Chapter 21
The crowd whispered among themselves, and someone could be heard saying, “Opening the first dance at Madam Eleanor’s birthday party… That says a lot about how much she favors that young lady.”
“Absolutely. Just look at the way Madam Eleanor looks at her with pure admiration.”
Another chimed in, “And dancing with Mr. Sinclair himself? That has to mean something, right?”
“Isn’t he a father? No one’s ever confirmed who the child’s mother is. What if it’s her? What if she’s the future Mrs. Sinclair?”
“She’s stunning and incredibly talented. No wonder he’s kept her out of the public eye. Anyone would want to protect a woman
like that.”
Anathea listened to the speculative murmurs around her, her expression unreadable. However, Isabel was furious. She didn’t care how talented or beautiful Natalie was–being a homewrecker was still disgusting.
And now, Natalie had the audacity to take Gregory’s hand and dance with him in front of everyone, as if declaring herself the rightful Mrs. Sinclair.
“She’s unbelievable! I need to put her in her place!” Isabel clenched her fists, about to storm forward when Anathea grabbed her
wrist.
“Anathea, what are you doing?” Isabel shot her an incredulous look. “I’m doing this for you!”
“Don’t be reckless,” Anathea said calmly. “This is a Sinclair family event, and everyone is watching.”
If Isabel caused a scene now, it wouldn’t just be about her standing up for Anathea–it would be a scandal that could taint the family’s reputation. Eleanor’s birthday would be ruined, and Holden, as the head of the family, wouldn’t take that lightly.
Holden’s influence was undeniable. Even Isabel’s mother had to show him respect. If Isabel went too far and angered him, the
consequences wouldn’t be pretty.
Hence, the best move was to avoid unnecessary conflict. That was what Anathea believed, and that was what she tried to convince
Isabel of.
Isabel slowly exhaled, trying to calm herself. She knew Anathea was right, but it still burned her up inside. She was angry that, despite being the one who’d been betrayed, Anathea still had to stand back and be the bigger person, letting Natalie flaunt her
relationship with Gregory in front of everyone.
What infuriated Isabel even more was how familiar this whole situation felt. It was exactly how that other woman had swooped in
and stolen her ex–boyfriend of seven years.
Was this just the nature of mistresses? Did they all carry the same kind of shameless arrogance?
Meanwhile, Natalie stood before Gregory, a soft, shy smile on her face. “Greg, Eleanor’s made a request of us. We wouldn’t want
to disappoint her, would we?”
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Chapter 21
Eleanor gave Gregory a knowing look, her voice light but insistent. “Nat has already taken the first step, Gregory. Don’t let me
down now.”
Gregory was silent for a moment before responding with a faint hum. Then, he stood and extended his hand toward Natalie.
The moment Natalie placed her hand in his, the room fell silent. Almost immediately after, the first notes of a violin melody filled
the air.
Under the admiring gazes of the crowd, Gregory and Natalie began their waltz. Their steps were fluid and graceful.
Gregory led the dance, steady and firm as he guided Natalie through each turn. Natalie’s movements were light and effortless, her gown billowing with each spin like the petals of a blooming blue rose.
Anathea had never seen Gregory dance before. Now, as she watched him move with such effortless charm, his usually cold features softening, she raised her glass and downed the rest of her wine. For some reason, the normally rich and smooth red wine
tasted bitter tonight.
Of course, Gregory only ever looked like that when he was with Natalie. With her, he was warm. With Anathea, he was nothing but
distant–cold and harsh, even.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder.
“They’re a perfect match! Who would’ve thought Mr. Sinclair, the usually intimidating businessman, could be this charming on the dance floor? And that woman is stunning!”
“They’re made for each other. Just look at them. They’re like a picture–perfect couple straight out of a
fairytale!”
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