Chapter 54 – A Tense Dinner

The atmosphere in the five-star hotel restaurant that night was warm and elegant. Golden pendant lights cast a soft glow over the long, finely decorated tables. The scent of wine and French cuisine lingered in the air. Guests from prestigious families had begun to arrive.

Jeslyn entered alongside her parents. Her navy evening gown embraced her figure, giving her both a graceful and commanding presence. Her face was adorned with soft makeup, but her eyes were sharp—holding back a storm that had yet to pass.

"You look stunning tonight, Jes," her mother said, gently patting the back of her hand.

Jeslyn offered a faint smile. “Thank you, Mom.”

As they stepped into the main hall, it felt like all eyes turned toward them—especially one pair that had been waiting.

It was Jefran, now standing near the main table, dressed in a black suit with a silver-gray tie. A warm smile stretched across his face, as if to welcome Jeslyn. But both of them knew there was no peace between them.

"Good evening, Uncle, Auntie. Jeslyn," Jefran greeted politely, bowing his head. "You’re right on time."

Jeslyn’s father responded kindly, “Of course. An invitation to dinner like this is not to be missed.”

“Welcome, Jeslyn. You look absolutely beautiful,” Jefran’s mother complimented.

Jeslyn returned a polite smile. “Thank you, Auntie. But you look even more beautiful tonight,” she replied, making the woman chuckle.

“Oh, you’re quite the charmer,” she said, giving Jeslyn a brief hug.

“Now that everyone is here, please have a seat,” said Jefran’s father, gesturing to the chairs.

They were just about to sit when another voice cut through the moment.

“Good evening, everyone. Apologies for being a bit late,” Leonel said as he approached.

“No worries. Come, have a seat, Leonel,” Jefran’s father welcomed him.

Leonel briefly met Jefran’s eyes—just long enough to see him quickly look away. Then his gaze shifted to Jeslyn, who kept her head down.

“How are you, Uncle, Auntie?” Leonel greeted Jeslyn’s parents.

“We’re doing well. Ah, by the way, I heard you won that recent tender. Congratulations, Leonel,” Jeslyn’s father said, smiling wide.

Leonel offered a modest smile. “Thank you, Uncle. I owe it to the support and prayers from many, including you and Auntie.”

Jeslyn’s mother nodded approvingly. “You really are a smart and ambitious young man, Leonel.”

Her compliment instantly cast a subtle tension over the table.

“Thank you for the kind words. You’re being too generous, Auntie.” Leonel offered a small smile while stealing a glance at Jeslyn, who was pretending to be focused on the food in front of her.

“Well then, before we get into the main discussion, let’s enjoy the dinner. Everything’s already served. It’d be a shame to let it go cold,” Jefran’s father joked, prompting light laughter—except from Jefran, Jeslyn, and Leonel.

One by one, the waitstaff began to serve dishes with graceful and practiced movements. The scent of roasted meat and creamy sauces was inviting, though few seemed to truly enjoy the food.

Jeslyn picked up her fork, but made no move to eat. Across from her, Leonel sat tall, arms folded on the table, but his eyes never left her. Jefran, seated beside Jeslyn, clenched his jaw ever so slightly, though he occasionally forced a faint smile to keep up appearances.

“Jes,” Jefran murmured quietly, barely a whisper, “If you don’t like your meal, just say the word. We can ask them to change it.”

Jeslyn turned slightly, just enough to reply without drawing attention. “The food is fine. It’s my taste buds that aren’t.”

Jefran said nothing. His gaze briefly flicked to Leonel—who had overheard the exchange. Their eyes locked for a fraction of a second.

“So, how’s your shipping business coming along, Jefran?” Jeslyn’s father asked, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.

“We’ve just expanded to the eastern port. The legalization process is nearly complete,” Jefran answered calmly.

Leonel leaned forward, inserting a comment with a faint smile. “You’re quick when it comes to expansion. But don’t forget, legal documents often move slower than field agreements.”

Jefran turned to him slowly, his expression neutral. “I’d rather move slow and clean than fast and… dirty.”

The tension thickened instantly. Jeslyn let out a silent sigh and reached for her wine glass without taking a sip.

“Well, you two sound like you're in a board meeting,” Jefran’s mother said, chuckling lightly. “Relax. This isn’t the office, you know.”

“True, Mom,” Leonel responded quickly, regaining his polished demeanor. “Apologies. Sometimes it’s hard to separate the dinner table from the meeting room.”

“No worries. We actually enjoy hearing young people talk about business,” Jeslyn’s father added. “Just don’t get too serious, or everyone else will feel stiff.”

While the others tried to refocus on their meals, Jeslyn occasionally glanced at Leonel. There was pain in his eyes—pain that hadn’t healed. And now, layered on top of it was something deeper than heartbreak: disappointment. On the other side, Jefran knew Jeslyn had never truly come back to him.

Moments later, the sharp clink of Jefran’s father setting his spoon down pierced through the lull in conversation. Instinctively, everyone looked his way.

Smiling, he glanced at Jeslyn and Jefran seated side by side. “So,” he said with finality, “regarding Jeslyn and Jefran’s wedding. With everything that’s happened, and all the delays—we should set a date and move it up, don’t you think?”

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Jeslyn stiffened, but forced a stiff smile without looking at anyone. She gave a small nod.

“Wonderful idea,” Jeslyn’s mother chimed in cheerfully. “Everything’s going so well right now. Let’s ride the momentum, right Jeslyn?”

Jeslyn still said nothing. She just offered a thin smile and nodded again, then took a long sip of her drink as if hiding her thoughts beneath the crimson liquid.

Jefran matched her composure. He smiled at his father and nodded in agreement without saying a word.

“We’re glad you’re both on the same page,” Jefran’s father said with satisfaction. “Let’s plan everything carefully. This will be a wedding to remember.”

“Absolutely! You two have been together long enough. It’s time to move on to the next chapter,” Jeslyn’s mother added with delight, pleased that Jeslyn wasn’t putting up any resistance.

Leonel, seated across from them, remained silent. His eyes now fixed sharply on Jeslyn—like an invisible blade slicing through the space between them. He saw everything: Jeslyn’s calm face, Jefran’s agreeable smile, and the quiet submission that hid no protest.

Jeslyn knew Leonel was looking at her, but she refused to meet his gaze. Instead, she stared into her glass as if its contents held a more bearable reality.

“How about we set the wedding date to one month from now?” Jefran’s father proposed.

“W-what?” Jeslyn blurted, clearly shocked. She turned to look at her parents.

“What’s wrong, Jes?” her mother asked.

“Um… Nothing. I’m just surprised,” Jeslyn replied with a light laugh.

“Well then, let’s start planning the events,” said Jefran’s father with eager enthusiasm.

Leonel’s hand nearly cracked his cup. His jaw tightened, fingers clenched in his lap. Still, he said nothing. He knew this wasn’t his place to speak—but the pressure inside him was mounting.

Jefran’s father let out a cheerful laugh, oblivious to the shifting air. “With all this good news, we should celebrate. What an extraordinary evening!”

And once again, the room filled with laughter.

Except for three people at that table—Leonel, Jefran, and Jeslyn.

Each lost in a silent war of the heart.

***