Chapter 5 An Insult to Louisa

"Elijah Holten, the top socialite of Galaton, is getting married!" "Yeah! The wedding announcement dropped out of nowhere in the middle of the night. I was so excited that I barely slept! I'm dying to know who the woman is!" Louisa overheard her colleagues chattering excitedly in the pantry during her tea break. She knew Elijah. In fact, their paths had crossed several times, and each time, he had stepped in to help her. Once, Louisa had gotten a flat tire on the road, and Elijah, who happened to pass by, had helped her change it. Another time, she had been having a business dinner with a client who got drunk and tried to take advantage of her. Elijah had stepped in and taken her away, saving both the deal and her dignity. There had been a few other occasions after that, though she could no longer recall the details clearly. Thinking back, she realized she owed Elijah several favors. She ought to send him a congratulatory gift now that he was getting married, even if he might not remember her. "When is he getting married?" Louisa asked casually as she stepped in to make a cup of coffee. "Next week! It's the same day as Mr. Cromwell's!" Louisa's hand trembled, spilling some of the hot coffee and scalding herself. "You guys carry on," Louisa mumbled, turning to leave. From behind her, the conversation continued. "Why mention Mr. Cromwell when talking about Mr. Holten's wedding? Don't you know it'll upset Ms. Graham?" "Poor thing. She's been with Mr. Cromwell all these years, only to have someone else reap the rewards." "Oh, men can be so heartless. But Mr. Holten seems deeply devoted. He said the person he's marrying is someone he's secretly been in love with for ten years." That afternoon, Louisa received a call from Thaddeus. "I need you to go out with me later." "Alright." She didn't even ask where they were going. Asking wouldn't change the fact that she had to go, and besides, she had no desire to speak to him more than necessary. She saved and closed the handover checklist she was working on, gathered her things, and followed Thaddeus out. The car soon pulled up at the Watson residence. Danica came running over cheerfully, throwing herself into Thaddeus' arms and planting a kiss on his cheek. Thaddeus accepted it with utter naturalness, a slight smile on his lips as he took her hand. "Let's go." Danica settled into the car and looked at Louisa. "Ms. Graham, Teddy and I are going for our wedding gown fitting. You can pick out a bridesmaid dress while you're there." So that was why she was being dragged along today. Danica was making her witness their happiness in advance. Danica leaned against Thaddeus in the back seat. "Teddy, did you see the news about Elijah Holten getting married? "He's actually getting married on the same day as us! Do you think he did it on purpose? To steal our spotlight?" Both Elijah and Thaddeus were considered icons of success of their generation, but Elijah's family background ran deeper—they were not just wealthy, but influential. Thaddeus, on the other hand, was merely rich. "Don't read too much into it. You'll be the most dazzling bride that day," Thaddeus said, his tone gentle. Louisa looked at him through the rearview mirror. She almost couldn't recall when he had last treated her with such tenderness and indulgence. "It's great to have you, Teddy. I really regret the seven years we missed," Danica said, a hint of sorrow in her voice. But the very next instant, the melancholy was replaced by sunny cheer. "But I'm so lucky you've loved me all this time. Thank you, Teddy." Then, she leaned in to kiss Thaddeus again. Louisa looked away just in time. Even though she had already given up on him and severed her feelings, it still hurt to see them being so intimate. "Teddy, you must have had other women during those seven years, right?" Danica asked a highly sensitive question. Louisa's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers tightened around her phone. She lifted her gaze to the rearview mirror again, meeting Thaddeus' eyes. As if sensing it, he looked back. His eyes locked with hers in the mirror as he soothed Danica beside him. "No. Don't listen to the rumors out there." "Even if you did, it wouldn't matter. I know that men have physical needs to take care of, right?" Danica said with such magnanimity that it shook Louisa to the core. She knew Danica was deliberately humiliating her, especially since Danica's eyes were fixed on her through the mirror. "Let's not talk about this," Thaddeus said, trying to avoid the topic. "Why not? You can't have fallen in love with her, can you?" Danica pressed stubbornly. "No," Thaddeus denied. "Sex and love are two separate things to men." Louisa's heart twisted into a hard, painful knot. Thaddeus was admitting that he had only ever seen her as a tool to satisfy his physical needs. He could choose not to marry her. He could choose not to love her. But how could he insult her like this?