Chapter 131
I almost laughed when I heard that, but I kept quiet. Frederick leaned in close to my ear and said in a low, husky voice, “If you feel like laughing, just laugh. You trying to hold it in is even funnier.”
I shot him a glare. “No one asked for your opinion.”
Jonathan seemed about to speak, but his gaze swept over me and Frederick, who were sitting close, whispering. His expression darkened momentarily, a flash of coldness flickering across his face. Then he quickly composed himself, turning to Alicia with an indifferent look. He said softly, “There’s no need. This is fine.”
With that, he sat down with her. She gave me a smug look, but I just shrugged. I had no idea what her obsession was.
Jonathan was the definition of a cold, distant man. He was the kind one could admire from afar, but not someone they could get close to, unless they wanted to be burned by the frost. I didn’t understand what was so great about winning a guy like that. He never made the first move or said anything. No matter how good-looking or rich he was, it just didn’t matter.
Then again… I shook my head. Maybe he was different with Alicia. Why else would she be so hung up on him? I guessed people in love lost their minds. I used to be like that too, didn’t I? I didn’t really have the right to judge her. The only difference was, I wouldn’t chase after someone who was already married. If one had to fight to keep a man, he wasn’t worth much. Not to me, anyway.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt weird. Most of the people at the birthday party knew who I was. On paper, Jonathan and I were still husband and wife, but we weren’t even sitting together. Gabrielle had told me the rumor mill was already buzzing about a possible divorce. Now, it just seemed like confirmation.
“Are they really getting divorced?”
“Feels like it. Why else would they sit apart?”
“Mr. Ford clearly has no intention of sitting with Elise… Maybe this whole seating arrangement was Alicia’s idea. A power move.”
Someone else said, “I’m confused. Elise’s never shown up in public before. We all thought Mr. Ford didn’t want to give her any real status, but now he brings her here only to sit far away from her?”
“Right? If they really were getting a divorce, why bring her at all? What’s going on?”
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My seat was close to the main hall, so I overheard bits and pieces of their conversation. They tried to lower their voices and avoid looking my way, but I still picked up some of it. Frederick must have heard it too. He looked over at me.
That look was complicated—a little pity, mixed with something else I couldn’t quite figure out. “What are you looking at me like that for?” I raised an eyebrow. “Are you feeling sorry for me?”
He looked away without saying anything. But I knew what he was thinking and sighed. “I knew none of you believed me when I said I’d really let Jonathan go…”
He suddenly cut in, “Considering how obsessed you used to be with him, it’s hard to believe. Can you blame us?”
“Fair enough…”
He was right. Even hearing it from someone else, I had to admit I’d been way too far gone. Even though I knew it was me, I still felt like that version of myself was pathetic and laughable. Honestly, I’d rather never get my memory back than become that person again.
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