Laura’s face fell, a wave of concern washing over her. “Oh, Whit, you really need to stop joking. Tina would never go after your man.”
Whitney flashed a carefree smile, her voice light as she replied, “No worries. I’m done with him.”
Laura stared at her, taken aback. “Whit, you…”
Her gaze flicked between Whitney and the man approaching them.
“Whitney, who exactly are you done with?” Carter’s voice sliced through the air, filled with an intensity that demanded attention.
Laura offered a gentle smile, her eyes softening as she looked at Carter. “Carter, Whit is just joking,” she reassured him, hoping to ease the tension that seemed to hang thick in the air.
Beside Carter, Emily stood like a vision in a flowing white dress. The fabric danced around her as she moved, and her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, lending her an ethereal and pure presence that seemed to brighten the room.
She leaned in closer to Whitney, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with concern. “Whitney, are you still upset with Carter about what happened the other day?” Her tone was soothing, as if she were trying to mend a fragile situation.
Tina, unable to hold back her disdain, let out a mocking laugh that echoed through the space. “Whit, how can you even be upset with Carter?” Her tone dripped with sarcasm, as if she found the whole situation utterly ridiculous.
But Carter’s focus was elsewhere, his mind racing past the banter and mockery. He lowered his gaze, his eyes dark and probing, and his voice dropped to a low, deliberate murmur as he repeated, “Who exactly are you done with?”
Whitney met his gaze with a mocking smile, her voice sharp. “Are you deaf, Carter? I said I’m done with you.” The words hung in the air, heavy and charged.
Laura arched her brows, a flicker of surprise igniting in her eyes. ‘I really underestimated Whitney,’ she thought, realizing the depth of the conflict unfolding before her.
Carter’s temper ignited like a spark in dry tinder. In a swift motion, he yanked Whitney into his arms, his voice a low growl, “You think you can call the shots?”
“Knock it off. It’s Grandpa’s birthday. Come on, let’s go greet Grandpa,” he added, his tone shifting to one of forced calm.
With a firm arm wrapped around Whitney, he strode past Emily, his destination clear: James at the main table.
Tina watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes, frustration bubbling inside her. She stomped her foot, her voice rising in disbelief. “Emily, has Carter lost his mind or what?”
Emily’s lashes fluttered as she shot Tina a teasing smile, her demeanor lightening. “Tina, don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for Carter too?”
Caught off guard, Tina stammered, “I-I’m not.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost as if she were confessing a secret. “How could I have a thing for him? He’s about to marry my sister.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue, and she could hardly bear to say them.
Emily’s expression turned icy, her gaze fixed straight ahead, avoiding any further confrontation. “Let’s go, Tina. Come with me to see Grandpa.”
After five long years apart, Emily was finally ready to reclaim everything that had once been hers. The thought ignited a fire within her.
*****
Whitney chose not to engage further with Carter; after all, she was being paid for this event, and it was crucial to keep the peace until the show was over.
“James, this is my gift for you. Wishing you endless happiness and a healthy life,” Whitney said, her smile polite yet strained as she presented him with a beautifully wrapped package.
James accepted the gift with a broad grin. “Whit, thank you. You and Carter’s wedding is just a month away. You two should get your marriage license.”
The room filled with knowing glances; everyone understood the implication behind James’s words. He couldn’t be happier at the prospect of Whitney becoming part of the family.
Carter felt a jolt of anxiety surge through him, worried that Whitney, clearly discontent to be there, might blurt out something outrageous and create a scene.
He interjected quickly, “Grandpa, we’ll get it in a few days.”
James regarded him with a long, warning look, his expression serious. “Which day?”
Carter pressed his lips together, weighing his words carefully. “I’m flying to Riverpool for work tomorrow and will be back the day after. Once I’m back, we’ll go get it.”
Whitney couldn’t help but think with a bitter smile, “The day after tomorrow? I won’t get that stupid license.”
With a clear timeline set, James’s mood visibly brightened. “Whit, go take a seat. I’m pretty busy today. You gotta help yourself.”
Whitney flashed a gentle smile, determined not to make things awkward for him. “It’s alright, Grandpa. Go ahead and do your thing. Don’t worry about me.”
Carter gestured toward a nearby table. “You and Laura can sit here.”
He glanced back and spotted Emily deep in conversation with James. Without wasting a moment, he rushed over to join them, eager to escape the tension.
“Whit, you see that? I knew it. Emily’s always been the one Carter really cares about,” Tina grumbled, her voice dripping with jealousy.
Whitney didn’t even bother to glance at her bratty stepsister. Instead, she turned to Laura with a sweet smile. “Laura, when did you give Tina a brother? Dad’s been dying for a son. Did you break the news to him?”
Tina’s face flushed with anger, her voice rising. “Whitney, when did my mom ever give me a brother?”
Whitney smirked, her tone laced with sarcasm. “You keep talking about how Carter cares about Emily. I just figured you wanted a brother so badly. Maybe Laura will grant your little wish someday.”
Laura managed a strained smile, her heart sinking a little. ‘Is she really taking a jab at me for not being able to have a son?’ she thought, feeling the sting of Whitney’s words.
“Excuse me, Ms. Whitney Moore, Mr. Harris would like you to join him at the main table,” a servant announced, breaking the tension.
Whitney was taken aback for a moment, then stood up with a practiced smile. “Sure, thank you.”
As she walked away, Tina’s frustration boiled over. “Mom, did you see that?” she complained, her voice filled with indignation.
Laura shot her a warning glare. “Enough. Keep it together. Remember why we’re here.”
Instantly, Tina’s nerves calmed. She was not here to butt heads with Whitney today; that was not the plan.
“Did you hear? Klein is coming later,” someone whispered in the crowd.
“Wait, you mean Klein Harris? He’s back in the country?” another person asked, their voice laced with excitement.
“Yeah, Klein’s pretty much got the Harris family’s overseas business all sorted out, so of course he’s coming back,” the first speaker replied, their tone dripping with admiration.
Everyone knew that the true head of the Harris family was Klein Harris, James’s youngest son, whose mysterious and low-key demeanor only added to his allure.
“I heard Klein’s still single. Now that he’s back, all the socialites and heiresses in Ravorport are going to be scheming to get his attention,” someone teased, a playful glint in their eye.
*******
“Whit, sit next to Carter. Honestly, Carter, grow up. Of course your wife should be at the main table with you,” James chided, his voice light but firm.
Both of Carter’s parents beamed with pride, clearly delighted with the unfolding family dynamics.
“That’s right, Whit. I really can’t wait for you to marry Carter,” Sabrina, Carter’s mother, added warmly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
She then turned to Emily, her tone shifting slightly. “Emily, you’ve been abroad for five years, so you might not know Whitney is about to marry Carter. You two probably met before.”
Emily’s smile faltered just a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. “Yeah, I know her. Whitney and I went to the same high school.”
Carter couldn’t bear to see Emily looking so uneasy, so he gently placed a peeled shrimp on her plate. “Here, Emily, have some. Shrimp’s your favorite, isn’t it?”
James’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face, but he kept his thoughts to himself in front of the gathering.
“Why don’t you let Carter peel one for you too, Whit?” James suggested, a smile playing on his lips.
Carter had already peeled a second shrimp and was just about to drop it into Whitney’s plate when she cut in, her tone icy. “Thanks, Grandpa, but I’m allergic to seafood.”
Whitney’s gaze locked onto Carter’s, her words heavy with meaning. “Thanks, but let Emily have it instead.”
James chuckled, shooting Carter another subtle glare. “Klein said traffic is a nightmare. He told us not to wait for him.”
“Grandpa, is Uncle Klein sticking around for good this time?” Carter asked, curiosity creeping into his voice.
George, Carter’s father, had always been the one running the show for Harris Group’s domestic business, while Klein was the mastermind overseeing operations overseas.
Everyone said James had two remarkable sons, but there were always folks in the background pushing them to compete, adding an element of drama to family dynamics.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.