novelraw Chapter 235: Jinx
Chapter 235: Jinx
Chapter 235: Bad Omen
Evelyn Fitzwilliam and a group of wealthy ladies arrived at the restaurant area.
She saw Thomas Sterling and Rachel Royce sitting together, separate from the others.
The two of them noticed the group that had just entered.
Rachel Royce frowned when she saw Claire Ainsworth beside Mrs. Ainsworth. She hadn’t seen Claire when she first arrived, so it was obvious Claire had come with Tristan Sterling.
’It’s hard to say if Claire Ainsworth was invited to Evelyn Fitzwilliam’s birthday banquet because of Mrs. Ainsworth or Tristan Sterling.’
Claire Ainsworth glanced in Rachel Royce’s direction before walking straight toward Tristan Sterling.
Evelyn Fitzwilliam walked over to where Thomas Sterling was.
The two of them stood up.
"Mrs. Fitzwilliam," Rachel Royce greeted politely.
"Mom." Evelyn Fitzwilliam said, "Are you two alright?" It was clear Evelyn Fitzwilliam knew what had happened online, but her tone held no trace of blame or dissatisfaction.
"We’re fine," Thomas Sterling said. Evelyn Fitzwilliam nodded. "We’ll talk after the meal." Thomas hummed in agreement.
The guests took their seats one after another.
Mr. Fitzwilliam, Madam Fitzwilliam, Master Sterling, Madam Sterling, and the other male elders of their generation did not attend the luncheon.
The main table could seat ten people, consisting mainly of members from the Sterling and Fitzwilliam families, along with three of Evelyn Fitzwilliam’s close friends. Jane Sullivan sat at the main table, next to Sylvia Shannon and another wealthy lady.
To Evelyn Fitzwilliam’s right, seating was arranged by seniority: first her eldest son, Theodore Sterling, then Franklin Fitzwilliam... Claire Ainsworth remained by Tristan Sterling’s side, her posture demure and elegant, the very picture of a well-bred lady.
The wealthy lady beside Jane Sullivan looked at the pair and said to Jane, "Your daughter looks just like you. She and Tristan are such a beautiful sight together." Hearing the lady’s words, Claire Ainsworth felt a surge of pride and smugness. Her eyes drifted toward Rachel Royce. ’Serves her right for knowing her place,’ she thought. ’She’s not worthy of standing next to Tristan at all.’
Thomas Sterling and Rachel Royce didn’t go to the main table, instead sitting at an adjacent one.
There was only one seat left at the main table, and Tristan Sterling and Claire Ainsworth had not yet sat down.
Tristan Sterling pulled out a chair for Claire Ainsworth. "Claire, you sit first." Claire Ainsworth grabbed Tristan Sterling’s arm, her voice tight with reluctance. "Then where will you sit, Tristan?" As soon as she finished speaking...
William Jensen suddenly asked, "Miss Ainsworth, if you don’t mind my asking, how old are you this year?" Claire Ainsworth froze for a moment, looking at William Jensen beside her, unsure of what she meant by the question.
But she could clearly sense the pointedness in her tone.
But this was the first time they had met; she had done nothing to offend this wife from the Fitzwilliam family.
Seeing that Claire Ainsworth didn’t answer, William Jensen continued, "Looking at you, Miss Ainsworth, you must be in your twenties. Why are you still so clingy, like a teenage girl? Are you afraid you’ll be left all alone for the duration of a single meal?"
The moment she said this, Claire Ainsworth went completely rigid.
Franklin Fitzwilliam cleared his throat twice.
Tristan Sterling stared at William Jensen.
The others at the table turned to look at them.
Jane Sullivan tried to smooth things over. "Claire, why don’t you sit down first!" William Jensen looked at Tristan Sterling and said, "I’ll go sit with Evelynn. That will make a spot for you, Tristan."
Hearing this, Claire Ainsworth instantly understood why she had been publicly humiliated like that. ’It was all because of that bitch, Rachel Royce.’
Franklin Fitzwilliam got up with his wife, said a word to the elders, and let out a helpless sigh as he passed Tristan Sterling.
In the end, Claire Ainsworth got her wish and sat next to Tristan Sterling, but her mood was no longer as light and triumphant as it had been at the start.
Seeing the two of them sitting so close, Jane Sullivan’s heart sank a little.
William Jensen sat down next to Rachel Royce.
Rachel had seen the scene unfold just now, though she couldn’t quite make out what William Jensen had said to Claire Ainsworth.
But judging by the atmosphere, it probably wasn’t anything nice.
"Evelynn, long time no see. What have you been busy with lately?" Rachel Royce and William Jensen started to chat.
"Where are Nina and Melissa?" William Jensen said, "The kids just ate a ton of food. Chloe Cheney is with them in the playroom." Chloe Cheney was Thomas Sterling’s sister-in-law, the mother of Melissa’s twin cousins.
Rachel Royce nodded.
Franklin Fitzwilliam and Thomas Sterling were making small talk.
"This is my first time seeing Claire Ainsworth. She really is very beautiful," William Jensen said, then paused. "Of course, she’s a far cry from you, Evelynn."
Rachel Royce gave a faint smile. "I’d rather not be compared to her. It’s bad juju." William Jensen quickly said, "Sorry, my mistake." "It’s fine."
"Still, I’m curious. Besides her face, what is it about Claire Ainsworth that Tristan Sterling even cares about?"
Rachel Royce’s lips curved slightly. "Isn’t a pretty face enough?" ’A highly intelligent man like Tristan Sterling doesn’t need someone who’s his equal. All he wants is a beautiful pet who will obey him completely.’
Lunch began.
Rachel Royce glanced toward the main table from time to time, her thoughts unreadable.
Just then, she noticed a noble lady glance their way and then say to Evelyn Fitzwilliam, "Is that young woman Thomas’s girlfriend? They look like such a perfect couple, so well-matched. What does she do for a living?"
Although Rachel Royce couldn’t clearly hear what the noble lady was saying, she had a feeling they were talking about her and Thomas Sterling.
As she retracted her gaze, Tristan Sterling suddenly turned his head and looked in her direction. Rachel Royce casually averted her eyes and asked William Jensen, "William, you were just chatting with Mrs. Fitzwilliam and the others. Did Mrs. Ainsworth say anything to them about me and Thomas?"
Hearing this, William Jensen looked puzzled. "Someone did ask about Thomas’s love life, and Mrs. Ainsworth mentioned that the girl she saw with Thomas the other day was a very suitable match. She wouldn’t be talking about you, would she?"
Rachel Royce’s lips curled into a shallow smile, but her eyes darkened.
"Mrs. Ainsworth seems quite concerned with my relationship with Thomas."
William Jensen glanced toward the main table. "I don’t think Mrs. Ainsworth is a simple character. Does she know who you are?"
Rachel Royce had, of course, seen through her. ’She’ll really do anything to get Claire Ainsworth ahead.’
’It’s just that her methods are so crude.’
’If Claire Ainsworth doesn’t use her head, it’ll be useless for Mrs. Ainsworth to rely solely on her own efforts to make Tristan Sterling compromise and marry her daughter.’
"Mrs. Ainsworth knows your identity?" "Of course she does."
A contemptuous smile touched William Jensen’s lips. "Well, now I’ve seen everything. Knowing the original wife’s identity and still bringing your own daughter to eagerly play the part of the other woman."
Franklin Fitzwilliam placed a piece of food on William Jensen’s plate. "Alright, honey, let’s just eat first. Don’t let it ruin your mood."
William Jensen stared at Franklin Fitzwilliam. "You’d better stay far away from certain people. What they’re doing is practically inhuman."
William Jensen had never had a strong opinion of Tristan Sterling, but for him to bring Claire Ainsworth to the birthday banquet today...
Even if others didn’t know Rachel’s identity, how could he not know?
Was that something a human being would do?