Chapter 10
She had scarcely covered up when she collided with Victor’s cool, piercing stare.
His brows drew together; watching her frantic scramble to avoid exposure irritated him for no apparent reason.
His tone dropped an octave. “What’s there to hide? Even stark naked, you wouldn’t interest me.”
The words lodged in Elena’s chest like a stone.
“Finished bathing but still dawdling upstairs–keeping everyone waiting so you can feel superior?” he snapped.
With that, he turned on his heel and strode away.
Elena scooped the fallen ointment off the floor and, with no time to re-dress her wounds, threw on her clothes and headed downstairs.
Dining Room
By the time she arrived, every seat around the table was filled; laughter floated through the room, a picture-perfect family gathering.
The moment Elena stepped over the threshold, the laughter died.
At the head of the table sat Annabelle’s father, Lawrence Bennett. Elena’s steps faltered; she lowered her head and murmured, “Dad.”
His gaze lingered on her face only a heartbeat before sliding away, yet Elena caught the disgust in his eyes.
Annabelle must have rushed to him again, exaggerating how Elena had bullied her the moment she returned; so Lawrence offered not a single word of
concern.
Lawrence Bennett gave a cool nod and said, “Come sit down and have dinner.”
Elena Bennett slid the chair at the very end of the table out, sat, and swept her gaze over the spread in front of her.
Every inch of the tabletop was buried beneath seafood-prawns, mussels, whole fish, even silver towers of crab on ice. Annabelle adored things from the sea, but in their enthusiasm everyone had forgotten…
Adaline smiled with gentle warmth and said, “Now that we’re all here, it’s a rare chance for the whole family to dine together. Elena, to celebrate your return, I had our chef prepare a particularly sumptuous meal-come, eat while it’s hot.”
Expressionless, Elena stared at the dishes; to her, that supposedly “special” effort felt bitterly ironic.
When Adaline finished speaking, she placed a piece of crab meat in Elena’s bowl, then, still wearing that maternal smile, transferred the largest crab leg into Annabelle’s.
Annabelle flashed an obedient, dazzling smile. “Thank you, Mom.”
Elena gripped her chopsticks and fixed her eyes on the crab meat in her bowl, yet for a long while she did not move.
Victor Whitmore clearly dined here often; he behaved with the ease of a man in his own house.
Settled beside him, Annabelle leaned close, slipped another morsel onto his plate, and cooed, “Victor, try this-doesn’t it taste better than what we had at Riverton Restaurant last time?”
Victor sampled the bite, then turned toward her and answered with an indulgent “Mm,”
Adaline watched the pair with a pleased smile. “Victor, our chefused to be head chef at Riverton Restaurant. Whenever you crave anything, just tell Annie and let her bring you over.”
Chapter 10
Citamly, thank you, Aunt”
Adaline laughed. “We’re family-no need for thanks.”
Elena listened to their cheerful exchange in silence, feeling like an outsider at her own dining table. She dropped her gaze and pushed plain rice around her bowl, the crab meat Adaline had given her remained untouched.
Annabelle’s ranng voice suddenly broke the hush, drawing every eye to Elena. “Sis, why are your eating in silence?”
Adaline followed the gaze to Elena’s bowl, and the smile on her face slowly froze.
Annabelle asked timidly, “Sis, are you still mad at me? Is that why you won’t even eat the food Mom put in your bowl?”
Elena parted her lips to explain, but before any sound emerged Lawrence Bennett slanimed his chopsticks onto the table,
Lawrence Bennett rose half out of his chair, his voice like a whip as he barked, “Your mother and I sent you to that prison so you’d learn manners and refinement, not so you could come home and show us attitude!
“What do we owe you? You walk through the door and immediately bully your sister, Because you’ve only just returned we chose to overlook your behavior, yet your mother kindly serves you and you still refuse her? What do you think this family can’t eat without you?” He stabbed a finger toward
the servants.
“Mrs. Woods! Take her bowl away. If she won’t eat, let her get out-she’s ruining everyone’s appetite!”
Each word landed like a blade carving straight into Elena’s heart.
At twelve, when she was too ill to eat and called for her father in a fever haze, Lawrence had flown overnight from distant Nation A and stayed at her bedside two full days without closing his eyes.
Yet now, after a year of never once eating her fill, she watched him harden enough to order her out of sight.
Mrs. Woods hurried over and removed the bowl and chopsticks from in front of Elena, who rose without a word and walked out, her back as stiff as a numbed marionette hauled forward by invisible strings.
“Stop!” Lawrence barked again.
Elena halted, turned halfway, eyes on the floor. “Is there something else?”
Lawrence’s tone was heavy. “Since you’re back today, I’ll make an announcement. After careful thought, I’ve decided you’re not suited to marry Victor. The engagement with the Whitmore family will be handed to Annie instead.”
