Chapter 4
Chapter 4: A week later, in Rozand”¦ “You’ve really slimmed down,”’ Madisyn remarked, setting food in front of Belinda. She sighed deeply. “I’ve been buying you so much food every day this week, yet somehow you keep losing weight.”’ Belinda was peeling shrimp, eyes lowered. “I think I look better this way, don’t you?”’ “You’re too thin now!”’ Madisyn sighed with sympathy. “You once filled out my evening dresses, and now, look at you. We’ll need new outfits for the upcoming party.”’ After tossing the peeled shrimp into the cat’s bowl and calling over Fluffy, Belinda softly asked, “What party?”’ “Remember? You wanted your jewelry designs to hit the market in three months,”’ Madisyn reminded her. Her face fell into a pout. “I spoke to a few companies. They can do custom orders, but mass production and launching take more time. To meet your three-month deadline, we need someone who can expedite and who likes your style. I found out about a party happening tonight. It’s not just local jewelers, but also merchants and designers from other cities. I thought we could go and see if anyone’s interested in your designs,”’ she suggested hopefully. Seeing her friend’s dedication, Belinda felt motivated. She petted Fluffy gently. “It’s been a long time since I last attended a party. I can’t always stay at home.”’ Watching Belinda’s broad smile, Madisyn paused before speaking, her tone reflective. “You remember that you always wondered who would attend every time I invited you to a party? You were always worried about Kristopher and didn’t want to upset him.”’ Madisyn’s smile faltered slightly. “And now you don’t even ask?”’ Belinda’s smile was soft yet sad. “I’m still healing. Let’s leave my ex out of our night, shall we?”’ In the evening, at the Summit Hotel banquet hall”¦ ð’ð’tï½ ð’t ð’ð’ð’ð’ð’ð’ð’ð’ ð’ð’ Belinda made her entrance at the banquet in a striking red evening gown featuring a deep V-neck, a backless design, and a daring high slit. Her slender figure, accentuated by the bold red, immediately drew envious looks from the crowd upon her arrival. Upon noticing the stares, Madisyn leaned towards Belinda and whispered, “You see, I told you this vibrant and seductive style suits you. You always chose such dignified and elegant dresses, fitting the role of Mrs. Cox. Actually, they never really suited you!”’ Belinda offered a charming smile in response. “I’ll remember that.”’ Having spent a week recuperating, she had resolved to change her approach. Just then, a man came over and asked her to dance. Belinda accepted with a nod and elegantly made her way to the dance floor with her new companion. Upstairs in the banquet hall, Kristopher reclined in his chair with his eyes shut, listening to his assistant Marc Lewis’ report. Distracted by the vivid red figure below on the dance floor, Marc reported with a frown. “Why did you stop?”’ Kristopher’s voice was cool and detached, his eyes remaining firmly shut. Marc paused briefly, then promptly refocused and completed his report. “Any news from her?”’ Kristopher asked nonchalantly after receiving the report. Marc hesitated for a moment before quickly replying, “Your mother messaged me this morning. She said Belinda’s still resting at home. Everything’s fine.”’ Upon hearing this, Kristopher scoffed dismissively. “Heartless.”’ He then grabbed his phone and scrolled through his messages with Belinda. The last one from her came a week ago. She had advised him to cut down on his coffee intake at work. Previously, she would message him incessantly, almost like an overbearing mother. Now, a whole week had passed without a single word from her. She hadn’t even offered an explanation for her secret abortion. If it weren’t for the daily updates from his mother asserting that Belinda was recuperating at home, Kristopher might have thought she had disappeared altogether. In the past, any argument between them would have seen her apologizing within a couple of days. But this time, she seemed determined to stand her ground. Marc let out a small sigh as he observed this. He knew that Kristopher might talk a big game, but he was less formidable in action. He publicly displayed his irritation, seemingly awaiting an apology from Belinda”¦ Yet, behind the scenes, Kristopher not only had his mother personally care for Belinda but also checked in on her condition daily, frequently pulling out his phone to see if she had messaged. However”¦ Marc hesitated for a long time before finally mustering the courage to point towards the dance floor below and ask, “Mr. Cox, is that woman Mrs. Cox?”’…