Chapter 123

Cassandra smiled and let the matter drop. Her eyes drifted toward Tristan and Desmond at this moment. Tristan was easy to spot. He stood tall in a white golf shirt, every gesture calm and dignified. Desmond stood beside him, wearing a smooth, practiced smile. During their conversation, Tristan stayed calm and polite, nodding now and then, but he still kept a certain distance. Cassandra looked away, stirred by a rush of conflicting feelings. Her marriage to Tristan had started as a mutually beneficial arrangement. He needed a wife to ease family pressures, and she needed his protection and influence, though part of her decision might've come from a hint of defiance as well. Yet as time passed, Tristan's thoughtfulness and patience gradually softened her heart. Kimberly's words were a splash of cold water, reminding her of the harsh realities behind marriages in high society. "Mrs. Freeman, are you alright?" Kimberly asked softly when she noticed Cassandra zone out. Cassandra r