Chapter 6

The undercurrent of tension accompanied the entire meal.

Leanne kept a flawless smile throughout the whole thing. Her posture was elegant as she handled Connie's overly enthusiastic attempts to pile food onto her plate, and her responses to Stephen's probing questions about the business market were perfectly measured.

She was every bit the ideal daughter-in-law. With her poise and grace, she made the Jewell family look good.

During the latter half of the meal, Parker's phone buzzed. He glanced down at the screen, and the corner of his lips subconsciously curved into the faintest smile before he schooled his features back to normal.

He stood up and gave the table an apologetic look. "Sorry, but something urgent came up at the office. I need to hop on a quick video call in the study."

Leanne lifted her gaze, letting it skim lightly over his face, her tone carrying just the right hint of concern. "Go ahead. Work comes first."

He gave her a gentle look, then turned and left in a hurry.

Connie immediately smiled and smoothed things over. "Oh, he's such a workaholic. We're supposed to be having a family meal, yet he still has to deal with work. Leanne, you'll have to be patient with him in the future."

"Of course. It's a good thing for a man to be career-driven." Leanne lowered her head and took a small bite of food after answering sweetly.

The flash of ice in her eyes reflected on the rim of the plate.

Something urgent? A video call?

The moment Parker's phone screen lit up, she'd clearly caught, from the corner of her eye, that all-too-familiar WhatsApp profile picture—a selfie of a coquettish woman.

It was Charlotte.

The meal finally wrapped up with everyone pleased with how it had gone.

A maid brought out fruit for everyone to snack on. They all sat in the living room making small talk, the atmosphere seemingly harmonious.

Leanne put down her fruit fork and let her gaze drift casually around the room. Then, she asked offhandedly, "Mrs. Jewell, is Parker's meeting still not over? It's been almost half an hour."

Connie's smile faltered for a split second, her gaze turning evasive. "Oh, him? Maybe the situation is a little tricky. Don't worry about him."

"Is that so?" Leanne rose to her feet and stretched, her graceful curves especially striking under the lights. "The food was so good I think I overate a little."

She rubbed her flat stomach with a touch of playful distress. "Since we're just sitting around, why don't we go out for a walk and work off some of this food? I've heard so much about the garden here and how it was designed by a famous landscaper. I've never gotten the chance to really see it."

The suggestion was perfectly reasonable and was something no one could outright refuse.

Stephen nodded right away. "Sure. A walk will do us good. It's your first time here, so we should show you around anyway."

But a flicker of barely noticeable panic crossed Connie's face. She forced a smile and said, "There are lots of mosquitoes outside at this time of year. There's nothing much to see, really. We might as well just sit and chat."

Leanne had already looped her arm affectionately through Connie's, her voice turning into a spoiled little plea that left no room for refusal. "Just think of it as keeping your daughter-in-law company while she gets familiar with her new surroundings."

With the words put that way, Connie couldn't come up with another excuse. She had no choice but to get up, though her heart was pounding.

They walked out of the villa together. The breeze carried the clean scent of flowers and greenery from the garden. It was pleasant. The garden was indeed large, with winding paths and changing views at every turn.

Leanne played the wide-eyed guest, like someone visiting a famous estate for the first time. One moment she was admiring a flourishing rosebush, the next she was exclaiming over the fish in the pond, full of interest in everything.

"Mr. Jewell, where does that path lead?" She pointed at a cobblestone walkway that disappeared deeper into the grounds, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Oh, there? Nowhere special, just to an old gazebo. No one really goes there," Stephen answered casually.

Connie's heart lurched. She instinctively tried to steer the conversation away. "Leanne, that gazebo is old and rundown. Why don't we go look at the rose wall in front? That's what's really beautiful."

"But old gazebos have character," Leanne said, unfazed. She pulled on Connie and led the way down that path, her steps light. "I like quiet places like that the most."

Connie trudged forward, almost being dragged along. Her palms began to turn clammy.

The further they went, the more remote it became. The light grew dimmer, too. Tall trees on both sides blocked out the sunlight, leaving only a few scattered ground lights casting a murky glow.

In the air was the faintest hint of a woman's perfume. It was Charlotte's favorite scent, "Pure Romance".

In the shadows where no one could see, the corner of Leanne's mouth curled into a sneer. She deliberately slowed her pace, chatting with Stephen about random financial news while watching, from the corner of her eye, the growing ugliness on Connie's face.

Just past a few drooping willows stood the old gazebo.

"Leanne, it's too hot out here. Let's just go back before you get heatstroke," Connie finally blurted out, coming to a stop.

"Then it's perfect for us to sit in the gazebo for a bit," Leanne replied, taking the lead as she rounded the willows. The next second, her steps halted, and she let out a short, sharp gasp.

Stephen and Connie caught up and followed her line of sight. Then, they froze as if struck dumb.

In the dim light of the hexagonal pavilion ahead, two figures were pressed tightly together. The man's tall frame was turned away from them. One arm was wrapped firmly around the woman's slim waist. The other hand was raised, gently stroking her long hair.

The petite woman in his arms was nestled completely against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. In the hazy light, her profile looked heartbreakingly fragile and pitiful. Who else could it be but Charlotte?

As for the man, even from his silhouette alone, they knew exactly who it was—their son Parker, supposedly on a video conference.

The air seemed to freeze in that moment.

A rush of blood surged straight to Connie's head. Her vision darkened around the edges; she could barely stay on her feet.

The couple in the gazebo, startled by the sound, scrambled apart.

Parker spun around in alarm. When he saw the people standing there, especially Leanne at the front, the color drained from his face in an instant.

"Mom, Dad, Leanne… why are you guys here?" His voice was hoarse and thick with panic that he couldn't quite hide.

Behind him, Charlotte's face had gone completely white with shock. She instinctively tried to shrink further behind him, her tear-filled eyes wide with terror, like a frightened deer.

What a scene, catching them in the act, right there in the gazebo.

Leanne sneered inwardly, but her face showed nothing but pure shock and confusion. She stared blankly at Parker and Charlotte, then turned in bewilderment to glance at Stephen and Connie, as if she truly didn't understand what was going on. Stephen's face was ashen, and Connie looked like she might collapse at any moment.

Silence.

A suffocating, dead silence.

Just as Parker parted his quivering lips, ready to spin some pathetic excuse, Leanne suddenly smiled. "Parker? So this is where you've been."