At 8:00 pm, the rose–covered backyard of the Spencer residence buzzed with life.
Before the banquet began, guests mingled in small groups.
The main topic of every conversation was the two main characters of the night, Hayden and Nicole.
“Mr. Spencer and his wife have been married for seven years, and their relationship is still going strong. He even threw this extravagant banquet just to show his love for her!”
“Tell me about it. My husband barely remembers our anniversary. The best I get is a gift. Meanwhile, Mr. Spencer is handsome, rich, and absolutely dotes on his wife.”
“I’ve always envied Nicole for having such good taste. It’s no wonder that she went all out to pursue him
back then. Just look at how perfect her life is now!”
As the guests chatted, they were oblivious to the car that had just stopped outside the garden.
Nicole stepped out, draped in a stunning crimson evening gown. She heard their words when she got down from the car, and her lips twisted into a self–mocking smile.
They envied her? Were they envious of the fact that she only realized the truth during her final moments? About how Hayden had faked their marriage from the start, and that he only loved Gloria?
Or were they envious as Matthew didn’t love her and dreamed of having Gloria as his mother?
“Mrs. Spencer, it’s time to head in.”
The driver’s polite reminder interrupted Nicole’s train of thought.
Nicole came back to her senses at that moment, pressed her lips together, and took a breath before walking through the doors.
She had gone all out tonight. Her makeup was flawless as she donned a long red dress, her long curls
cascading down her waist. She looked stunning and shone like a movie star, with no indication of
sickness whatsoever.
As soon as she entered, the place erupted with exclamations of awe, and the guests swarmed toward her.
Meanwhile, Hayden was welcoming relatives alongside Olivia, His gaze flickered down to his watch every few seconds, his expression taunt with worry and stress.
He wasn’t sure if Nicole would show up on time.
He hadn’t been able to concentrate for the past two days. Even when Gloria invited him out for her birthday dinner, he used work as an excuse to stay at the office and had Olivia accompany her in his
stead.
“Daddy, Mommy is here!” Matthew suddenly tugged Hayden’s hand.
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Hayden snapped out of his thoughts and looked outside. The moment he did, his eyes widened as he was utterly captivated.
Nicole walked in with the grace of a blooming rose, dazzling beyond comparison. She elegantly greeted the guests with a gentle smile on her face.
Everyone’s eyes shimmered with astonishment, as if a goddess were gracing them with her presence.
After Nicole was done exchanging pleasantries with the guests, she raised her head, and her eyes met Hayden’s. His gaze burned with a complex emotion that she couldn’t quite understand.
She stood in place and didn’t approach him.
But of course, he made his way toward her, smiling as he reached for her hands and stared at her with unwavering focus.
“Nicole, you came for our seventh wedding anniversary banquet. This means you still want to make things
right between us, right?”
All around them, the guests looked on with interest.
Nicole lifted her head and stared at his face, which was positively glowing from happiness. For a fleeting moment, she couldn’t tell what was truly on his mind.
“You said you planned this banquet carefully and wanted to surprise me. So tell me. What’s the surprise?” Her gaze was ice–cold as she asked the question.
The crowd couldn’t help but chime in playfully.
“That’s right, Mr. Spencer! You’ve never held an anniversary celebration before. Now that you’ve invited all of us, is it time for a big reveal?”
“Could it be that you prepared a world–famous gift?”
Meanwhile, Nicole stood silently to the side and merely stared at Hayden.
She had prepared herself for everything, including the possibility that he would announce the fact that he had actually married Gloria.
Hayden wore a smile on his face, and his affectionate gaze never left her face. “Since everyone’s so
eager, let’s enjoy it together.”
With that, he turned and went upstairs to grab the gift himself.
As she watched him push open the study door, a flicker of doubt crossed Nicole’s eyes.
Chapter 82
