As Sharon and Ethan made their way to their table, the atmosphere stirred again, this time, for someone entirely different.
Maria Lancaster, Ethan's mother, entered with silent grandeur, flanked by two bodyguards. She carried herself like royalty, her posture regal, her smile serene. Her eyes flicked briefly to Ethan, offering him a polite smile, but she didn't spare Sharon a single glance as she gracefully walked to her seat.
Sharon noticed, but her attention shifted when the last bodyguard entered.
Her eyes widened.
Without a word, she pulled her hand away from Ethan's and walked toward the man. Ethan's brows furrowed, following her silently.
"Hello," Sharon said softly. "We meet again."
The bodyguard, tall and expressionless, gave a slight nod but said nothing.
"I brought you something." She reached into her small purse and pulled out a small, neatly wrapped box. "Just a token of my appreciation. You saved me yesterday. If you hadn't shown up when you did…" Her voice trailed off.
Ethan stepped beside her, his tone sharp. "What are you doing?"
Sharon blinked. "He saved my life. I almost got assaulted. I'm thanking him."
Ethan's gaze snapped to the man, then back to Sharon. "And how did you know he'd be here?"
"I didn't," she said with a shrug. "I've been carrying this around in case I ran into him again."
"You don't need to give him anything," Ethan said flatly. "It was his job."
Sharon turned toward him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"This is Vector," Ethan said with a sigh. "He's your personal bodyguard. I hired him to watch over you. Discreetly."
Her eyes darted back to the man in surprise. "Wait… what?"
Vector gave a polite cough, avoiding her gaze.
Ethan crossed his arms. "Should I fire him?"
Sharon's eyes widened. "No, absolutely not."
"Good," Ethan said, eyeing the gift box. "But don't buy him gifts again."
"I…wasn't trying to…"
"I'll allow it this one time," he added, cutting her off and gently taking her hand again. "Now come."
As they returned to their table, whispers ignited again like sparks in dry grass.
"I still can't believe Sharon is married to Ethan Lancaster," Shirley muttered, arms folded.
"We need to put her in her place, permanently," Madina added, her smile bitter.
"Sis, we've tried. Every time we plan something, she escapes like she's coated in luck," Rose groaned.
Madina's eyes narrowed. "Don't worry. I'll think of something."
Before they could plot further, two women approached with smug grins.
"I thought you said your sister married a nobody?" Mimi Jones asked Madina.
"That's what I was told," Madina muttered.
"Well," Lali Edmond cut in, "next time, get your facts straight before running your mouth."
"Watch it," Shirley snapped.
"Or what?" Lali fired back.
"That's enough," Madina hissed, cutting the tension as the women walked away.
Shirley scoffed. "I don't even know why you keep those losers around."
Meanwhile, across the room, Irene approached Sharon with a bright smile. "Hey. I'm Irene."
Sharon offered a polite smile. "Sharon."
"I know," Irene said, grinning. "This is my husband, Ryan."
"Hi," Sharon greeted him.
"Welcome to the crew, mi'lady," Ryan said with a playful bow.
Sharon blinked, then chuckled nervously. "The crew?"
"Yes," Irene said. "We're Ethan's closest friends. So, by default, you're part of us now."
"I… I don't mind," Sharon replied, glancing toward Ethan, who was deep in conversation with some businessmen.
"Good," Irene said. "You'll be seeing a lot of us."
Before Sharon could reply, a group of five well-dressed women glided toward her table.
"Hello, Mrs. Lancaster," they greeted in unison.
Sharon turned to Irene, eyebrows raised.
Irene leaned in with a wink. "Remember when I said we could be friends?"
Sharon nodded.
"Let's pause that. I think you can handle this group on your own," she said, rising from her seat. "Let me know when you're done."
Ryan chuckled, following his wife. "Good luck."
Sharon watched them walk away, lips twitching into a resigned smile.
"So much for being friends," she muttered, turning to the women with a smile as fake as their designer pearls.
The rest of the party blurred into background noise.
By the end, Ethan found Sharon looking drained, trapped in a sea of pretentious compliments and backhanded remarks.
"Alright, ladies," he said, voice commanding. "That's enough for today."
The women giggled and dispersed like obedient schoolgirls. Irene and Ryan returned just in time.
"How'd it go?" Irene asked, raising a brow.
"Thanks for the warning," Sharon said with a smile. "Who are they, anyway?"
"Women who only care about status," Irene replied. "Now that you're Mrs. Lancaster, they'll cling to you like perfume."
"Fake perfume," Ryan added. "Don't trust them."
Ethan turned to the group. "Can we leave now?"
They nodded, but just as they began to walk, Madina stepped in front of them, blocking their path.
"Good evening, Mr. Lancaster," she said with a forced smile. "I believe we haven't been formally introduced. Forgive my sister for not telling you about the family."
Sharon stiffened beside him. What now? she thought.
"I do not like to be obstructed," Ethan said coolly.
Madina's smile faltered, but quickly returned.
"You're so funny," she said, brushing off the insult. "Anyway, I'm Madina Wilmort… your sister-in-law." She extended her hand for a handshake.
Ethan didn't move.
The moment hung, tense, uncomfortable.