Chapter 17
Elizabeth's POV
Aiden was more persistent than I'd anticipated. Right up until the day before the birthday celebration, he was still trying to coax and wheedle me into giving up on the jewelry I'd commissioned.
I kept putting him off, using the excuse that it hadn't arrived yet.
That evening, Aiden lingered in my room, refusing to leave.
"Elizabeth, I've already prepared our joint gift for Grandma. When is that piece of jewelry you ordered finally going to be delivered?"
"Tomorrow, I think," I answered vaguely.
He immediately closed the distance between us, his hands reaching out as if to draw me into an embrace. "When it arrives tomorrow, just don't show it to Grandma right away, okay? We can save it for another time."
Aiden seemed to operate under the delusion that I still enjoyed his physical affection, moving closer in a clear attempt to use his proximity to make me relent.
I frowned and pushed him away directly. "Aiden, you've repeated this so many times. I honestly don't understand what you're trying to do. Are you really that opposed to me giving Grandma a gift of my own?"
"Elizabeth!" He exclaimed, struggling to keep the impatience from his voice. "I just think it's more meaningful if we give one gift together. You giving something separately makes it look like there's a rift between us."
"It's just a simple, standard design," I said, my tone flat. "What's the problem?"
Aiden's lips pressed into a thin, hard line. "A standard design?"
"Of course," I said, affecting a tone of casual certainty. "The designer is famous, and he basically did it as a favor, almost at cost. How much effort do you really think he'd put into a piece that's barely making him any money?"
The tension visibly drained from his shoulders as his expression relaxed. "If that's the case, then go ahead and give it to her. Get some rest."
With that, he turned and left the room without a backward glance.
I stared at the empty space where he had stood, a silent, exasperated eye-roll my only response. It was almost unbelievable how quickly his mood had shifted.
He had pestered me for days, and the reason was now painfully obvious: he was simply afraid my gift would outshine Bianca's. The thought was utterly nauseating.
The next day, the birthday celebration was held at a sprawling estate rented specifically for the occasion.
I wore the gown Grandma had personally selected for me as I accompanied her in the car. It was a floor-length white dress, so ornate and magnificent that even I felt it was a bit over the top.
Grandma cupped my face in her hands, her eyes shining with an undisguised satisfaction. "Now, this is how it should be. My Elizabeth is so beautiful. A little bit of dressing up is all it takes to be breathtaking." Her voice was filled with pride. "Today, I want everyone to get a good look at my future granddaughter-in-law!"
A faint, self-conscious smile touched my lips.
At past events like this, I had always been the one in the most understated clothes, trailing behind Aiden, perpetually ready to look after him. He tended to overindulge, and I was always the one scurrying around, managing the fallout of his slight indiscretions.
But now, exquisitely dressed and standing by Grandma's side, with no need to worry about Aiden's state, the feeling was startlingly new.
The car drove directly onto the estate grounds, and I helped Grandma into the main house's private lounge.
"Alright, Elizabeth," she said, patting my hand. "There should be plenty of activities out front that the younger crowd will enjoy. You don't need to stay cooped up with me. Aiden should be here soon. Why don't you go and keep him company?"
"Of course," I replied before exiting the room. Gathering the hem of my gown, I made my way toward the front gardens.
The gardens served as the main event space, beautifully decorated with various entertainment areas. While Grandma would receive guests in the indoor ballroom—a space mostly for elders and business associates—the front was a vibrant social hub for the younger generation.
I had just finished coordinating with the delivery service for the jewelry when I ran straight into Cleo and Jessica.
Jessica's eyes immediately fell on my haute couture gown. A stark comparison to her own carefully chosen dress made her expression sour, her outfit suddenly appearing dull and insignificant beside mine.
"Where did you get that dress?" She snapped. "This is Grandma's birthday party! Who are you trying to upstage, dressed like that?"
I gave a delicate tug to my skirt and lifted my chin. "Grandma gave it to me. And she was the one who told me to wear it today. If you have a problem with it, you're welcome to take it up with her directly."
The words silenced Jessica instantly.
She could only grab her mother's arm and complain peevishly, "Mom! Grandma is playing favorites! How could she give something so nice to her?"
Cleo's gaze, when it met mine, was filled with a similar resentment. It was clear that on this particular issue, she and her daughter were in complete agreement.
"Elizabeth, I won't make a scene with you today, for the sake of the party," Cleo said, pulling Jessica back. For once, she was showing a rare restraint.
With so many distinguished guests in attendance, she was keenly aware of the importance of maintaining a respectable facade. Her composure was so uncharacteristic that it almost surprised me.
"But I can't stand the sight of her!" Jessica whined. "It's not just Aiden who's on her side now, even Grandma dotes on her! Mom, am I, her own sister and granddaughter, less important than an outsider?"
Cleo gave her a sharp tug, lowering her voice. "The guests here today are very influential. I might be able to find a suitable match for you."
Jessica's mood visibly brightened. She scanned the crowd, a flicker of anticipation in her eyes.
I watched them, a dull throb starting at my temples.
Jessica had always had impossibly high standards, turning her nose up at any man who wasn't from the absolute pinnacle of society. Coupled with Cleo's ambition to marry her into a top-tier family, her prospects had remained unrealized. Very few guests here would meet their lofty criteria.
Not wanting to waste any more time on them, I gathered my skirts to leave, but froze when I heard Jessica's excited whisper. "I heard someone from The Windsor Family is coming today. Some people are saying it might be the head of The Windsor Family."
The words "the head of The Windsor Family" stopped me in my tracks. I spun back around to face Jessica.
My sharp, intense gaze made her visibly uncomfortable. "What?" she challenged. "Why do you look so worked up at the mention of the head of The Windsor Family?"
I didn't answer, just held her stare. Pricked by my scrutiny, she shivered suddenly. "Don't tell me you're not satisfied with clinging to Aiden, and now you want to latch onto the head of The Windsor Family?"
Cleo immediately took the speculation as fact, her eyes flashing a warning. "Elizabeth! Don't you dare try to compete with Jessica! Do you really still think you're the great Miss Spencer of the past, that any man would fall at your feet?"
"Shut up," I snapped, disgusted by the filth of their assumptions. "Don't project your own sordid ambitions onto others."
Latching onto The Windsor Family? If I were to actually meet the man, I would have to carefully weigh the situation first. If he turned out to be a formidable and dangerous figure, I certainly wouldn't approach him rashly. All I wanted was a child with Windsor blood to secure my future, not the man himself. His personality was irrelevant to me; I had no interest in him personally.
Still, for Jessica to set her sights that high… I almost felt a pang of secondhand anxiety for her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jessica stomped her foot, her face a mask of indignation and insecurity. "I'm warning you, don't think you can seduce just anyone!"
I couldn't be bothered to engage with them any longer and strode away.
Absolute lunatics.
As the party began to fill up, I tried to find a less crowded corner, hoping to avoid drawing too much attention. Ever since I'd heard that someone from The Windsor Family might be present—and that it could be the head of the family—I couldn't stop myself from scanning the faces in the crowd. If he were truly here, my best course of action was to observe from a distance first.
"Elizabeth?"