After a while, the door was opened. The waitresses in cheongsam stood in a row and placed the dishes on the table one by one.
Soon, the large table was occupied by a variety of delicious dishes.
Jeffery had planned to leave on pretext of creating an opportunity for Chloe to make contact with Cormac after Cormac had come over.
However, now that Loredana was here and he didn’t dare to leave. He feared that Chloe wouldn’t be able to cope with the situation and she would reveal herself in front of Cormac.
All the delicious dishes seemed to be tasteless as everyone was thinking of something else in mind.
Occasionally, there was a crisp sound of chopsticks hitting the plate.
Chloe chewed her food, but her eyes were staring at Loredana.
If there was anyone who enjoyed eating, it would be Loredana.
All those dishes ordered by him were placed in front of her and he just got food for her as he didn’t eat much.
Did he treat Jeffery and Chloe as dead people?
There was no regard for the outsiders.
“I really don’t know that Mr. Mendelsohn and Mrs. Mendelsohn are so affectionate. It seems that I look like a light bulb. It’s neither right nor wrong to stay,” She said with sarcasm.
He put down his chopsticks and raised his head.
Loredana grabbed his hand under the table and he looked at her. She just smiled as she could handle it without needing him to say anything to protect her.
Since she was his wife, it would be more appropriate for her to deal with those women who had a mind of her own.
“Ms. Chambers must be joking. How could a third party understand someone else’s feelings? Furthermore, you are not a mind reader so how could you know? Tonight’s dinner is organized in Ms. Chambers’s honor.” Loredana smiled warmly to ease the verbal exchange.
Chloe scoffed and replied, “Me? Isn’t it for you?”
Loredana took her time to chew and swallow before replying, “Cormac is my husband and Jeffery is his uncle. We are a family. Ms. Chambers, you are our guest, aren’t you?”
Chloe’s smile waned.
Loredana pretended not to notice and continued, “As a show of respect, the guest should seat at the prominent position, so isn’t Ms. Chambers the star of tonight?” It was unlike Loredana to be confrontational but when provoked, she would not pull punches because she knew that she would be bullied if she appeared to be weak.
From the moment Chloe came, she had been saying certain things trying to drive a wedge between Cormac and her. She did not know what happened when Chloe claimed that she met Cormac at the hotel. Loredana had been unsettled by this. However, she knew that if she showed that she was flustered by the claims, then others would have doubts about the stability of her relationship with Cormac. She wanted to question Cormac about Chloe’s claims but only privately. She would never question Cormac about this publicly.
Chloe’s expression began to turn nasty and then she stood up abruptly, “What a sharp tongue you have!”
Loredana maintained her composure and replied, “Oh you flatter me, Ms. Chambers. I’m just stating the truth, so why should you be upset?”
“Jeffery, I’m done with my dinner.” Chloe said and then rushed out of the room. She felt that Loredana had embarrassed her and would be made a fool if she continued to stay in the room. This was the first time she felt so disrespected.
Jeffery’s expression darkened and said, “She is my guest, why are you so aggressive?”
Loredana was about to respond but was stopped by Cormac when he grabbed her hand and said, “Wait for me in the car.” He wanted to speak privately to Jeffery.
Loredana hesitated for a moment because she was worried about Cormac as she did not know what Cormac would bring up. She was worried that Cormac and Jeffery would end up in a conflict. She wished that both Jeffery and Cormac could maintain a cordial relationship.
“I’m sorry I lost my composure and upset Ms. Chambers…”
“Go ahead.” Cormac interrupted her. He clearly knew who was at fault, there was no need for her to apologize as she did nothing wrong.
Loredana pursed her lips as her abilities were limited to control the situation. She pushed back the chair, stood up, and proceeded to leave the room.
Very soon the room was quiet.
Cormac wiped his hand, threw the napkin onto the dining table, and leaned back into the chair. Any doubts that he had previously about Jeffery’s attitude towards him was confirmed during this dinner. “Do you have something to say about Loredana?” Cormac asked. Cormac was respectful of Jeffery and wished to remain in a cordial relationship with those whom he cared about. But now there was an exception. In the past, Jeffery did not seem to hate Loredana…
Cormac maintained a relaxed posture.
Jeffery did not answer directly and said, “Drink with me.”
He called out to the waiter to serve them drinks. Cormac acceded and drank a glass. Jeffery wanted to make it clear with Cormac but he changed his mind when he saw Cormac’s attitude towards Loredana. “Chloe’s father and I are colleagues and friends. Today it was a coincidence that I met her at the restaurant and asked her to join us without informing you. I sense that you are upset. Is it because of this?” Jeffery intentionally changed the topic and diverted the issue away from Loredana.
Cormac clearly understood Jeffery’s intentions. Regardless of what Jeffery tried to do, Cormac wanted to express his opinion about this. He filled up his wine glass and took a sip before placing it firmly down with a loud clank to indicate his displeasure, “She and I… Our marriage is short and we quickly divorced. She wasn’t the best woman I’d seen but she was whom I liked most.”
Cormac looked at Jeffery and continued, “I was shocked and surprised when I found out that she bore me to children.” He did not want to reveal too much.
“She was my wife and what can I say about myself if I can’t even protect my woman?”
Jeffery now understood where Cormac was coming from. It was clear that in any conflict that he may have with Loredana, Cormac would stand on the side of Loredana. “Cormac, I’m your uncle, all these years…”
“I know that.” Cormac interrupted him. He knew that Jeffery would resort to this and emphasized, “I know and I will never forget. I had never doubted you. You had taught me to take care of my relatives and the family. This is something that I will never forget.”
He had never doubted this before but now…
Jeffery wanted to speak but he could not utter a word. He indeed said these words to Cormac.
“You must believe that I am doing these in your interests. Your mother and I share the same surname. We are one family and you are her only child. Will I do you harm?” Jeffery was clearly emotional as he slapped his hand firmly on the table and declared, “If it wasn’t for Victoria, your mother may not have died.”
Not only his hatred for Victoria had not waned over these years but it deepened instead.
Cormac closed his eyes for a moment to ponder about what Jeffery had said.
Victoria.
Had Jeffery’s opinion of Loredana been clouded by his animosity against Victoria?
He knew about the relationship between Loredana and Victoria. That was why… for tonight’s dinner, there was an opportunity to chance upon Chloe when he took the document.
So, everything was planned by Jeffery.
Was his motive to make him leave Loredana and draw closer to Chloe?
This was ridiculous!
“Those were in the past. You should take good care of yourself. It’s late. I’m leaving.” Cormac stood up and left the room.
“Cormac.” Jeffery called out to him just as he was about to step out and asked, “Are you angry?”
Cormac stopped and said with his back facing Jeffery, “Yes, I am. I’m angry that you ganged up with an outsider to attack Loredana. How am I going to answer my children when they found out that I allowed their mother to be bullied? Jeffery, you are also a father and I’m sure you agree with this.” Cormac left after saying without turning back.
Jeffery was speechless. Although he had much to complain about his son, he would defend his son if anyone were to attack him. He closed his eyes and realized that it would be difficult for him to drive a wedge between Cormac and Loredana.
Why was Marina unable to handle Loredana today? Otherwise, Cormac would not be so willing to express himself so clearly towards him. Jeffery left the restaurant after paying up. A Jeep drove over and a bodyguard exited the car and opened the door and asked, “Going home?” Jeffery affirmed in fatigue and entered the car.
New Book: Beginning with a Daring Encounter
Celsie was tired of being labeled as an introvert, workaholic, and dull virgin by her friends. Determined to prove them wrong, she made a bet that she would do something daring on her 25th birthday. Now that the day had arrived, it was time to fulfill her promise. On her daring to-do list, there was one task: a one-night stand with someone.