Chapter 3 The Missing Wife

• At six-thirty in the evening, Jennifer stood beside the windows of an executive suite in Jadeux Hotel. She pulled open the curtains, looking down on the bustling Orchid Ballroom.
• The place was brimming with well-wishers, and she saw Montgomery standing in the middle of it all, dressed in a tuxedo and carrying his trusty cane.
• “Old Mr. White, Mr. Mitchell is here,” one of his subordinates whispered into Montgomery's ear.
• “Oh? Where is he? Ask him to enter with Jennifer!” came Montgomery's reply.
• The subordinate added hesitantly, “Ahem, Mr. Mitchell is here, but he brought someone else with him.”
• At that moment, a Bentley pulled up to the hotel driveway with little fanfare.
• A passenger door opened to reveal Mitchell, looking dapper in a well-cut suit.
• Meanwhile, a seductive woman exited from the other passenger door, her heels click-clacking on the floor. She immediately stuck to Mitchell's side as they entered the hotel under the guidance of an usher.
• They instantly became the center of attention the minute they set foot in the Orchid Ballroom.
• After witnessing all this from the safety of her suite, including the sullen expression on Montgomery's face, Jennifer closed the curtains.
• Back in the ballroom, Montgomery sputtered angrily at his grandson, “What is the meaning of this? Where's Jennifer? You're going to be the death of me!”
• Mitchell frowned at the mention of his wife. “I married her according to your wishes, but that doesn't mean you can decide my companions for every occasion.”
• He wondered if Jennifer had somehow placed his grandfather under some spell.
• The thought of her sticky, sugar-stained fingers grabbing his suit sent shudders through Mitchell's body.
• “Y-You!” Montgomery rapped his cane on the floor several times to vent his anger. “Jennifer is the only woman I'll acknowledge as my granddaughter-in-law, so yes, I would take issue with any of your other female companions.”
• He purposely raised his volume as a warning to Juliet.
• The woman was no fool, and she caught on to the tension between Mitchell and his grandfather. In a bid to clear the air, she hastily handed over the present she had prepared for Montgomery's birthday. “Happy birthday, Mr. White.”
• Montgomery said curtly, “Who said you are welcomed?” Taken aback at his words, Juliet remained silent for a good few minutes.
• I know Mitchell is unhappy about this, but he only needs to spend more time with Jennifer, and I'm sure he'll fall in love with her.
• At that thought, Montgomery turned to James and ordered, “Bring Jennifer here. Let's officially introduce her to our guests.”
• “Yes, Old Mr. White. Right away.” James left immediately.
• Juliet's grasp tightened on her gift as she saw red. Her gaze happened to sweep across Mitchell's profile then, and she noticed that he looked cold.
• “Mitchell, your grandpa seems unhappy about my presence. W-Why don't I take my leave first?” she asked timidly.
• She had posed the question as more of a conversation starter than an actual intention to leave the celebration. To her surprise, Mitchell remained silent, and his expression hardened.
• Seeing that, Juliet remained frozen to the spot, unsure of what to say next.
• Sometime later, James rushed into the ballroom anxiously and informed Montgomery, “Mrs. White is missing!”