Harrison was just about to hang up when he paused and asked casually, “How did Selene get in touch with you?”
Manager Holt answered respectfully, “It was Attorney Shaw who made the introduction between me and Miss Thompson.”
Harrison’s eyes darkened, a shadow flickering across his striking features. “Adrian?”
Manager Holt nodded quickly. “Yes, him.”
Harrison didn’t reply. A chill settled on his handsome face, growing colder by the
second.
When Selene arrived back at the Townsend residence, the staff had already set the
table for dinner.
Now that she was divorced, she knew she had to sit down and talk things through with her parents.
First, she took Daph upstairs to change clothes. Once Daph had washed her hands, Selene led her back downstairs–only to run right into her mother and father.
“There’s my sweet girl!” Her mother, Matilda Townsend, was perched in Victor Thompson’s arms, cradled like a princess.
Matilda’s delicate, doll–like features made her look barely thirty, though she was already forty–six. Ever since Selene had been welcomed back into the family, she’d rarely seen her mother leave the house.
Matilda always wore flowing white dresses and nestled against Victor as if she were as fragile as a newborn.
Victor Thompson, now in his fifties, was tall and lean, his handsome face marked by the years in a way that only deepened his distinguished charm.
“Dad. Mom.” Selene’s greeting was polite, but distant.
“How dare you show your face here!” Victor’s expression was stern as he barked
the words.
Matilda flinched at his tone, curling closer to his chest like a startled kitten. “Oh, Victor, you scared me!” she whimpered.
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Victor’s icy glare immediately softened as he looked down at Matilda, his focus entirely on her.
He carried her downstairs as if she were made of fragile glass, setting her tenderly–of all places–into a high chair.
Selene forced herself to look away, guiding Daph to a seat across from her parents. In front of Matilda sat a pastel–colored bowl. She chewed on her spoon, glancing curiously at Daph. “Why doesn’t Daph have a kiddie bowl?”
Daph picked up her fork. “I’m growing, Grandma. Those little bowls just aren’t enough for me anymore.”
Matilda blinked, then turned to Victor with a pout. “I guess I’m the only baby left in the house now.”
Victor looked at her with nothing but adoration. “Matilda, you’ll always be my baby.” Selene kept her eyes down, pretending not to hear her parents‘ syrupy exchange.
Her mother had been sheltered by Victor since she was young. In Matilda’s world, Victor was everything: her sun, her air, her reason for being.
Felicity was already seated at the table. She held out her wrist to Matilda. “Mom, look, isn’t my bracelet pretty?”
The sapphire bracelet sparkled under the chandelier.
Selene didn’t react, but Daph’s eyes widened with excitement. “Aunt Felicity, your bracelet looks just like the one Daddy bought for Mommy!”
Felicity smiled innocently, clearly waiting for this moment. “Really? Oh, I had no idea.”
Selene let out a laugh. “Did you just find something lying around and decide to keep it, thinking no one else wanted it?”
She turned to Daph and said gently, “Don’t be like Aunt Felicity, sweetheart. It’s not safe to pick things up off the ground.”
Daph nodded obediently. “Aunt Felicity, things on the ground are dirty. You have to watch out for germs.”
Felicity, sitting next to Matilda, bristled. Vietor’s face darkened in an instant. “Felicity! Who taught you to pick things up off the ground? Take that off right now and go wash your hands!”
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“Dad!” Felicity protested, indignant.
“Go wash your hands, honey!” Matilda chimed in, urging her along.
Felicity had planned to flaunt the bracelet in front of Selene, but her attempt at showing off had completely backfired.
“It was Harrison who gave me this bracelet!” Felicity declared, lifting her chin triumphantly. She flashed a smug smile at Selene. “You and Harrison are divorced. He gave me a gift–are you really going to be upset? Not that you have any right to be, of course.”
The laughter in Felicity’s eyes was unmistakable.
