CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106: A FIERCE WIFE AT HOME

"Are you tired?" Donovan Xavier held the gift in his left hand and raised his right to tidy the hair by her ear.

Holding her belly with one hand, Chloe Preston smiled faintly. "I’m not tired. I’m fine."

"Let’s hurry inside. We’re probably late."

The two walked forward. The daylight was perfect. After several days of continuous rain, it was finally clear. The gentle breeze felt very pleasant.

At the gate, a servant came up to them and said respectfully, "Young Master Xavier, you’ve arrived. Our young master has been waiting for you for a long time."

Donovan Xavier didn’t respond. He held Chloe’s hand and followed the servant to the banquet hall.

Today was the birthday banquet for the patriarch of the Rhodes family. Mrs. Rhodes had spent a long time preparing, inviting numerous distinguished families.

Donovan Xavier hadn’t wanted to come, but he couldn’t resist Adrian Rhodes’s pestering. Adrian had made dozens of calls a day, insisting that he attend.

「」

Inside the banquet hall, a crystal chandelier sparkled dazzlingly. Young ladies from noble families and various dignitaries arrived one after another. They all came from renowned clans, gathering to chat and drink.

Mrs. Rhodes was bustling about, her brow beaded with sweat. She glared at the man sitting on the sofa. "Adrian, if you’re so idle, can’t you help your mother entertain the guests?"

Adrian Rhodes feigned blindness and deafness, ignoring her completely.

He glanced sideways at Leo Sterling. Clasping a wine glass, he sighed, "Mr. Sterling, what time is it? Is Mr. Xavier even coming?"

Leo Sterling crossed his long legs and laughed. "What, you miss him?"

Just as they were speaking, they heard Mrs. Rhodes say with a laugh, "Donovan, you’re here! I haven’t seen you in so long. How is your grandfather’s health?"

Donovan Xavier nodded slightly and replied politely in a deep voice, "He’s doing well." As long as I don’t go back to anger him, he’ll naturally be fine.

"Mr. Xavier, you’re here!" Adrian Rhodes rushed over, beaming with delight.

Donovan Xavier gave him an indifferent glance. "Mm."

Adrian Rhodes paused for a few seconds before asking eagerly, a hopeful look on his face, "After all this time, have you remembered anything about me?"

"A little, but not much," Donovan Xavier replied. He had a slight impression of the man before him now, but he couldn’t recall much else.

Adrian Rhodes was already quite pleased with this. Patting Donovan’s shoulder as he headed for the sofa, he said, "That’s a good sign. If you remember a little more each day, you’ll eventually remember all of me.

"I’m not in a hurry. I’ll wait for you, even if it takes a lifetime."

Donovan Xavier found the statement overly ambiguous. He put some distance between them and narrowed his eyes. "The way you say that... you don’t have a crush on me, do you?"

Adrian Rhodes was speechless.

Leo Sterling suppressed a laugh.

Adrian Rhodes gritted his teeth. "I like women."

A moment later, Cecilia Miller came running down the stairs, her high heels clacking on the floor. TAP, TAP, TAP. She wore a white, strapless cocktail dress, her dark hair pinned up. Her face was youthful and adorable, exuding a sweet and charming innocence.

"Sister-in-law! You’re here! I’ve missed you so much!" she cried, running over to take Chloe Preston’s slender arm. She placed her small hand on Chloe’s belly and touched it carefully. "Sister-in-law, has the baby been good?"

Chloe Preston smiled gently. "He’s been very good, just like Cecilia."

Cecilia’s almond-shaped eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips curved into a sweet, delighted smile.

With one hand in his pocket, Adrian Rhodes snorted. "So this is the thanks I get for raising you? Now all you care about is your sister-in-law. Have you forgotten about me completely?"

Cecilia immediately looked at him and said obediently, "Brother Adrian." Then she turned to the two men beside him, her voice as sweet as honey. "Hello, Donovan. Hello, Leo."

Adrian Rhodes’s gaze fell on her, and a vein throbbed in his temple. He scolded her, "You’re a young lady! Who told you to dress like this? Go and get changed." It’s so revealing! Everyone can see everything. This is ridiculous!

Cecilia put her hands on her hips, protesting, "I’m twenty-one, I can dress like this!"

"I said no, and I mean no. Be a good girl and go change out of that outfit."

"I’m not going to listen to you!"

"Change." Adrian’s tone brooked no refusal.

"I won’t!" Cecilia’s temper flared.

The two were at a standoff, neither willing to back down.

"Cecilia Miller, I’m not going to say this a fourth time." Adrian Rhodes’s voice turned cold, showing he was truly getting angry.

Cecilia’s eyes began to redden.

Seeing this, Chloe Preston stepped in, shielding the younger woman behind her. She said in a soothing voice, "Mr. Rhodes, you’re being too harsh on her. You’ll frighten her."

"Cecilia looks beautiful dressed like this. I don’t see anything wrong with it. You..."

Before she could finish, Adrian Rhodes glared at her and cut in coldly, "Mind your own business. This is our family’s affair and doesn’t require your interference!"

"Who are you yelling at?" Donovan Xavier’s dark eyes grew icy.

At that, Adrian Rhodes fell silent. He lifted his gaze and looked at Cecilia again.

Her eyes were red and welling with tears. She wiped them away, looking utterly wronged.

A moment later, she spoke, her voice catching with a sob. "I understand. I’ll go change now."

She looked at Chloe Preston. "Sister-in-law, can you come with me?"

Chloe Preston nodded.

Just as the two were about to leave, a woman with a slender figure approached from a short distance away. She wore a black, high-slit dress studded with small diamonds, and her hair was styled in loose waves. Every movement she made was filled with a sultry charm.

The woman walked directly up to Donovan Xavier, her cheeks slightly flushed. She offered him the glass of wine in her hand, her eyes demure. "Mr. Xavier, care for a drink?"

Donovan Xavier paused. He lifted his eyes and met Chloe Preston’s gaze from across the room.

Chloe was holding her belly with one hand, her gaze frosty. It was a glare that felt like daggers. You dare accept her drink and see what happens!

Donovan Xavier withdrew his gaze and glanced at the woman before him with a faint smile. "I don’t drink."

The woman hadn’t expected to be rejected. Her hand froze mid-air for a moment before she pursed her lips and smiled again. "In that case, Mr. Xavier, could we get to know each other? I’m the second young lady of the Ford family. My grandfather and yours were close friends!"

Donovan Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Is that so..."

As he was speaking, Chloe, who was standing behind him, coughed lightly.

A chill went down Donovan Xavier’s spine. He looked at the woman and offered a distant smile. "My apologies. I have a fierce wife at home, so I daren’t act recklessly."

The woman was stunned. Wife? I haven’t heard anything about him being married!

Donovan Xavier turned slightly to look at Chloe Preston, a smile touching his eyes. "My wife keeps me on a very tight leash. Second Miss Ford, I suggest you find someone else to get to know."

The woman’s gaze followed his. Chloe Preston hadn’t made any special effort to dress up. She was simply wearing a milk-almond colored silk cheongsam with a white shawl, her dark hair tucked behind her ears. Her face was gentle yet stunningly beautiful, radiating a bright elegance. The swell of her belly was very noticeable; she was at least five months along.

The woman’s mouth fell open. "Is she..."

"My wife," Donovan Xavier stated.

The woman was puzzled. "Mr. Xavier, if I recall correctly, you aren’t married yet, are you?"

"Soon," Donovan Xavier said.

"On our wedding day, I’ll send an invitation to the Ford family. Second Miss Ford, please be sure to come if you’re free."

The woman’s lips tightened, and her expression turned ugly.

Chloe Preston didn’t say anything else. Feeling completely assured, she turned and took Cecilia Miller’s wrist, leading her upstairs.

"Brother Adrian!" a clear female voice called from behind.

Cecilia Miller’s body stiffened on the stairs. She looked back.

In the distance, a woman with a pure and innocent face was holding onto Adrian Rhodes’s arm with striking intimacy. Cecilia watched as the woman poured him a glass of wine, which he accepted. The woman spoke, and Adrian laughed.

As Cecilia watched, her eyes grew even redder. She stomped her foot and ran upstairs in tears.

Seeing this, Chloe Preston hurriedly went after her. "Cecilia, slow down! Wait for me."

Chloe Preston walked slowly down the hallway, searching room by room. The young girl had run too fast. Being pregnant, Chloe couldn’t keep up and had lost sight of her in the blink of an eye. The mansion was vast and opulent, but the similar design of its hallways and rooms was disorienting.

Rounding a corner, Chloe Preston walked right into a firm chest. Her nose stung with pain from the impact. A man’s hands steadied her. "Are you alright?"

Chloe Preston took two steps back, rubbing her aching nose. "I’m fine. Sorry, I bumped into you."

From the impact, the sapphire brooch on the man’s suit jacket had fallen to the ground and shattered.

Chloe Preston picked up the broken pieces, feeling deeply apologetic. "I’m so sorry. How much did this cost? I’ll compensate you for it."

The man’s voice was very gentle, tinged with a faint smile. "Don’t worry about it. It’s just a small trinket, not worth much."