Chapter 487

Victor cleared his throat, attempting to ease the palpable tension in the room. "Since this is a reunion, I'll let you all enjoy yourselves. I have urgent matters at the Harbor Grand to attend to. We'll schedule another dinner soon."

Adrian's commanding presence silenced any potential objections. The private dining room fell into an oppressive quiet, broken only by the occasional clink of silverware against fine china.

Feeling the weight of everyone's stares, Victor adjusted his tie with stiff fingers before shooting an icy glare toward Giselle, who hovered near the curtains. "A word outside," he demanded through clenched teeth.

Giselle hesitated for only a heartbeat before pushing away from the wall. She could feel the burning curiosity of the guests as she followed Victor out, their whispers clinging to her like cobwebs.

The moment the door closed behind them, Victor's hand flashed out. The sharp slap echoed through the hallway, leaving Giselle's cheek flaming. Several servers froze mid-step, shocked by the public display of violence.

Inside, guests exchanged uneasy glances. But when they saw Adrian calmly serving Vivian her favorite dish without even looking up, they quickly returned to their meals, wisely choosing not to intervene.

Giselle pressed trembling fingers to her throbbing cheek. "How dare you?" she whispered furiously.

Victor leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "Adrian Blackwood is here, and you dragged me into this mess? My wife was introduced through my sister. If this gets back to Margaret, do you have any idea what hell we'll both face?"

Tears spilled down Giselle's face. "I'm carrying your child! You think I knew Adrian would be here? Or that his wife was Vivian? You never tell me anything about your family!"

Victor's gaze dropped briefly to her stomach before he grabbed her chin roughly. "If not for this pregnancy, do you think I'd have touched you again? And let's be honest - how do I even know it's mine?"

After years of failed attempts to conceive a second child, medical tests had revealed Victor's low sperm motility. As the last Sinclair heir, the pressure to produce a male descendant weighed heavily on him.

Giselle wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, muttering "Pathetic worm" under her breath before spotting a polished serving tray. Using its reflection, she repaired her smudged makeup with practiced efficiency. Squaring her shoulders, she marched back into the dining room.

The atmosphere had shifted dramatically. Where there had once been envy and admiration, now only contempt and pity remained. The women who had fawned over her earlier now looked through her as if she were invisible.

Sitting down felt like lowering herself onto a bed of nails. Giselle had imagined herself ascending to greatness, like a swan among ducks. Instead, she'd become the evening's entertainment - a cautionary tale whispered behind raised hands.

Vivian exchanged a knowing look with Audrey. They'd caught enough of the argument to understand the situation perfectly. While neither woman sympathized with Giselle's schemes, Victor's brutality left a sour taste in their mouths.

The crystal chandelier above them seemed to dim as the uncomfortable meal continued, its light no longer glittering but glaring, exposing every strained smile and forced conversation. The reunion had become something else entirely - a theater of masks where everyone played their part while secretly counting the minutes until escape.