Chapter 2 New Year's Dinner

• It was a smile I had never seen before, one I had never been granted.
• A sharp, searing pain stabbed through my chest, as if a blade had pierced my heart, the agony burrowing deep into my bones, reaching the very core of my soul.
• I recognized the woman instantly. Taylor Foster—the one Marcus truly loved.
• Taylor, a renowned actress from Cheston, possessed everything—beauty, an impeccable figure, and an impressive education. She was the epitome of perfection, someone I could never hope to compare to in any regard.
• Seeing her stand beside Marcus, the embodiment of a perfect couple, felt like a dagger plunging into my heart.
• "Why aren't you welcoming the guest?" Alice snapped, twisting my arm and issuing her command in a displeased tone.
• I gasped quietly in pain, but I dared not show my discomfort in front of everyone.
• With legs that felt alien beneath me, I walked toward Marcus and Taylor.
• "Miss Foster, it's been a while. I didn't expect you to join us today," I said, extending my hand and striving to maintain a steady voice.
• Taylor merely glanced at me, noticing the grease on my hand. She barely touched it before quickly retracting her hand.
• With a soft yet smug smile, she remarked, "Mrs. Eckman, indeed, it has been a while. You appear to be looking more worn than before."
• I pressed my lips together, choosing to remain silent, and turned to Marcus. "Honey, may I take your bag? The family has been waiting for you. Wash up and join us for dinner."
• Marcus regarded me with a cold, scrutinizing gaze, as if I were a stranger, then handed the bag to Alice instead.
• My face drained of color, and I fought to suppress the humiliation, holding back the tears that threatened to spill.
• Taylor's lips curled into a slight, triumphant smile as she clung elegantly to Marcus' arm, declaring, "Marcus, I'm hungry."
• "Let's eat," Marcus replied, guiding Taylor with utmost care.
• To me, Marcus had always been an untouchable figure reminiscent of a king. He had never shown such tender consideration to any other woman before.
• As the family took their seats, I made my way to the table as well.
• Taylor settled into the spot next to Marcus—the very place I should have occupied.
• There were numerous seats, yet a considerable number of people had also arrived. Everyone settled into their places, and before long, all three tables brimmed with guests.
• Suddenly, I realized that after dedicating several days to preparing for this New Year's dinner, I could not even take my place at the table because Taylor had claimed my seat as her own.
• A wave of frustration and indignation coursed through me, causing me to tremble. As I bit my lip, I approached Taylor and spoke stiffly, "I'm sorry, Miss Foster, but this is my seat."
• My silence did not indicate a lack of anger, nor did it suggest that I would tolerate others trampling over my boundaries.
• I could not allow a stranger to usurp my husband's attention in front of so many family members.
• My actions astonished the relatives present, who stared at me in silence, many wearing expressions of disbelief and amusement.
• However, Taylor ignored me completely; she merely clung to Marcus' side as if I were invisible.
• "Go eat in the living room and give your seat to Taylor," Marcus said, turning to me with an air of cold indifference in his eyes.
• Give my seat to Taylor…
• At that moment, I comprehended that, to Marcus, I was nothing more than a servant—one who was free to come and go at his whim.
• I could not accept this. Enduring the smirks of everyone present, I declared firmly, "I can give up other things, but I cannot concede this seat."
• Those words resonated with an intensity that I believed anyone with a modicum of understanding would comprehend.
• Perhaps it was the first time I had addressed Marcus in such a tone. He lowered his face, regarding me, with a hint of cold surprise in his eyes.
• He must have been pondering who had granted me the audacity to challenge him.
• With his sharply defined features, Marcus already exuded an aura of icy detachment, but at that moment, he felt like a block of marble aimed directly at me. I nervously clenched my fists, my entire body tensing.
• "Charlotte Bolton, are you now accusing me?" Marcus' voice imbued with an intimidating chill, enveloped my entire being.
• I trembled, my lips quivering as I lowered my gaze, suppressing the pain within my heart. "I wouldn't dare, but this is my seat—at least for now…"
• "Charlotte, do you have no shame? I entrusted you with the New Year's dinner, and you can't even manage to arrange enough seats? How can you claim to be Mrs. Eckman?" Alice could no longer contain herself and publicly reprimanded me.
• I gazed at Alice, feeling defiant, and replied, "No one mentioned needing additional seats, and this is the New Year's dinner for our family! What does it mean to suddenly invite an outsider?"
• I intentionally emphasized the words "our family."
• The New Year's dinner is meant to be a time for families to gather together. What significance does it hold for Taylor, an outsider, to intrude?
• "How dare you talk back now?" Alice appeared incensed by my words, her face darkening.
• I moved my lips but chose to remain silent. It was too difficult to reason with her.
• Surrounded by so many people indulging in the dishes I had prepared and the dessert I had crafted, not a single person was willing to stand up for me.