Mila remained seated for a moment, unmoving. Despite winning, she couldnât shake the unsettling feeling that, in some way, she had lost.
The group made their way to the grand dining room, where a ten-meter-long table stretched before them, filled with guests.
Mila chose a seat across from Joelle.
She observed as Adrian, with meticulous care, attended to Joelleâs every needâpulling out her chair, handing her a napkin, his eyes fixated on her, as if she were the only person in the room.
âSo, Joelle, I heard you and Adrian divorced at one point, and you were seeing Rafael. Did I get that right?â
Everyone at the table was well-versed in the unspoken rules of their social circle. Scandal was as common as the expensive wine on the table, but decorum dictated that as long as appearances were maintained, no one would drag skeletons out of closets without good reason.
Mila wasnât oblivious, and even Dunn, at five years old, had likely caught wind of such things. So, it was impossible that Mila hadnât.
Joelle knew instantly that Milaâs question wasnât innocent; it was meant to put her on the spot, to make her squirm.
Before Joelle could formulate a response, Adrian shot back, âAnd what if we did divorce? Ever heard of remarriage?â
Mila arched an eyebrow, her tone teasing. âOh, so you two got remarried?â
All eyes at the table turned toward them, and Joelle felt the unwelcome weight of their attention. This was supposed to be a celebration for Stephenâs eighty-eighth birthday, yet here they were, turning the dinner into a playground for gossip at her expense.
Adrianâs voice turned cold. âThis isnât any of your business!â
Mila, far from cowed, gave him a knowing smile. âAh, so youâre still available then?â
Adrian ignored her bait, realizing there was little point in sparring with someone who had no intention of playing fair.
Fred, sensing the tension, intervened to defuse the situation. âAlright, thatâs enough of that. Weâre here for Grandpaâs birthday, not for gossip. Grandpa, how about you say a few words?â
âOf course!â Stephen beamed warmly at the crowd, clearly amused by the spirited exchanges among the younger generation.
As dinner began to wind down, the children started to drift away from the table, leaving the adults to continue their conversation.
Aurora, noticing Dunn getting up to leave, hurriedly finished her food and piped up, âMom, Iâm done! Can I go play with Dunn?â
âGo ahead,â Joelle replied, giving her permission.
From the nearby seat, Ryland let out a grunt, drawing the attention of Adrian and Joelle.
Joelle caught the look on his face. Ryland had always been his sisterâs shadow, never far from her side.
âAlright, I get itâyou want to go too,â Joelle said as she untied Rylandâs bib, allowing him to hop off the chair.
Across the table, Milaâs voice rang out once more, her tone thick with insinuation. âBoth kids are yours, right? How come the little one doesnât look like either of you?â
.
.
.