CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: THAT WAS MY FIRST KISS

Julian Fordham’s body froze on the spot, as if he could somewhat empathize with the pain Victoria Monroe felt seeing him with Rachel Hayes.

The entrance screen blocked the view of the occupants within, but through the thin silk embroidery, a few silhouettes could be vaguely seen.

A waiter stopped his steps forward, "Sir, please do not disturb other guests while dining."

Julian Fordham’s voice was somewhat hoarse, "Victoria, I want to talk to you."

The chair was pulled out, someone stood up, and a tall figure emerged from behind the screen.

It wasn’t Victoria Monroe, but the efficient and professional Dominic Scott.

He extended his hand toward Julian and formally said, "Mr. Fordham, hello, I am Ms. Monroe’s acting lawyer. From now on, I will be representing Ms. Monroe to discuss the divorce with you."

Emotions surged violently deep within Julian. His rationality told him that further commotion would only bring more embarrassment to both parties.

He suppressed the urge to rush in and see Victoria Monroe, extended his hand to shake hands with Dominic Scott, and said coldly, "Pleasure to meet."

Their hands touched briefly and then parted, and Dominic Scott took the initiative to speak, "Mr. Fordham, I think today is not the right occasion to discuss the divorce. Should we schedule another time? What do you think?"

With a polite reminder, Julian Fordham naturally wouldn’t act without decorum.

"Arrange it with my assistant."

"Okay."

Julian Fordham looked up, and besides Victoria Monroe, there was another person sitting across from her behind the screen.

Judging from the person’s build, it was a man.

The man’s side profile was sharp and defined, and as if sensing Julian’s gaze, the man turned to look in his direction.

Knowing that he was being watched, the man met his gaze directly without flinching.

Through a layer of sheer fabric, the man’s intensely aggressive gaze could not be hidden.

It’s not just women who have a strong sixth sense; men do too.

This third party was very likely the person connecting Victoria Monroe and Dominic Scott.

A single phone call could draw a busy person over, indicating significant influence.

The waiter reminded, "Sir, please leave."

Julian Fordham gave him a cold glance. The waiter, aware of his identity, nevertheless made an unyielding gesture of invitation: "Please."

Julian Fordham’s current status allowed him to walk freely in Kenton, yet an employee from "Private Taste" dared to stop him.

He stepped back to leave and ran into Assistant Prescott coming to find him.

Assistant Prescott said, "Boss, I know you care about your wife. Given the current situation, do you want to ruin things with Willis too?"

The man who was about to light a cigarette put the pack away, standing in the shadows under the eaves, his gaze falling on the room where Victoria Monroe was.

"Check who accompanied them today besides Dominic Scott."

"Yes, but please don’t allow any mistakes tonight. This dinner has been your painstaking effort. As long as you finalize the matter with Willis, you will have nothing to worry about."

Julian Fordham’s gaze became calm again, and he turned around smartly.

In the dim twilight, only a chill of loneliness was left in his silhouette.

At the table, Victoria Monroe seemed unaffected by Julian Fordham’s presence, keeping the atmosphere lively.

But anyone with discernment could see she wore a mask of forced smiles, hiding her fragility.

Victoria Monroe laughed and asked, "Dominic, you must have a great relationship with Rhys Hawthorne, for someone as busy as you to come over with just a call."

Dominic Scott glanced at Rhys Hawthorne’s expression; the man was not looking at him but was instead focusing on Victoria Monroe’s finger where she usually wore her ring.

There were no marks left from the ring usually worn long-term.

As if her marriage with Julian Fordham was also about to disappear.

Dominic Scott retracted his gaze and replied, "Yes, I and... Mr. Hawthorne’s brother attended the same school, we are old acquaintances. It’s just a coincidence that I have some legal work in Kenton recently."

Although Dominic Scott had answered in a very tactful manner, Victoria Monroe keenly sensed that the circle Rhys Hawthorne belonged to was different from that of someone who had risen from barren and desolate lands like herself.

She had seen marketing accounts introduce Dominic Scott’s background, that the Scott Family in Portoros was an affluent family, with a grandfather in politics, a father running a listed medical equipment company, and a mother as a university professor.

Such a family exposed their children to elite education and circles from a young age, so Rhys Hawthorne was likely the same.

He was calm, gentlemanly, exuding a nobility ordinary people could hardly achieve.

Such traits were the result of strict family education and environmental influence from a young age.

It wasn’t like a coal boss suddenly getting rich overnight, yet still reeking of nouveau riche vulgarity.

So Rhys Hawthorne should also be from a wealthy family.

A person with the surname Hawthorne in Portoros...

The thought had just occurred to Victoria Monroe when she felt a chill down her spine.

The hand holding the spoon shook.

"Ding—" the sound of porcelain clinking sent her into a panic.

"Sorry, the hand slipped."

Could he really be from the family she was thinking of?!

But Rhys Hawthorne’s accent was that of a native of Kenton, and when they were together before, his tastes leaned more towards Kenton cuisine.

She looked at Rhys Hawthorne and tentatively asked, "Come to think of it, we’ve known each other for quite some time, yet I know nothing about you, Rhys Hawthorne. Your last name is Hawthorne, and you’re from Portoros, could you be related to that Hawthorne family in Portoros?"

As she spoke, she inadvertently glanced at Dominic Scott, who was busy sipping his soup, making his expression unreadable.

Rhys Hawthorne had already finished eating, slowly wiping his hands with a warm towel.

His every gesture carrying an elegance others could not easily emulate, making his simple actions pleasing to the eye.

He answered carelessly, "I grew up in Kenton and only went to Portoros to develop a few years ago."

Indeed, she remembered that the guide was a native of Kenton.

A look of relief flashed across Victoria Monroe’s face, "I thought you were a young master from the Hawthorne family, scared me to death."

Rhys Hawthorne rarely had a hint of a smile on his lips, "Is being a young master of the Hawthorne family that frightening?"

Victoria Monroe picked up a spoon and took a sip of soup, avoiding looking at Rhys Hawthorne. It wasn’t until after she finished that she spoke, "Of course, back in those days on set, I stole your snacks, scolded you for acting worse than a chicken, dragged you to climb over walls to find fun for a better life, didn’t you even crawl through a dog hole? If you were from the Hawthorne family, wouldn’t it prompt a deep acknowledgment from ancestors on my behalf?"

Dominic Scott couldn’t help but burst into laughter, coughing repeatedly.

"Sorry, sorry, I’m professionally trained not to laugh, unless I can’t help it."

The imagery was just too vivid!

"Mr. Hawthorne had such a black history?" Dominic Scott seemed genuinely interested.

Touching on set stories, the air at the dining table felt genuinely harmonious. Victoria Monroe laughed, "Yes, back then he played every role with a poker face, and the guide and I had lots of extra work, especially that kiss scene, how many times did you NG? The guide even wanted to find a stand-in for the kiss."

Mentioning the black history, the man next to them suddenly interjected, "That was my first kiss."