Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Hearing this, Kristopher opened his eyes and peered in the direction Marc indicated. Below on the dance floor, amid a crowd of dancers in black and white, one figure in vibrant red captured his attention. A woman in a red dress was waltzing intimately with a man clad in black, her back to Kristopher. It was evident from their movements that she danced not only with grace but also with more skill than her partner, who she seemed to be subtly leading. Kristopher furrowed his brows and glanced at Marc. “Perhaps it’s time to get you a new pair of glasses.”’ The woman they observed displayed solid dancing skills, unlike Belinda, who had been mistakenly taken away as a baby and only returned to the Nelson family from the countryside at eighteen. Having missed out on many opportunities, Belinda had never learned to dance. Marc had to be mistaken. This couldn’t be Belinda. Just then, the woman in red turned around. Marc paused, then stubbornly gestured again towards her. “Mr. Cox, it looks like”¦ it really is your wife!”’ Kristopher shifted his gaze back to the dance floor with impatience. When he finally saw the woman’s face, he was stunned. It was indeed Belinda! Narrowing his eyes with anger, Kristopher studied her closely. Her lips were a bold red, her expression unmistakably clear and captivating. Her makeup was as bold as the red dress she adorned. Three years into their marriage, he was just now seeing this unexpected side of her. She was playful and vibrant beneath her usual poise and maturity. His eyes lingered on Belinda’s delicate fingers as they rested on another man’s shoulder. Here he was, expecting an apology, yet there she was, dancing with someone else right before his eyes! With that thought, he turned and made his way downstairs. “Kristopher!”’ Just then, a clear, female voice called out to him. Kristopher stopped and looked back. Cathy was approaching, a smile on her face, gracefully lifting her gown. “What a surprise to see you here!”’ Kristopher quirked an eyebrow. “What brings you here?”’ “I’m filming in Rozand. I heard about the jewelers and top-notch designers at the banquet tonight. I thought I’d scout for some jewelry to potentially endorse. Downstairs, I noticed everyone dancing, and I realized I hadn’t yet found the right dance partner.”’ As she spoke, Cathy extended her hand towards Kristopher. “Shall we go dance, Kristopher?”’ Kristopher glanced briefly at the woman in red on the dance floor, then agreed, “Sure, let’s go.”’ On the dance floor”¦ As the dance concluded, Belinda courteously said goodbye to her partner, who seemed hesitant to leave. Turning around, she collided with a man clad in a navy blue suit. “Belinda?”’ Before Belinda could utter an apology, she was taken aback by a familiar voice calling out in surprise. Looking up instinctively, she uttered, “Darren?”’ The man she faced was none other than Darren Wright, her senior from college. During their school days, Darren had been a steadfast supporter, and there had been a time when Belinda thought she might have feelings for him. They had come close to being more than just friends. However, her life took a turn when she met Kristopher, with whom she discovered the depth of true love. Consequently, she started distancing herself from Darren, and their communication dwindled over the years. Therefore, she was so surprised to see him here after all this time. “It’s me,”’ Darren said with a polite smile, extending his hand towards her. “Since we’ve bumped into each other on the dance floor, care to dance?”’ Belinda returned his smile and took his hand. “Absolutely.”’ Together, they stepped onto the dance floor. From the staircase, Kristopher descended with Cathy. His eyes caught the sight of Belinda and Darren dancing. “Is that Belinda?”’ Cathy inquired. She clung to his arm, blinked innocently at Kristopher, and asked, “Who’s that man with her? They seem close.”’…