Chapter 369
Chapter 369:
Ellie had only ever seen pictures of Carole. Yet, from a distance, she was certain the woman sitting next to Kaiden was indeed Carole.
In person, Carole was even more charming and radiant than in her photos. She sat with effortless poise, a subtle, playful charm about her as she conversed with Edwin, looking quite comfortable in his company. Despite her attention being on Edwin, Carole still angled her knees towards Kaiden, a subtle sign of her interest.
Ellie’s eyes narrowed, halting her steps. The black jacket draped over Carole’s shoulders—it was Kaiden’s! Ellie immediately recognized the jacket she had chosen for Kaiden that morning, with its distinct collar.
It made sense that two old friends would sit together and share a drink. But why was Carole wearing his jacket?
A server noticed Ellie by the corner of the stairs, her face a picture of shock and confusion. “Miss, do you need help p>
“No, no, thank you,” Ellie quickly replied, stepping back into the shadows, a sharp sting in her chest as though something invisible had pierced her heart.
Carole was back.
Kaiden had mentioned a commitment, but was that commitment to spend time with Carole?
The man who couldn’t stand anyone touching his personal belongings had offered his jacket to her?
Ellie thought back to the time she had worn Kaiden’s jacket in front of the castle at the amusement park. It had felt like being wrapped in warmth and his fragrance, more intimate and exhilarating than an embrace.
But now, another woman was experiencing that same closeness.
Ellie couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. Yet, despite the rising questions, she didn’t want to jump to conclusions about Kaiden.
She pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over Kaiden’s contact. She wanted to call him, to ask where he was, what he was doing, and who he was with. If he was honest, it would at least prove something…
Before Ellie could think of a reason why Kaiden was with Carole, a news headline caught her eye.
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It read, “Famous jewelry designer Carole Lambert is back in the country. GT Group’s CEO greets her with flowers, signaling a joyous occasion soon p>
The article featured a picture of Kaiden in a wheelchair at the airport, presenting flowers to Carole. Ellie felt overwhelmed, as though she were suffocating and couldn’t catch her breath. She inhaled deeply and turned to head back to the private room.
“Kaiden, what are you looking at?” Carole asked, following Kaiden’s gaze, but all she saw was a sea of unfamiliar faces.
“Nothing.” Kaiden broke his gaze.
He thought he had caught sight of Ellie, but the lighting was too dim. All he had seen was a silhouette, without a clear view of the person’s face. He assumed Ellie must be at the Gordon family’s place by now. It was probably just his imagination.
After a sip of his drink, Edwin asked Carole out of curiosity, “Why did you choose to come to Rich Bar tonight? And why stay in the hall instead of a private room?” They usually visited the bar on Heart Island.
“Rich Bar is well-known, and I’ve never visited before. I was just curious. The hall is so crowded, and I’ve been missing this kind of vibrant atmosphere while I was abroad!” Carole playfully blinked. “I heard this bar was the pioneer in blacklisting Erick, so I just had to check it out p>