Chapter 680

If that was the case, she couldn’t really argue. Still, she felt a little let down.
Samantha frowned, eyeing Kenneth sulking in the corner. Under her breath, she muttered, “Maybe it would’ve been better if you were the one dating Anthony.”
Kenneth just stared at her, completely lost for words.
***
Lottie was now the darling of the Gates family, Robert’s pride and joy. As much as Samantha cared about Charlotte, anything about her future had to get Robert’s approval first. This kind of awkward topic was better saved for after the party.
At the dinner table, Robert sat at the head. Anthony, their guest of honor, was on his left, and Kevin took the seat on his right. Robert wanted Lottie beside him, but Charlotte insisted on respecting her elders and sat next to Anthony instead.
“That’s fine too,” Robert said, glancing at the two of them. Something about it felt off. He thought back to when Lottie stayed at his place. Maybe she and Anthony got along well back then.
“Lottie, pour Anthony a glass of wine and thank him for taking care of you,” Robert said with a warm smile.
Donald, Roger, and Kenneth exchanged quick looks, each of them with their own reaction. Samantha gripped her fork, poking at her rice, her head pounding. Just imagining Robert’s reaction when he found out about Lottie and Anthony made her lose her appetite.
“Yeah, Lottie,” Kevin chimed in, completely clueless. “Anthony’s done so much for us lately. If you’ve got time, you should come by more often-”
Before he could finish, a sharp pain shot through his thigh. He nearly snapped, but when he looked down, he saw Samantha glaring at him.
“What’s wrong, honey?” he asked, voice suddenly smaller.
Samantha rolled her eyes. “No one’s going to think you’re mute if you don’t talk, you know.”
Kevin blinked, totally confused.
While he was still trying to figure out what just happened, a friend walked over, using the excuse of toasting Robert to strike up a conversation with Anthony.
“It’s really an honor to meet you, Anthony. I wouldn’t have had the chance if it weren’t for Robert. Pleasure to meet you.”
Robert watched, clearly pleased.
Anthony raised his glass. “Pleasure’s mine.” He took a couple of sips.
“And this is Robert’s granddaughter, right? She’s gorgeous. Looks just like her mom.”
A few more people came by, trying to get in on the conversation. Some of the younger ones, not quite reading the room, handed Charlotte a drink. “Charlotte, do you drink?”
Robert frowned, just about to step in, but Anthony reached out and took the glass before he could. “Sorry, she doesn’t,” he said calmly.
Then he pulled a carton of milk out of his suit pocket, popped in a straw like he’d done it a hundred times, and handed it to Charlotte.
“Take your time,” he said.
Anthony wiped his fingers, then started adding food to Charlotte’s plate. Every dish he picked was one she loved. If he spotted something she didn’t like he quietly picked it out for her.
People around the table just stared.
This was the same hand that signed billion-dollar contracts, that called the shots in the business world. Now he was sitting here getting milk and sorting food for Charlotte It was almost surreal.
Watching the way the two interacted, the smile slowly faded from Robert’s face.
Was he seeing things? Why did it
feel like there was something different about Lottie and Anthony? The way they acted together, it didn’t
feerlike family or just friends. It felt a lot more like a couple.