Chapter 135: Dinner at the mansion (Part – 1)

Words : 1161 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 135: Dinner at the mansion (Part – 1) Later that evening... The mansion was alive with movement as Gabriel and Jeanne entered with Denis and Tania following closely behind. Jeanne, composed and poised, gently led Tania through the room, stopping once they reached Dimitri, seated at the head of the hall. "Father-in-law, this is Tania—Denis’s girlfriend," Jeanne announced with a bright smile. Dimitri gave a nod, but his attention was clearly elsewhere. His gaze kept drifting toward the entrance. He had specifically told Augustine to bring his wife to the dinner, but there was no sign of them yet. Their absence was starting to wear on his patience, his grip tightening slightly around the cane. "She is pregnant." Jeanne dropped the news, cutting into his thoughts. Dimitri turned toward her sharply, brows raised. "What did you say?" "She is expecting," Jeanne repeated, glancing at Tania with a smile. "Denis is going to be a father." Dimitri’s eyes moved slowly to Tania, who gave a soft smile and gently rested her hand on her stomach. His expression was unreadable—part surprise, part suspicion—as his gaze then shifted to Denis. "You’ve brought quite the surprise this evening." Before Dimitri could say more, Gabriel stepped in, "Their engagement is next week. We’re making it official. I’m sure you’ll give them your blessing." Dimitri gave a slow nod. "Of course. My blessing is with you all." Gabriel offered a stiff nod in return. "We didn’t want to wait. The family’s heir should be born within the right bounds." Dimitri hummed shortly, his attention returning to the entrance. "Grandpa," Tania said sweetly. "Denis and I picked something special for you. We hope you’ll like it." She stepped forward and offered the gift box with both hands. Dimitri accepted it without much expression. He removed the ribbon, opened the lid. A stone sculpture sat nestled in velvet—a mother holding a baby in her arms, finely carved and symbolic. He studied it for a moment, then let out a short hum. "It’s nice," he said plainly, but his tone was distant. Movement at the entrance shifted the room. All eyes turned as Augustine walked in with Anne by his side. Dimitri’s face lit up with a wide grin, clearly pleased. But across the room, Gabriel and Jeanne froze, their expressions turning stiff. Shock flickered in Jeanne’s eyes as she took a second look at Anne. She leaned toward Gabriel, whispering urgently, "Isn’t that Anne—Denis’s secretary? What is she doing with Augustine?" she asked with disbelief. "She was his secretary," he muttered. "I didn’t know she had any link to Augustine. But this... this is not good." His mind raced. Anne had worked closely with Denis, had access to internal reports, meetings, and confidential records. She could be a serious threat. Gabriel’s expression darkened as his thoughts spiraled. If Anne shared even a fraction of what she knew, it could disrupt everything. "You’ve finally made it," Dimitri said cheerfully, cutting through the quiet tension that had settled around Gabriel and Jeanne. Augustine walked forward, paying no mind to the stares around the room. "Grandpa, this is my wife, Anne." Anne stepped forward with a soft smile. "Grandpa, it’s a pleasure to meet you." Dimitri looked at her closely, assessing her. She spoke respectfully, her demeanor calm and polite. Compared to Tania, who was clearly trying too hard, Anne came off as natural, grounded. She was modest, well-mannered. But not what he had envisioned for Augustine. In his mind, someone like Megan—wealthy, polished, from a high-status family—was a better fit for his grandson. Even so, he swallowed his reservations. He had already upset Augustine. If he refused to accept Anne, he knew he risked pushing him away for good. He nodded, accepting her begrudgingly. "Good to see you all here. Go ahead and take your seats." He motioned toward the sofa, then turned to the butler. "Start with the drinks." The butler moved quickly and quietly, placing chilled glasses of freshly squeezed juice in front of each guest. As everyone settled in the down in their seats, all eyes occasionally drifted toward Anne, but she remained poised, ignoring their stares. "Grandpa, this is for you," Anne said, holding out the carefully wrapped gift she and Augustine had chosen together. Dimitri raised a hand dismissively. "You didn’t need to bring anything. Your presence is more than enough." Still, he passed the package to the butler without opening it, clearly not expecting much. "I’ll open it for you," the butler offered, already beginning to carefully unwrap the package. Dimitri tried to look indifferent, but curiosity crept into his expression as he watched the butler peel away the layers. His posture shifted the moment the landscape painting came into view. He leaned forward instinctively, eyes narrowing with interest. "Wow," the butler breathed, genuinely impressed. "Master always had a soft spot for antique paintings... especially ones that capture nature so beautifully. Just look at this." He held the painting up so everyone in the room could see it. Dimitri’s chest lifted slightly, pride warming his otherwise guarded expression. ’Augustine, you still remember,’ he thought. "I’ll hang it in the study," the butler said. "No," Dimitri interrupted firmly. "Hang it in my bedroom." The butler paused, surprised, then grinned. "Understood, sir." He tucked the painting under his arm and walked off, a noticeable spring in his step. Dimitri didn’t say anything more, but the look of satisfaction said enough. Tania shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers lightly digging into the fabric of her dress. A mix of jealousy and frustration simmered inside her. Dimitri hadn’t even commented on the sculpture she had so proudly presented—hadn’t spared it more than a glance. But he appreciated that old, fading painting as if it were a prized treasure. ’What did he even see in it?’ she thought bitterly. ’It’s just a dull landscape.’ Her sculpture was elegant, symbolic—far more impressive, at least in her opinion. Still, she forced herself to stay composed, reminding herself that with Gabriel and Jeanne on her side, she still had the upper hand. Beside her, Denis sat unnaturally quiet—his attention fixed on Anne. She looked ethereal in her off-shoulder silver gown. Her smile had a glow he hadn’t seen before. There was a light in her eyes—warm, bright, confident. Denis couldn’t stop staring. She looked nothing like the Anne he used to know. Back then, she was always in buttoned-up office wear or modest lounge clothes. She had been quiet, even withdrawn sometimes. But now? Now she radiated presence. Glamorous, graceful, and self-assured, Anne outshone Tania, who always dressed to draw attention. Denis couldn’t help but wonder, ’Is this really the same woman I spent three years with? How did I not see this side of her until now?’ "Anne, isn’t it?" Gabriel said slowly, drawing everyone’s attention. "I’ve been watching you since you walked in... then it hit me. You used to work as Denis’s secretary."

Chapter 135: Dinner at the mansion (Part – 1)

Comments (0)