Chapter 45

"Mr. Harrison, it's been a while," Gregory Hughes and his wife, Caroline Wright, exchanged polite handshakes with Edward. Then, almost simultaneously, their gazes shifted to Eleanor.

Edward glanced at Eleanor. After a brief moment of hesitation, she managed to force a smile.

"Let me introduce you to my daughter, Eleanor," Edward said.

"She's quite stunning," Gregory responded first, then gestured to his son.

The man across from Eleanor extended his hand. "Hello. I'm Benjamin Hughes."

He was dressed in a sharp suit, with black-framed glasses perched on his nose. His features weren't striking, but they were well-balanced, and he wore a friendly smile.

Eleanor kept her strained smile in place and slowly reached out her hand. "Hello."

"Let's all sit down!" Edward called out.

Everyone settled into their seats, and Edward seamlessly started discussing business matters with Gregory.

If Eleanor hadn't been so acutely aware of their intentions, she might have thought this was just a normal dinner gathering.

Benjamin sat directly across from her, but aside from their brief greeting, he didn't seem to focus much on Eleanor. Instead, he naturally joined in on the adults' conversation, his voice calm and steady.

After a few more glances at Eleanor, Caroline spoke up, "Ms. Thompson, you're 24 this year, right?"

"Yes."

"We've actually met before," Caroline continued. "About this time last year at Rosewood Hotel." Her words caught Eleanor off guard.

She immediately remembered that event—it was her and Nathaniel's first anniversary celebration. That evening, she had dressed to the nines and was the center of everyone's attention. She was the envy of every unmarried woman in Coppersville.

But Nathaniel hadn't shown up. His absence had turned Eleanor into the laughingstock of the night. Although Victoria had explained the situation to everyone at the time, it still couldn't hide the fact that Nathaniel simply didn't care about her. Even until today, Eleanor still didn't know what Nathaniel had been doing that night. He had never explained it to her.

Eleanor had thought she'd completely forgotten about it. But when Caroline brought it up again, she felt a dull ache in her chest, like an old wound being torn open.

"I never expected that we'd have the chance to meet like this today," Caroline continued.

Her tone was light, but the disdain and mockery in her eyes as she looked at Eleanor couldn't be hidden. Gregory glanced over and was about to reprimand Caroline, but Benjamin interrupted, saying, "By the way, I realize I don't have your contact information, Ms. Thompson. Would it be alright if we added each other as friends?"

His voice was calm but firm, effectively silencing Caroline.

Before Eleanor could answer, Edward spoke for her, "Of course."

"Eleanor isn't much of a talker, and she's a little reserved. But you have such a pleasant personality, Mr. Benjamin. You should take her out more and let her get some air. She tends to stay in too much."

Benjamin only smiled and turned his attention back to Eleanor.

She didn't respond to Edward's words, instead quietly placing her phone in front of Benjamin.

As Benjamin input her contact information, he took a quick glance at her.

Eleanor was quietly sipping her coffee, her gaze cast downward.

To others, her silence might have seemed like she was shy, but Benjamin could see it clearly—there was no emotion in her eyes.

To her, this social exchange was nothing more than a routine task.