He held my hand the entire way to Greenwich, and let go only to shift his grip to help me leave the car in front of the modern version of the medieval fortress–the Wintons‘ mansion.
“I‘m nervous... I don‘t know what to say to them. They will ask about us, right?” I squeezed Aren‘s hand, hoping for the last words of comfort.
“Tell the truth.” He smirked. “It‘s the best way to hide any lie. The more truth they hear, the lower they‘ll lower their guards.”
We walked inside, greeted by the servant ladies at the door, before meeting with Augustus Winton, Aren‘s father, and Vanessa. I inwardly sighed in relief when I noticed there was no Callan around. Nonetheless, I merely expected him to show up later. All the men were dressed in well–tailored black tuxedos, while Vanessa was wearing a slightly shimmering white–silver gown. The view made me wonder if it was a family dinner or a show of wealth and power. There were no hugs and kisses but brief, polite nods, and half–smiles while greeting us, which made me feel more like I was about to enter a business meeting.
“So, Cora, how did you and Aren meet?” Vanessa asked as soon as we sat down at the table.
“We met in a café in Midtown Manhattan,” I replied, before taking a sip of wine.
She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Really? Were you working somewhere nearby?”
I chuckled and glanced at Aren before answering, “I worked at that café.” “What?!” Vanessa exclaimed, her tone mixing disbelief and disdain.
Aren glared at his stepmother and gently placed his hand on top of mine “I saw her there and wanted to make her mine. I couldn‘t care less what kind of job she does,” he said curtly
Aren‘s father interrupted, clearing his throat. “And do you still work at that cafe, Coral”
“No, I actually started working for Lan Diamond Corporation,” I claimed proudly,
was coming from the threshold of the dining room. As I turned toward the source, I saw Callan entering the room and taking the seat right in front of me. He was wearing a dark blue suit, distinguishing him from the rest of the
to work for a big company, but I‘ve never expected you to fuck my brother just to achieve that.” Callan‘s venomous words brought my blood
wasn‘t the only one. Aren straightened up in his seat, looking
roared, his eyes shifting between him and Aren. “Apologize to your brother‘s fiancée at
Aren‘s father looked at the old man in undeniable
Augustus thundered, before indiscreetly checking Aren‘s
quickly turned it into
old man–“not even a poorly played outrage that forced you to say this half–assed apology.” “Callan and Aren, stop this fight. This was supposed to be a family dinner.” James Winton made a frown as if the murderous look in his
her eyes to me. “And how do you
to be my precious girlfriend when I studied at Oxford, Mom,” Callan replied before I could. “Of course, she didn‘t know I was a
my son... for Aren?” Vanessa‘s voice
in frustration and anger when Aren suddenly lifted my hand to place a delicate kiss on it, and then his eyes landed on Vanessa. “Your son was an idiot for not taking care of Cora properly. But perhaps I should thank him. If it wasn‘t for him being a sickening
If you cannot behave like a civilized person, then leave this table
was doing it only to please Aren. He couldn‘t care less about the meaning of Callan‘s words. He only wanted
talking
seat and heading toward the door in angry strides.
shoulder, hoping that he would speak for their son, but James stayed silent. I could see the disapproval on his face, yet he didn‘t dare stand up to the old man. Augustus Winton was the head of the family,
out Aren themselves, and then they blamed
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!