The moment they stepped into the venue, the other guests had begun to whisper among themselves.


    The couple had always been the center of attention whenever they attended an event together, and practically everyone in Seamarsh knew that they were madly in love.


    Yet tonight, not only had theye with different people, but the atmosphere between them was palpably tense.


    So when they heard Ste ask Matthew to pay up, everyone became all the more invested and eager to watch the drama unfold.


    Lindsay was mortified at the strange looks that were being thrown her way.


    She couldn’t help but nce over at Ste, her heart filled with resentment.


    Lindsay understood Ste’s meaning all too well.


    Ste was reminding her that no matter what sort of trick she yed, at the end of the day, Ste was still Matthew’s rightful wife.


    When the brief moment of shock wore off, the staff member warily approached Matthew with the bill.


    “Mr.


    rk, please sign here.


    ”


    Ste gave Matthew a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    “Thank you, honey.


    ”


    The endearment snapped Matthew back to the present, his eyes darting toward Ste’s lips as his heart began to race.


    Without saying anything, he plucked the pen from his jacket pocket and looked at the bill.


    Lindsay’s hands balled into fists when she saw this, but she wasn’t about to give up just yet.


    She reached over and tugged slightly at Matthew’s sleeve in a bid to stop him.


    “Matthew,” she called out softly, “this…”


    “It’s just a ne,” Matthew interrupted her before she could finish her protest.


    Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he signed his name without missing a beat.


    It didn’t take long toplete the paperwork, and the staff member was soon handing over the ne to Ste.


    She ran her fingers down the stones and beamed at Matthew.


    “Thank you for the gift, honey.


    And thank you for such a generous donation to the less fortunate.


    ”


    Ste calmly deposited the jewelry into her bag.


    As she did so, she managed to catch Lindsay’s re from the corner of her eye.


    Unfazed, Ste smiled warmly at Lindsay.


    This only fanned the mes of Lindsay’s fury.


    She couldn’t bear to stay for much longer, so she turned to Matthew with a look of grievance.


    “I’m tired, Matthew.


    Can you take me home?”


    Matthew’s eyes lingered on Ste for a few seconds longer, and then he silently ushered Lindsay away.


    Ste’s smile gradually faded as she watched them leave.


    This development puzzled the busybodies even more.


    Just what in the world was going on?


    Despite their raging spections, no one was foolish enough to voice them out.


    No one even dared to make a single snidement.


    Instead, everyone dispersed and carried on with their respective conversations.


    A cocktail party was scheduled to follow after the auction, but Ste no longer felt like staying.


    She turned to Sanford with an apologetic smile.


    “I’m so sorry, but I have other business to attend to.


    I’m afraid I need to leave now.


    ”