Chapter 8

Amid the elegant surroundings and soft lighting, she quickly scanned the crowd, finally pausing for a few seconds on the face of a man. He seemed to be quite familiar with Edison and was shaking hands and chatting with others at his introduction. Winnie didn't realize that she had been staring for too long. She only noticed that he was holding a clear whiskey glass in his left hand, casually as if it were a Starbucks cup. His usually cold expression had softened with a slight smile—businesslike, gentle, considerate, but still restrained. He seemed completely at ease in this kind of environment. "Is he really here or not?" Evelyn pressed impatiently. Winnie snapped out of her thoughts and looked away. "No, he's not. He looks pretty ordinary, I barely remember him." Winnie couldn't remember whose wedding banquet it was, but the venue was full of high society, with even the pop diva just a supporting act. She was invited as a close friend of the bride, but her seat was far from the main table. The place was crowded, and the lively atmosphere suddenly fell into silence, with people whispering quietly. Someone bumped into her arm, their breathing ragged with tension. "Hey, it's Van!" Winnie glanced up, her eyes scanning over the crowd, spotting several well-dressed men. They all looked wealthy, and the one in the middle was rather plain-looking. She instantly judged, peeling shrimp with little interest, "He's pretty ordinary." Only then did Evelyn realize that Winnie wasn't reliable. "Tch," she clicked her tongue. "You talk all about being in high society, and you can't even recognize someone. You'd never make it into that world! You don't even know how to seize the opportunity when it's right in front of you!" Winnie bit her lip, and after being scolded by the older woman, she stubbornly said, "Anyway, he's not the one next to Edison." Evelyn's eyes then darted to the young girl standing next to Wyatt, and then to Winnie. She immediately changed the topic to Wyatt, pushing Winnie's shoulder with a playful nudge. "So, what's your Mr. Robinson doing, taking care of the little girl?" Winnie had already noticed Mia was with Wyatt, but her heart was as serene as a tranquil lake. She felt no extra emotions. She had been going through the motions with Wyatt for some time, but there were no real feelings involved. She only used him as a shield to deflect the unwanted attention of others, considering his divorced status and suitable social standing. Everyone in the industry knew that the famous actress Winnie wanted to marry into a wealthy family but had high standards. However, the more a beautiful woman prides herself on her aspirations to marry rich, the more she ends up attracting unwanted attention. The rich in this circle take pleasure in the games of corrupting the pure, forcing the proud to humble themselves, and making those who hold their heads high sell their smiles. The more pitiful someone is, the more they strive to reach for the moon. Over the years, there had been middle-aged men with bellies, those who kept mistresses outside, and men over sixty—all with a bit of money—who had eyed her, testing her limits. These dirty waters had been too dangerous to offend. She, a mere actress, no matter how much she had been praised as a queen of the screen, hadn't had much standing. Even if she had made millions from a single film, what did it matter? When she had attended these gatherings, it had just been a formality—pouring tea, walking around, being complimented on her beauty, laughing at dirty jokes, and playing innocent. It had been exhausting. The only excuse she had been able to use was Wyatt. Winnie had rarely spoken her mind, but in that moment, she had told Evelyn, "I didn't want to blur the lines." Her relationship with Wyatt was just an act, but Wyatt was becoming increasingly difficult to read. His possessiveness was growing stronger, and it always came at the most inconvenient times. Winnie was genuinely afraid. After all, Wyatt was a well-known producer in the industry and a close friend of her company's, Raven Entertainment, boss. She couldn't afford to offend him. Evelyn understood, smiling knowingly as she sighed, though it was unclear whether she was feeling sympathetic or sarcastic. "Everyone else pretends to be pure and innocent while chasing wealth, but you've turned it upside down, huh?" She then gave Winnie's dress a sidelong glance. "Such a beautiful haute couture piece. I'm guessing Wyatt had you wear it first to announce it to the world." Winnie, irritated by this, chose to remain silent out of spite. After a while, as more men came to flatter and chat with her, Wyatt, having left Mia's side, walked over to her. "Why didn't you come find me?" he asked, his tone soft and gentle. Evelyn, understanding the situation, wisely made an excuse to walk away, and Winnie smiled, pressing her lips together. "I see you're busy." Wyatt interpreted this as her being jealous of Mia, which pleased him. The crystal chandelier's light was clear and warm, making even ordinary beauty look exquisite, especially the woman in front of him. He studied her carefully. She had removed her makeup and now wore only a subtle touch of cosmetics, which only accentuated her delicate and refined features. Her red lips complemented her curly hair perfectly. Winnie waited for Wyatt to question her about why she had gone out into the rain, but he didn't ask. Instead, he simply said, "The dress suits you." The man in the Maybach had said the same thing. Winnie remembered, her gaze softening, a faint smile curling at her lips, and the familiar scent of him seemed to linger in the air. Wyatt, noticing her obvious distraction, lowered his tone. "Aren't you going to ask why I just walked off with Mia?" Winnie thought to herself, "What's there to ask? Asking won't keep you around." But she also knew Wyatt liked to play games with jealousy and emotions, so she answered bluntly, "What's the point of asking? Would it make a difference if I did? Would you not walk off next time?" Wyatt's eyes narrowed, clearly pleased by her response. A waiter passed by with a tray, and Wyatt took two glasses of wine, handing one to Winnie. "Since you're here, come toast with me." It was only natural for guests to toast the host, but Wyatt had something else in mind. As they crossed half the ballroom, he casually remarked, "I heard you used to put in some effort with Edison." It was an old rumor, one she didn't even know when it had resurfaced, and it was surprising that he still remembered. Winnie took a deep breath without showing any signs, responding with just the right amount of regret in her tone, "Sorry to make a fool of myself. I was young and naïve back then." "As far as I know, he was already wearing a wedding ring back then," Wyatt said.