Chapter 97

RICHARD POV.

There was something so weird about the way they looked at each other, as if they were silently communicating.

What are they up to? I wondered.

Max had always been a suspect to me…a senior manager at Mr. Johnson’s company, sharp and cunning, but not someone I entirely trusted. And Nadia…well, she was even harder to read.

As the conversation in the room continued, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more going on beneath the surface. Everyone seemed to have their own agenda, their own secrets.

And then there was Tammie, sitting silently across the room, her eyes now focused on the floor.

What are you thinking, Tammie?

I wanted to talk to her, to reassure her, but this wasn’t the time or place. For now, all I could do was hope that she didn’t misunderstand my intentions.

The room was kind of feeling awkward with silence, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t stop thinking about that moment when Tammie’s eyes met mine, the unspoken tension between us.

I’ll fix this, I promised myself. I’ll find a way to make things right.

For now, though, all I could do was sit and wait, the weight of everyone’s expectations pressing down on me.

MRS DANIELLA POV.

Sitting beside my husband, Kenneth, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride as I watched Richard being praised. Kenneth’s words were full of admiration for the young man, and I agreed wholeheartedly.

Richard was the epitome of a perfect son-in-law…successful, charming, and generous.

The wedding gifts he had brought for Tammie were impressive. Boxes of jewelry, designer dresses, shoes, and more…all carefully chosen and arranged.

It warmed my heart to see such effort, and I couldn’t help but admire his thoughtfulness. Tammie is truly lucky, I thought, smiling softly to myself.

As I adjusted my position on the couch, my gaze wandered across the room. My eyes landed on Tammie, who sat with a composed expression.

She was always so poised, so graceful, but there was something in her demeanor that felt off today. She wasn’t looking at Richard or the gifts; instead, her attention seemed focused elsewhere.

Curious, I followed her line of sight and stopped abruptly when I noticed the young woman sitting beside Richard.

Who is she?

The woman had a bandage wrapped around her arm, and a small plaster covered part of her hand. She was quietly seated, her posture relaxed but attentive.

Her eyes moved across the room, taking in everyone and everything, but she didn’t speak.

She doesn’t seem like a family member, I thought, tilting my head slightly. Is she a colleague of Richard’s? Or perhaps a friend?

I glanced at Kenneth, but he seemed entirely unbothered by her presence, still engrossed in his conversation with Richard.

I looked back at the woman. There was something about her that felt out of place, yet no one else seemed to notice…or care.

Why is she sitting so close to Richard?

My mind began to race with possibilities. Could she be someone important to him? A friend in need, perhaps? But if that were the case, why hadn’t Richard introduced her?

I straightened up slightly, trying not to let my curiosity show. As much as I wanted to ask, this wasn’t the right moment. The last thing I wanted was to cause a scene or embarrass anyone. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a slight unease.

What if this woman is someone who could disrupt Tammie’s happiness?

I shook my head lightly, trying to dismiss the thought. Richard was a good man…he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his relationship with Tammie.

But even so, the woman’s presence was a mystery I couldn’t ignore.

As I continued to observe, I noticed Tammie’s gaze kept shifting toward Richard and the woman. Her expression remained neutral, but I could sense the tension in her body. She’s noticed her too, I realized.

My attention was pulled back to the woman. She seemed calm, almost too calm, as if she were deliberately avoiding drawing attention to herself.

Her eyes briefly met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a look of something…an emotion I couldn’t quite place.

Guilt? Fear? Or am I imagining things?

I was so deep in thought that I didn’t realize the room had grown quieter until Kenneth’s elder brother, Jacob, cleared his throat loudly.

The sound startled me, pulling me back to reality. I turned to look at Jacob, who was seated a little further away. He had a peculiar expression on his face, a mix of amusement and something darker.

What is he up to now?

Jacob was always an enigma to me. He carried himself with an air of superiority, as if he believed he was entitled to more than he had.

His relationship with Kenneth had always been strained, though they managed to maintain a facade of civility in public.

Now, as Jacob prepared to speak, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The way he cleared his throat felt deliberate, almost theatrical, as if he wanted to ensure everyone’s attention was on him.

I glanced at Kenneth, who seemed unfazed, and then at Richard, who was politely waiting for Jacob to speak. Even the mysterious young woman beside Richard looked up, her expression unreadable.

What is he planning to say? I wondered, my curiosity now split between Jacob’s intentions and the identity of the woman beside Richard.

For now, all I could do was wait and watch, my thoughts a whirlwind of questions and speculations.

ALISHA POV

I sat quietly on the plush couch, my hands resting awkwardly in my lap, as the room was already dying off with conversation. My thoughts, however, were anything but quiet.

I kept glancing around, trying to make sense of the dynamics unfolding in the Johnson household.

Richard...

My eyes darted toward him as Mr. Kenneth continued to shower him with praise. The older man’s voice was filled with pride, and I could see why.