Chapter 194
+25 BONUS
I breathed a sigh of relief. My eyes met Soren’s, and he offend a faint smile, as if reassuring, me not to be nervoIS But how could I not be? The ambiguous tension between us were we or weren’t we? had only grown more intense.
I shouldn’t even be this close to a family of such blue blooded stature. I was no match for them.
Yet, as the owner of my own company, l’couldn’t afford to torn away a valuable client like Soren. Social connections had become more crucial than ever.
Having a powerful and elite friend like Soren was undeniably beneficial–not just for me, but for my company and the people who relied on it. This connection could open doors to endless opportunities and revenue.
Some might see my actions as undignified, as if I were constantly accepting handouts. But this was simply how the world worked.
It wasn’t as though I was leeching off him–he was the one offering his generosity. And who could fault me for accepting it?
Finally, I managed to calm myself down, at least a little.
Lunch was exquisite.
“These are all your favorites,” Soren said, gesturing to the spread. “Please, eat as much as you like. Make yourself at home.”
I nodded with a smile. “Cool!”
As we chatted around the table, Lisbeth brought up my recent divorce. “You won the case, didn’t you? Now that you’re free from Mr. Kennedy, what’s next for you?”
Her question made me nervous. It felt like she was probing to see if I was ready to jump into a new relationship or consider marriage soon.
“Well, the court has ruled in favor of the annulment, but the verdict takes time to become official. It’ll be about 15 days before it’s legally finalized,” I explained, setting my fork down.
Lisbeth frowned. “Do you think he might change his mind?
I thought of Edith’s incriminating evidence. “No. He won’t. At least, I don’t think so.”
“Well, then it’s no problem at all. Given how exceptional you are, I’m sure plenty of people already have their eyes on you,” Lisbeth commented.
Her words made me even more anxious. She wasn’t wrong.
I forced a smile. “I… I just want to focus on my career for now.”
I could feel my muscles tense. In a way, I had just declined Lisbeth–and Soren–right to their faces.
I tried to sweating buckets.
appear calm, though internally I w
The table fell into an awkward silence. I noticed Lisbeth shooting Soren a glance.
The atmosphere had changed. The conversation no longer flowed as easily as before.
Perhaps my response had been too direct, too much of a rejection for Lisbeth’s liking. Whatever the reason, even
the most delicious food now tasted bland and hard to swallow.
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Chapter 194
I just wanted to finish quickly and go home.
Sensing my discomfort, Soren tried to steer the conversation toward lighter topics, like the upcoming centennial celebration.
1 responded half–heartedly.
When Lisbeth set her fork and knife down, I remarked, “Oli Madame Kenway! You’ve finished.”
She gave me an inscrutable look before sighing. “You’re a clever girl, but you can be a bit… stubborn.”
I was stunned, unsure how to respond.
“Mom,” Soren interjected, coming to my defense. “Most people wouldn’t want to jump into a new relationship right after the end of their relationship.”
