Chapter 71


    Chapter 71


    They stepped out of the car.


    With an air of calm, Howard said, “You must be tired today. Get some good sleep when you get home.


    Tomorrow’s the groundbreaking ceremony for the Chadwick Group’s new venture, and we need to be


    there.” His voice was detached, sounding like nothing had happened in the car earlier.


    Gwendolyn let out a silent sigh of relief. He had warned her before about the loneliness of their


    marriage, that not even a fleeting craving was permissible.


    It was just the medication talking, not genuine desire.


    Part of her felt relieved, yet there was an unexpected disappointment.


    “Will Roselind and Jeannie be attending?” Gwendolyn inquired.


    “They don’t want to. They said it would be too distressing,” Howard replied, understanding their


    sentiments. But he couldn’t quite exin that tomorrow was for spectacle, not for adding to one’s


    troubles.


    “Okay then. Goodnight, Mr. Chadwick.”


    “Goodnight.”


    After exchanging good–nights, Gwendolyn retreated to her room. She was tired yet felt oddly alert after


    a hot shower. Lying in bed, she couldn’t resist scrolling through the photos on her phone.


    The photographer’s assistant had sent her the original shots.


    Her thumb paused,nding on the images of their kiss. Recalling the passionate kiss from earlier and


    the shameless indulgence in the car, she curled her toes in embarrassment.


    She patted her flushed cheeks and muttered, “Get a grip, Gwendolyn. Mr. Chadwick’s just been on


    some strong tonicstely. He didn’t mean anything by it.”


    She couldn’t understand why they had ended up in such a prolonged embrace.


    She wanted to delete those intimate photos, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead,


    she moved them to a password–protected album.


    She selected a dignified photo of herself in a modern bridal gown and decided to show it to her


    grandmother, Nicolette, hoping it would put her mind at ease.


    Lately, Nicolette was longing to return to the countryside. The doctors said she had recuperated as


    much as possible and was ready for discharge.


    Frowning in concern, Gwendolyn yawned, and sleepiness quickly overcame her. She slept soundly


    until dawn.


    Marina had prepared a delicious breakfast.


    “The other day, Mr. Chadwick mentioned craving a vor Symphony, and Mrs. Chadwick has been


    missing her pancakes,” Marina said as she put the purchased breakfast on tes.


    “Thank you, Marina,” Gwendolyn whispered with gratitude.


    Sitting across Gwendolyn, Howard nced up to see her wearing light makeup, slightly different from


    her usual look.


    “You two enjoy. I’ll go check on Mr. Chadwick’s medicine,” Marina said, always happy to be bustling


    about.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    11-43


    Gwendolyn sat beside Howard, pouring him a ss of fresh milk. “Calcium is important, Mr. Chadwick


    Indeed, he replied.


    Do I need to do anything special for today’s groundbreaking ceremony?” she asked, turning to him.


    Howard and Nathan spoke openly, not bothering to exclude her.


    She had a hunch that Howard had an ace up his sleeve.


    Just stay by my side and look pretty,” he said elegantly, eating his breakfast. “Don’t try to be a hero.”


    “Til behave,” she promised, not wanting to repeat her previous impulsiveness.


    They left for the ceremony at nine in the morning.


    The site in West Suburb was bustling with activity. Balloons and flowers were set up two miles from the


    entrance, with massive banners in between.


    Closer to the site were excavators and bulldozers adorned with big red ribbons, standing in impressive


    rows.


    They parked nearby and walked toward the festivities, where a band had been invited for the asion.


    From a distance, they could see a crowd of well–dressed tycoons surrounding Bainbridge and his


    family, offering their ttery. Families from Bayridge City that were worth mentioning sent


    representatives, including the Hamilton family, the Peterson family, and others.


    Gwendolyn spotted Valor among them.


    “Mr. Howard and his wife have arrived.”


    “Are they here to add insult to injury? He was in charge of this project initially. To watch his hard work


    handed over to someone else, tsk tsk.”


    Bainbridge approached briskly with the alluring Vivien at his side, pride written all over his face as he


    approached Howard. “I thought you wouldn’t show up.”


    “How could I miss such a grand moment, Bainbridge?” Howard replied coolly.