Chapter 133
Chapter 153
Joyve held back her feelings and shot a glance at Mallory, who was just coming out of the restroom
Seeing Mallory heading her way, Joyce shot her a frosty look, warning clear in her eye
Mallory hesitated, not daring to approach Joyce, and quickly blended into the crowd instead.
Elnora led Albert to a quiet spot in the wine bar.
She gestured for him to take a seat.
“Please, Mr. Campbell,” she said.
Albert smiled, his eyes filled with obvious affection and interest as he looked at Elnora before sitting down.
Once Albert was seated, Elnora naturally took the scat across from him.
Marina watched Albert’s expression, and a snarky thought flashed through her mind.
With those eyes, he’d probably look at a dog like it was the love of his life,’ she mused.
Yeah, that was totally the kind of look Albert had.
Elnora wasn’t fazed at all by Albert’s intense stare.
After taking her seat, she struck up a conversation with him right away.
Albert was completely down–to–earth, and Elnora found it really easy to talk to him.
Most of their discussion centered on financial circles, networking, and growth opportunities.
Marina had always assumed that Albert, who was constantly making headlines in the entertainment section, was just another spoiled rich kid.
But seeing him chat with Elnora so smoothly, talking a mile a minute and totally at ease, she realized he was nothing like the guy the gossip columns painted him as.
Marina finally understood what her sister was up to.
Elnora was probably trying to build a connection with Albert, hoping to steer the Finley Group in a whole new direction.
So as not to make things harder for her sister, Marina considerately got up and headed off to find Kara.
Zack and Mila didn’t show up at the winery until they’d made sure all the guests had left.
As soon as they walked in, their eyes went straight to Elnora and Albert, who were the only ones sitting together by the
window.
Everyone else was sprawled out on the big sofas, chatting and sipping drinks.
Whatever Albert said, it actually got Elnora smiling for once, which was rare.
Bathed in the wine bar’s warm, golden glow, Elnora looked especially tender and affectionate.
Zack’s hand at his side suddenly balled into a fist.
Mila picked up on Zack’s mood and squeezed his arm a little tighter, murmuring, “Zack, everyone’s watching.”
Chapter 152
His gaze grew story for a moment, but by the time he tore his eyes away from Elnora, he was track to his usual cool. He headed over to join Daron and the crew,
“Sorry to keep you all waiting.” Zack said.
Everyone around started showering them with compliments.
Congratulations?”
“Mr. Clark and Miss Gill are truly a match made in heaven?
Kara linked arms with Marina, scooting closer as she started sharing the juiciest rumors.
Marina listened quietly, occasionally showing a hint of surprise.
After being away from Vrufield for so long, she had no clue about relationships in the city anymore.
Hearing all the wild stories about people and families she used to know, Marina couldn’t help but sigh at how much drama was hidden beneath the surface.
But Mila spotted Marina and Kara right away.
Marina noticed someone looking over at them, so she glanced up, and her eyes met Mila’s.
Kara looked up too, and her gossipy chatter died down on its own.
Mila instinctively thought Marina and Kara were talking about her. Her jaw tightened, and her smile got a little forced.
“What are you two talking about over here?” Mila asked, trying to sound casual.
Kara had just been spilling gossip about someone sitting right across from them, so when Mila called her out, she couldn’t help but give an awkward smile.
“Nothing much, Mila,” Kara replied quickly.
“Congrats on your engagement! You and Zack really are made for each other, a total power couple.”
Mila let out a quiet sigh, feeling like Kara’s congratulations were just dripping with insincerity.
Finn and Daron were two of the only people who actually knew about Zack and Elnora’s past relationship.
Finn spoiled his sister rotten, so he probably spilled all sorts of things to Kara.
Most likely, Kara had just been gossiping with Marina about Zack and Elnora’s old romance.
Just thinking about it left Mila feeling seriously irritated.
And to make matters worse, Zack kept glancing over at Elnora, which just made Mila feel even more uncomfortable.
Once they were all settled, someone suggested playing a game.
Mila kept her smile up and nodded along.
But Zack said quietly but firmly, “If we’re playing a game, then everyone should join in. That’s how we keep things lively.”
Mila’s hand gripped the hem of her dress on her lap. “Zack’s right,” she agreed.
As she spoke, Mila looked over at Elnora and Albert.
Chapter 153
Everyone else followed her gaze.
Elnora was all smiles, her eyes curved in delight. She looked like a totally different person from her usual self.
Elnora had always been gorgeous, but for years she had that cold beauty thing going on. Those sharp eyes of hers always kept people at arm’s length, and most folks didn’t dare approach her.
Albert was a total knockout himself.
Sitting together, there was this effortless harmony between them, like they just naturally clicked.
Buu the real shocker was, nobody else had ever gotten Elnora to smile and laugh like that before.
Everyone just stared, and the whole place suddenly went quiet.
The sound of a glass hitting the floor snapped everyone out of their trance.
Zack’s glass had somehow fallen to the floor in front of him.
There was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, but when everyone turned to stare, he just tilted his head and motioned for a staff member to clean it up.
Everyone’s attention was glued to Elnora and Albert, so no one noticed Zack.
But Mila caught it all.
Zack’s mind had wandered for just a moment, and that was when the glass slipped from his fingers and crashed to the floor.
But Mila wasn’t even in a position to ask Zack if he still had Elnora in his heart.
After all, she was the one who fought tooth and nail to break into Zack’s heart, desperately carving out a tiny space for herself.
And deep down, she’d always known that Elnora had claimed most of the real estate in his heart.
Mila took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
Mila thought, ‘So what if Elnora still has most of his heart? I’m the one who’s going to marry him. In this battle, I’m the one who came out on top.
‘Even if he can’t let go of Elnora, who cares? With her pride, there’s no way she’d ever lower herself to be his side chick.
Once Mila had calmed herself down, she glanced over at Albert and Elnora with a bright smile.
“Mr. Campbell, Elnora, we’re just waiting on you two to start the game! Hurry up and join us,” she called out..
The bartender had already brought over a bunch of drinks.
Elnora had just popped some pills and really wasn’t in the mood for any drinking games.
She’d come to the winery mainly to build a connection with Albert.
She wanted to mirror the Campbells‘ success and make it work for the Finleys.
Since their fields were so different, she had a million things she wanted to ask Albert.
But as she chatted with Albert, she was surprised to find out they’d actually gone to the same school, and even had two friends in common.
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Chapter 158
Funny thing was, during those three years in Frency, they’d never once run into each other
After Elnora took over the Finley Group, she’d pretty much fallen out of touch with those two friends from back in Frency.
Albert, though, had stayed close with them. Listening to him share all their bílarious stories, Elnora just couldn’t stop smiling, thinking back to those wild days in Frency.
Those three years were hands down the easiest, most carefree years of her life.
Her parents were actually getting along, and she wasn’t stuck under her grandpa’s thumb, getting drilled to be some perfect heiress.
Those days of pure freedom and happiness? She knew she’d never get them
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
