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Novel Catalog
Chapter 28
Eden could feel the awkwardness that settled over the room as Haven and Delmont walked in. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Haven, who looked every bit the picture of elegance and poise. There was no denying that Haven’s beauty was striking, and it was clear that she carried herself with a sense of authority and grace.
Victor’s reaction to their entrance didn’t go unnoticed. Eden could sense the shift in his mood, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. She had been the one to disrupt the supposed arrangement between the Clement and Alwynn families. Eden hadn’t intentionally come between them, but the situation felt more complicated now that Haven was present. She looked at Victor, whose expression remained unreadable, but she could see the tension in his jawline.
“Victor, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Haven said with a gentle smile, though her eyes seemed to hold a deeper meaning. Her voice was soft but carried an edge, as if trying to mask the hurt she felt at being disregarded in favor of Eden’s welcome party.
Victor didn’t immediately respond, his gaze still fixed on Haven, and Eden could sense the unspoken tension between them. It was as if the whole room was holding its breath, waiting for a response from Victor.
Delmont, sensing the awkwardness, stepped in with a forced smile, attempting to break the silence. “Haven said that you’re not free tonight. I didn’t expect to see you here when you don’t even have time to discuss your marriage with Haven.” His words were casual, but Eden could feel the thinly veiled criticism in his tone.
The room went still at Delmont’s remark, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. Everyone turned their attention to Victor, awaiting his response. Eden felt her pulse quicken. She wasn’t sure what to do in this situation. She had no stake in the marriage arrangement, but the pressure of being in the spotlight was unnerving.
Victor finally broke the silence, his voice cool and measured. “I’m sorry if I caused any misunderstanding. This was a welcome dinner for Eden, not a social obligation,” he said, his eyes briefly flicking toward Eden before returning to Haven and Delmont. His tone was polite, but there was an unmistakable coldness in it, as though he was distancing himself from their expectations.
Haven’s smile faltered for just a moment, and Eden saw the brief flash of disappointment in her eyes. Haven had clearly been hoping for something more, but Victor’s response seemed to deflate her. Still, Haven composed herself quickly and nodded.
“I see,” Haven said, her voice now a bit colder. “Well, I won’t keep you from your dinner. I hope you enjoy your evening, Victor.” There was no warmth in her words, only the sharpness of someone who had just been brushed aside.
Delmont, ever the opportunist, gave a tight smile and addressed the group. “Well, it seems we’ve arrived at an inconvenient time. Let’s not interrupt. We’ll leave you to it.” He gestured toward the door, and the tension in the room seemed to ease slightly as they began to exit.
Victor didn’t speak again, his eyes remaining fixed on the spot where Haven and Delmont had been. Eden could feel his mood shift once more, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. Had she unknowingly disrupted something more complicated than just a simple dinner?
As the door closed behind them, the room seemed to breathe again. The conversation resumed, but Eden couldn’t shake the feeling that the night had just become even more complicated than before.
Eden’s thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of everything—the marriage arrangement, Victor’s distance, the emotions that seemed to swirl around him and Haven—and how it all tied into her own personal journey. The weight of her own secrets felt heavier now than ever before.