Ellinor shifted her gaze to the banquet hallâs entrance.
In walked Balfour, decked out in a lightâcolored suit, exuding an undeniable charm.
Guests nocked to him, raising glasses, exchanging greetings, and creating quite the buzz.
In fact, when Theo walked in earlier, he had quite the fan club too. But Theoâs icy demeanor meant he wasnât exactly the warmest guy in the room. The crowd soon got the hint and backed off.
Balfour, on the other hand, handled the compliments and attention like a pro. Heâd raise his glass and flash a smile, cleverly feeding off the crowdâs energy. But beneath the pleasantries, one could sense a cold indifference.
As Ellinor watched Balfour, he caught her eye. A brief flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure and went back to chatting with an older gentleman, not giving her a second glance.
Ellinor shrugged off the encounter and redirected her attention to other parts of the hall, observing the scene in detail.
Most of the crowd was made up of older men and women, with a sprinkle of young people here and there.
The birthday bash had an oldâschool vibe; it was not really the hip and happening party younger people would enjoy.
Instead of a dance floor and a classy orchestra, theyâd set up a quaint stage in the middle of the hall. A performance was underway to honor old Mr. Bagleyâs birthday.
But seriously, how many young guns today could sit through something like this?
Most of them were there to drop off a gift, sit politely for a bit, and then scram at the earliest chance available.
This party was just too darn boring But not for Ellinor. She had a soft spot for traditional art forms Growing up in a monastery without any playmates, she devoured all the books she could find. In her free time, sheâd seek out traditional performances, and over time, she found them rather fascinating So she was actually having a ball at this party.
The Bagley familyâs home had a very cozy and welcoming vibe.
She wondered if sheâd been here as a kid. Maybe her mom had brought her over? Her momâs hometown was always filled with sweet and warm memories. She couldnât recall the specifics, but the feeling lingered in her subconscious.
Caught up in her thoughts, her eyes drifted back to old Mr. Bagley, who was chatting with a group of his old buddies Mr. Bagley seemed to be in good health and spirits. But when the conversation turned to his missing daughter and granddaughter, a hint of sadness crossed his face.
A pang of bitterness hit Ellinor. Her mom mustâve been a cherished daughter in this family. It was such a shame she ended up marrying the wrong guy and wasting her life.
âWhy are you here?â
Balfourâs questioning voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Without missing a beat, she turned to him, calm as ever, and replied, âMr. Howard, Iâm here to celebrate your grandfatherâs birthday Balfour looked annoyed and furrowed his brows, âWho let you in?â
Ellinor said, âIt was Ms. Howardâ