Chapter 138 Delicate Dynamics
The air within the private chamber grew heavy, fraught with tension. Three pairs of eyes, each holding their own secrets, were fixed intently on one figure.
Victoria, the object of their collective gaze, found the situation bordering on the absurd. The irony was not lost on her that two of the three were privy to the truth yet chose to maintain a facade of ignorance.
"I..." she began, her voice faltering.
"Choose your words with care," came the cautionary advice.
As she was mustering the courage to respond, Alexander abruptly lifted her cup, offering a silent warning before indulging in a sip.
"Really, Alexander," she chided lightly, "one should not simply seize another's drink. My apologies for not attending to your thirst sooner. And to answer your question, Charleston, our dear sister is indeed unattached. However, I must warn you, the queue of eager suitors vying for her attention is rather lengthy."
Isabella rose from her seat, moving towards the coffeepot to pour a fresh cup for Alexander, all the while addressing Charleston's unspoken curiosity.
"Ah, I see. Well, I'd like to believe I can hold my own," she replied with an air of nonchalance.
Charleston, his attention diverted from Victoria to Alexander, posed his question. "So, are you and Victoria related?"
He had picked up on Isabella's casual reference to Victoria as 'sister'.
"Indeed," Isabella was quick to clarify. "Victoria is like a younger sister to both of us. In the Harrington family, she is held in higher esteem than even Alexander."
"I see," Charleston acknowledged, his tone thoughtful. "It appears the families share a deep history. However, Mr. Harrington, you need not fret. I am not a man to treat relationships lightly. If I were fortunate enough to have a remarkable woman like Victoria as my wife, I would cherish her and treat her with the utmost respect."
Victoria, upon hearing his declaration, turned to face him, her voice barely above a whisper as she stated, "Charleston, you're not my type."
There were certain matters that didn't require external intervention. When it was time to establish boundaries, she was more than capable of doing so herself.
Alexander's grip on his cup slackened slightly at her words.
Isabella, however, was less than pleased and quickly interjected with a forced laugh, "Our dear Vicky likely has someone special in mind already, someone whose complicated status isn't quite public knowledge, correct?"
Victoria regarded her for a moment before softly affirming, "Miss Montgomery may be onto something."
Alexander's gaze shifted to Victoria.
Victoria, in turn, lowered her eyes, deliberately avoiding his intense stare.
Isabella, ever the instigator, leaned in to whisper provocatively into Alexander's ear, "I've always maintained that she and Adrian share a deep bond, haven't I? It must be Adrian's public persona that forces them to keep their relationship under wraps."
This insinuation visibly irked Alexander, who turned his gaze sharply towards Isabella.
Isabella, taken aback by his piercing stare, quickly retreated to her seat in silence.
Alexander picked up his cup, draining its contents in one swift motion.
"I'll have someone bring another cup for Victoria."
"There's no need," Victoria responded firmly.
Alexander, ignoring her protest, presented his gift to her, placing it carefully before her.
Charleston watched the exchange with a puzzled expression. Rumors had been circulating that Alexander was set to wed the woman seated next to him, Miss Montgomery. Whispers suggested that Miss Montgomery was expecting, but...
Charleston's gaze flitted from Victoria to the cup before her, then to the one Alexander had been drinking from. His brow furrowed as he contemplated the intricate dynamics at play among the trio.
Alexander's body subtly leaned towards Victoria.
It was as if...
As if he was staking his claim on her in his own unique way.
Isabella, in contrast, leaned towards Alexander.
Yet, Charleston noted that Victoria sat ramrod straight, her posture rigid.
He speculated about the nature of their relationship. Could it be that Mr. Harrington had developed feelings for his new secretary on the eve of his wedding? A woman as elegant and vibrant as Victoria would surely test any man's resolve. Not to imply that Isabella was any less appealing. She possessed the beauty of a confident woman, but the cunning in her eyes was almost palpable.
As these thoughts swirled in Charleston's mind, he noticed Alexander casting another lingering glance towards Victoria.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
