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Novel Catalog
Chapter 81: A Genuine Sense of Envy
Jonathan feigned caution. “Grandma Elena, my teacher once mentioned that it’s impolite to inquire about someone else’s family affairs.”
At that moment, Elena realized she had asked too many personal questions. However, she couldn’t help but admire the child’s intelligence. Despite his young age, he was already cautious around strangers.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong,” she admitted, her voice softening.
She reached out, intending to stroke Jonathan’s hair, but he swiftly moved away.
Elena’s hand froze mid-air, a rare moment of hesitation crossing her face.
Felix, who had been observing quietly, was surprised. He hadn’t expected his usually indifferent great-aunt to be so fond of Jonathan. This sudden shift left him feeling unsettled.
“Grandma Elena, I still want to take Jon to see some other places, so we won’t bother you any longer,” Felix said, breaking the silence.
Elena, feeling out of place, nodded. “Alright, you two go ahead. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to find me.”
As the boys left, Elena found herself lingering, her mind still preoccupied with Jonathan’s uncanny resemblance to Nathaniel.
She summoned her secretary.
“Take some time to look into the child’s background, especially his parents,” she instructed.
“Understood,” the secretary replied.
Elena stared out the window, lost in thought. The boy truly resembled Nathaniel when he was young. If Nathaniel had a child, they would undoubtedly look just like him.
“By the way, has Nathaniel arrived yet?” Elena asked, turning back to her secretary.
The secretary glanced at the time. “There’s still an hour left before the banquet begins. Mr. Rainsworth should be on his way.”
Elena nodded, her mind already plotting. When Nathaniel arrived, she planned to remind him to pay extra attention to the prominent young ladies at the banquet—find a suitable partner quickly, and eventually have a healthy, chubby son.
Meanwhile, Cecilia and Vivian were choosing their dresses for the event. Neither of them wanted to stand out too much, so they opted for simple, understated outfits.
But even in their simplest clothes, Cecilia’s vibrant charm was undeniable.
Vivian, struck by how effortlessly stunning Cecilia looked, couldn’t help but compliment her. “Wow, you look so beautiful. Other people are enhanced by their clothes, but you make the clothes come alive.”
Cecilia smiled, the gesture only enhancing her allure.
Vivian wasn’t lacking either. She had a quieter charm—her beauty wasn’t as immediately striking as Cecilia’s, but the more you looked, the more you found yourself drawn to her.
The two of them left together, and the chauffeur couldn’t help but be pleased by the sight as they made their way toward Rainsworth Manor.
Cecilia couldn’t help but reflect that the last time she had visited the manor was five years ago. Time had flown by.
As they approached Rainsworth Manor, Cecilia saw the familiar luxury cars parked outside. It was Niel’s birthday, and many of Tudela’s most notable figures had gathered for the event, many bringing their children along.
Roland was already waiting outside. This time, he was determined to keep a close eye on Vivian, making sure she snagged herself a rich bachelor.
Vivian rubbed her forehead when she saw him. “Ceci, it looks like you’ll have to find Nathaniel on your own. I’ll go deal with my dad first.”
Cecilia nodded. “Okay.”
Vivian got out of the car first and walked over to Roland.
“Dad,” she greeted him, her voice betraying a hint of weariness.
“You’re just arriving now?” Roland asked, his voice full of reprimand. “The daughters of the Longman and Wayman families have been here since early morning. They’ve even gone so far as to curry favor with Mdm. Elena…” His voice trailed off, and Vivian could only nod in response, offering little more than perfunctory comments.
Cecilia, sitting quietly in the car, watched the exchange. She couldn’t help but feel a genuine sense of envy. If only Regas were still here, she could have walked into the event with him, arm in arm.
She sighed, brushing aside the thought. Glancing at the time, Cecilia noted that there were only six minutes left before the banquet was set to begin. Nathaniel was always punctual.
She stepped out of the car and made her way to the path that Nathaniel would likely take. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before a low-key Bentley slowly drove past her.
In the back seat, Nathaniel was engrossed in some work, oblivious to his surroundings.
“Isn’t that Ms. Smith?” the driver asked, his voice breaking the silence.
