raised her hand slightly, gesturing for him to come over.

Arthur noticed her gesture and walked toward her.

"Arthur, could you call Zachary and the rest of the family?" Sienna asked. "The birthday lunch is about to begin. We should have everyone join us."

Arthur nodded. "Right away, Madam."