Original sentence: McCartney did not accept the invitation.The press nevertheless interpreted the meeting as a truce between the two parties and, since Lennon was also in New York that month, reports insisted that the Beatles would soon re-form
Edited sentence: As expected, McCartney did not accept the invitation.The press strangely interpreted the meeting as a truce between the two parties and, since Lennon was also in New York that month, reports insisted that the Beatles would soon reconcile