It was a small gesture, hardly noticeable to anyone in the room, except for Guinevere. She clenched her fists tightly under the table, her eyes darkening with frustration. She glanced at Stella, then at Weston, but Weston seemed oblivious to the tension in the air. He remained calm and unbothered, as if nothing unusual had happened all evening. He didn’t think much of the napkin he handed Stella, though his gaze did linger for a brief moment on her outfit. The dress suited her well—he had never seen her dressed like this before.
Weston quickly shifted his gaze away. A restless feeling crept into him as he noticed the trembling of Stella’s eyelashes. Meanwhile, Yvonne, ever the lively host, remained completely unaware of the underlying tension. She was amused by Stella’s reaction.
“What’s wrong with my suggestion?” Yvonne teased, a playful smile on her face. “You’re so pretty and so young. You can’t possibly plan to stay single forever! You’ll need to find someone eventually, and the sooner the better. That way, you’ll get to enjoy the romance for longer!”
Stella giggled but said nothing, feeling awkward at the unexpected attention.
“Don’t be so shy!” Yvonne pressed on. “I know plenty of handsome guys! I can set you up with anyone you like!”
Before she could finish her sentence, Lucas casually stuffed a piece of broccoli into her mouth.
“Ngghh…” Yvonne glared at her husband, annoyed at being interrupted mid-sentence. Lucas, however, calmly ignored her scowl and continued eating his food.
“Don’t talk while you chew,” Lucas said nonchalantly, his voice quiet but firm.
Yvonne grunted in disapproval, but she didn’t argue further, simply chewing the food in her mouth. Lucas, ever composed, ate with quiet grace, though he occasionally noticed Yvonne picking at her food. Each time he did, he would frown slightly and stuff more food into her mouth, which, while irking her, didn’t prompt her to speak up.
Stella watched the couple with admiration. Despite their occasional bickering, the way they interacted seemed genuine and affectionate. It was sweet, and a small smile crept onto Stella’s face as she observed them.
However, her subtle expression of happiness did not go unnoticed. Guinevere, seated next to her, couldn’t hide the irritation bubbling inside her. Whether or not this woman was Stella, the fact that she resembled her so closely made her an immediate obstacle—a reminder of a past she wanted to bury.
Stella should have been gone from Weston’s life after falling from that building. She shouldn’t be here, alive and well, drawing attention to herself in front of Weston. The frustration that filled Guinevere’s chest was almost palpable. She longed to release it, but Weston remained so calm and indifferent that she didn’t think it would be wise to cause a scene.
After a long pause, Guinevere suddenly smiled, her tone sweet but tinged with an edge. “You shouldn’t say things like that in front of Dr. Quirk, Yvonne! Aren’t you afraid he’ll get jealous because you know so many handsome guys?”
Yvonne’s attention was immediately caught, and she leaned toward her husband with a playful grin.
“Were you jealous?” she asked Lucas, her voice teasing.
Lucas didn’t respond, continuing to eat in silence. Yvonne leaned in even closer to him, prompting him to nudge her head away.
“Can’t you mind your manners and eat your food properly?” he said, his voice a little sterner.
Yvonne didn’t seem offended in the slightest. Instead, she responded cheerfully, “So you really are jealous!”
She laughed and added with a playful wink, “Don’t worry, Dr. Quirk, you’re the only handsome guy in the world that I like!”
At that moment, Guinevere turned toward Stella, her smile slipping into something more pointed. “Looks like those men that she’ll set you up with are just her rejects,” she said, the words laced with malice, though she tried to pass it off as a joke.
Yvonne squinted at her, but her smile remained mischievous. “Ah, never mind that! By the way, why didn’t you two bring your baby with you today? I heard he’s absolutely adorable! I’d love to meet him!”
“Oh, he’s still too small to travel,” Guinevere replied, her expression softening as she spoke of her child. “We’ll make sure to bring him along next time we visit.”
Yvonne nodded innocently, but then her eyes gleamed with mischief as she turned to Weston. “I’m so jealous of you, Mr. Ford!” she said, her tone playful yet sharp. “Everyone knows Gwen was the hottest girl every man in Ahn City’s high society pined for! Yet now, she’s even willing to have a child with you out of wedlock! Not all women are strong enough for that! But still, Mr. Ford, she’s the mother of your child now, and you haven’t even given her a wedding? That’s a little heartless, don’t you think, Mr. Ford?”
The atmosphere at the table shifted. The playful banter hung in the air, but there was an undeniable tension now, thick enough to be felt by everyone present.
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