Chapter 1754
And so Sandra and Dominik exchanged numbers, both perfectly cordial, neither particularly swept away.
Their parents, however, were quietly delighted. Brandon and Maggie, in particular, seemed quite taken with Sandra.
Brenna hadn’t thought much of the whole arrangement. Dominik wasn’t particularly handsome, but he spoke with confidence, carried himself with composure, and treated everyone with courtesy. At the very least, he seemed like someone pleasant enough to spend time with.
She couldn’t tell exactly what was going through Sandra’s mind, but the stiffness in her expression made it clear she wasn’t impressed. It wasn’t her blind date, though, so Brenna kept her thoughts to herself.
After what felt like a very long evening, the matchmaking dinner finally came to a close. Sandra had maintained a polite front throughout, and the effort alone had been exhausting. When the Vargases walked them out, she felt nothing but relief to have it behind her.
As Brenna stepped out of the private dining room, she noticed a man and woman emerging from the room directly across the hall. She didn’t recognize the man, but the woman was instantly familiar—Gracie, someone she hadn’t seen in a long time. Gracie appeared to have made her peace with things; she had long since stopped hovering around Ethan and had quietly faded from their circle.
𝗔𝖽𝗱іс𝗍i𝗏𝗲 n𝗈v𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗈ո 𝗴a𝗹ո𝗈𝘷𝗲𝗹𝗌.cо𝗆
“Mr. Rowe, it was a pleasure working with you,” Gracie said with a professional smile, shaking the man’s hand.
She turned and left without noticing Brenna.
Brenna didn’t call out to her. Instead, she discreetly took a photo of the man, intending to ask Ethan later whether he knew who he was. She had heard fragments here and there about Gracie’s recent endeavors—signing significant deals, backing promising projects, quietly earning a small fortune along the way.
Back at home, Giselle turned to Sandra. “So—what did you think of Dominik?”
Sandra was straightforward. “Giselle, I don’t like him. I simply don’t feel anything.”
Giselle felt a flicker of disappointment. She had been hoping to see Sandra settled sooner rather than later—having her out of the house would make life considerably more peaceful. But Sandra clearly had no interest in Dominik.
“All right, then forget it,” Giselle said. “If he’s not right for you, I’ll find someone else before long.”
“Thank you, Giselle. Honestly, I’m not in any rush to get married. I’d rather wait. If I never meet someone suitable, that’s fine too. Divorce rates are through the roof these days, and decent men are genuinely hard to find. I don’t want to end up with another Jordy or Andres.”
In truth, Sandra had no desire to leave the Harper household just yet. She knew perfectly well that once she married, Shepard would stop providing for her.
Giselle didn’t press the matter.
Dominik, meanwhile, told his parents he genuinely wanted to keep seeing Sandra. Brandon was immediately enthusiastic—to his mind, the match was ideal. Both families stood at a comparable level of society, the Harpers could strengthen their political ambitions, and his own family’s connections could support the Harpers’ business expansion. It was a mutually beneficial alliance in every sense.
.
.