MTLNOVEL Chapter 646: It was damn intentional.
Selene could only sit at the table and grit her teeth.
She had wanted to sit close to Aiden; to relish the proximity she had seen Arwen enjoying for days. But now …
Aiden sat in the farthest end from her —beside Arwen —as if that seat had always been his.
Why?
Why could things never work in her favour? Wasn't she only asking one thing? One man?
Why couldn't the universe give her the man she had always desired?
Her fingers curled into tight fists when she saw Aiden dismissing the maid beside Arwen and serving his wife himself. His touch, his gaze, the way he leaned just a little closer as he placed food on her plate …
That was her place … her damn place.
"Ms. Martin, do you need anything else?" the maid near her asked hesitantly, carefully placing a bowl on Selene's side.
Selene's glare snapped toward her, fury twitching in her jaw.
Just as she was about to speak, Carla moved beside her and subtly intervened.
"No need," the nanny said calmly. "You may step back. If Young Miss needs anything, I will serve her."
The maid bowed slightly and retreated without a word.
Carla leaned closer to Selene and murmured, "Ms. Selene, you can't lose your calm here. Please … hold yourself back."
Selene clenched her teeth. She tried —but the more she watched Aiden and Arwen together, the more the rage bubbled beneath her skin.
"Carla, I can't take this for long," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I just can't."
Carla rubbed her back gently in a soothing gesture. "You won't have to, Ms. Selene. But for now, stay calm. "You must not let your composure falter —not in front of that woman. Losing control only makes others look down on you … when they should be looking up to you."
Yes.
They should be looking up to her.
She was supposed to be their future mistress. She can't let them look down at her.
Selene drew a long, deep breath, trying to calm the storm within. When her chest finally loosened, she opened her eyes and gave Carla a slow nod, silently approving the advice.
But just then, something else caught her attention.
A hushed chatter.
At first, she thought of ignoring it.
But as the soft voice floated towards her from not so far, a corner of the room, her ears sharpened. A small group of maids who were stationed to serve them stood there, whispering. Not too far, but also not too close.
"I find it hilarious," one maid whispered with a chuckle that was barely audible. "Did she really think she could just waltz in and take Sir away from Madam?"
"Maybe in her dreams," another snorted. "Sir only has eyes for Madam. He doesn't even glance at her."
"She plotted so much just to sit beside him," a third muttered. "But all Madam had to do was just to change her seat, and Sir didn't hesitate. He followed without a second thought."
"I panicked for a moment when Madam gave up her seat," someone added. "But then I saw it. It was just her move to teach a lesson. Sir ended up in the farthest chair from Ms. Martin. Honestly, too far to even call it sitting at the same dinner table."
Selene's jaws tightened. Every word struck like a blade. Her vision blurred for a moment, red with embarrassment and fury. She wanted them to look up to her, but they were all mocking her.
All because of Arwen.
Her gaze turned to once again glare at Arwen, who looked enjoying Aiden's pampering to the best.
Did she deliberately do it?
Of course, she did. It was damn … intentional.
How did she not see this before?
She thought she had given up on the chair too easily. But no, she only did it to take Aiden further away from her.
How dare she?
Carla, sensing the shift in her breathing, placed a hand gently over hers. "Ms. Selene," she whispered, almost begging.
Selene sucked in a breath. Her heart acted, her bride screamed. But she forced her lips into a tight smile as she picked up her spoon, pretending to eat. She no longer looked at Aiden or Arwen.
She feared that if she did, she might lose it and might not be able to hold back the way she should.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the table, Aiden was about to scoop more food for Arwen. However, she simply dropped her spoon and made a gesture to stop him. "I am not having more," she said, and at that, Aiden frowned.
"But you have barely eaten anything," he said, clearly noting that she hadn't even touched her favourite broccoli yet.
Arwen weaved her fingers together before raising them on the table on the support of her elbows. Then, turning to him, she pressed a smile, too sweet to feel genuine. "Oh, so you do realise it?"
Aiden was about to nod and say, 'Of course, he did.'
But before he could, she reminded him about something else that she seemed to have forgotten.
"Then how did you forget that I am still upset with you? Don't push your luck, Mr. Winslow. I haven't calmed down. I am still upset."
"Even if you are upset, what does that have to do with the food. Have your food and stay upset with me, I don't mind." He said, once again, picking up to scoop her favourite veggies.
But Arwen placed her hand, stopping him. "You don't, but I do." Then, letting go of his hand, she reconfirmed. "I am full and I am not having more."
He frowned, but didn't force. "Are you sure?"
She gave him a look, squinting her eyes a little, pulling her lips in a forced smile. "Of course, I am."
He nodded to her before pushing away his plate as well. "Then, even I am done."
Arwen would have scolded him for that, but then held back, knowing that he would blame her in turn. Nodding, she approved. "Good. With dinner done, we could return to rest for the day. I am already tired."
Aiden gazed at her for a long more and even her yes didn't falter. They matched each other so perfectly that it was hard not to envy them.
Their silent spar only broke when Aiden's phone rang.
"Mr. Winslow, your phone is ringing, won't you take it?" Arwen raised a brow.