Chapter 34: Dancing with Him
Vivian Lowell chatted with the VIPs for a while. After they spotted some acquaintances and went over to say hello, Vivian casually picked up a glass of sweet wine.
Eleanor Rhodes liked this kind of drink.
The alcohol content wasn’t high. It drank like a fruit wine, carrying the sweet fragrance of fruit. It tasted wonderful.
However.
When Vivian Lowell turned to go back with the wine glass, she found that Eleanor Rhodes had disappeared.
The spot where she had been sitting alone, eating a small cake, was now empty. Only the empty cake plate and a small spoon remained.
’Where’s Tanya?’
Vivian Lowell scanned the area and finally spotted Eleanor Rhodes by the edge of the dance floor.
She was sitting with Henry Sterling at the edge of the dance floor, watching Wendy Wynn dance with someone.
Wendy Wynn was a beautiful dancer. She moved with effortless grace through the Western ballroom steps, looking like a sprite in the center of the dance floor. It was as if the floor itself was made just for her.
"Tanya."
Vivian Lowell quickly walked over and handed the fruit wine to Eleanor Rhodes.
Eleanor Rhodes glanced back at Vivian Lowell before turning to ask Henry Sterling, "Professor Sterling, would you like to dance? I was just..."
Before she could finish, Henry Sterling had already nodded. He turned to Eleanor Rhodes and asked politely, "Would you be my dance partner?"
As far as Eleanor was concerned, something like this was a first. A kind gesture from Henry Sterling was a rarity that had never been directed at her before.
She froze for a moment.
A few seconds later, Eleanor Rhodes nodded happily.
Eleanor Rhodes and Henry Sterling made their way to the dance floor.
Vivian Lowell sat quietly, watching the dancers on the floor.
Come to think of it, Henry Sterling came from a good background. The Sterling Family was a low-key but prominent family in Aethelburg, involved in research and pharmaceuticals. Henry had been exceptional since he was young and was now poised to take over the family business.
He and Eleanor Rhodes, who also came from a noble background, were a suitable match.
’It’s just Wendy Wynn today...’
Vivian Lowell glanced again at Wendy Wynn and the man she was dancing with.
The man wasn’t tall, about the same height as Wendy, and had a rather plain appearance. He seemed to have entered with her earlier.
He looked more like Wendy Wynn’s bodyguard or assistant.
’Why are they dancing together?’
Vivian Lowell found it strange.
’Could it be that Wendy Wynn found out Henry would be here tonight and deliberately brought an ordinary-looking man to dance with, all to get Henry’s attention?’
Whatever her goal, the result was clear: Henry Sterling did not look happy.
And then there was Eleanor.
She might not have thought that far ahead, or perhaps she had and simply didn’t care. She was willingly playing the fool, happily accompanying Henry.
Watching them, Vivian Lowell shook her head and sighed softly.
Just then.
Someone approached from behind without her noticing.
He sat down beside Vivian Lowell in silence, picked up the fruit wine next to her, and moved it to a different table.
It was as if he didn’t want Vivian to drink.
’Huh?’
When Vivian Lowell reached for her fruit wine and found the spot beside her empty, she turned in confusion and was so startled by the person who had suddenly appeared that she nearly fell out of her chair.
’Julian Faulkner?’
’What is he doing here?’
"You..."
"Care to dance?"
Before Vivian could ask her question, Julian Faulkner, as if reading her mind, politely extended his hand, seemingly inviting her to the dance floor.
"..."
Vivian’s first instinct was to refuse.
But somehow, her body reacted before her mind could, and she found her hand already reaching for his.
The moment her hand was out, Vivian wanted to snatch it back, but it was too late. Julian Faulkner’s fingertips were already touching hers.
There was that same jolt of electricity again.
A tingling sensation spread through her, and Vivian’s mind went blank. She could only follow Julian Faulkner’s lead as he guided her onto the dance floor.
The music continued.
Under Julian Faulkner’s guidance, Vivian danced like a sprite across the floor.
What surprised Vivian was...
...that despite his stern appearance, Julian Faulkner was incredibly light on his feet. He was an excellent dancer, so much so that she nearly lost the rhythm several times and almost stepped on his toes.
"Sorry."
Vivian knew she wasn’t quite on her game.
’But she’d never been this close to Julian Faulkner before!’
’With his handsome, glacial face—like a rare flower on an untouchable peak—swaying right in front of her, it was hard to get her bearings!’
"Don’t talk. Focus."
Julian Faulkner’s response was simple.
However, those three words left endless room for imagination.
The tips of Vivian’s ears flushed red. She felt like a marionette on strings, pulled along by Julian, with no idea how to resist.
Her gaze drifted from his face, down to his gently bobbing Adam’s apple.
And further still, to his perfect, handsome collarbones.
"..."
The music... ended.
The dancers began to leave the floor. Feeling as though she’d been granted a pardon, Vivian hurriedly let go of Julian Faulkner and fled back to her seat.
She flagged down a waiter for a glass of water and drank more than half of it in one go. The coolness gradually washed over her, and she finally began to calm down.
Julian Faulkner slowly walked over as well.
For some reason, he once again seemed to be shrouded in a powerful, "stay away" aura, as if he were displeased.
??
’Why does this arrogant guy seem unhappy again?’
Vivian couldn’t quite figure it out, but she didn’t let it show. Just as she was puzzling over it, Henry Sterling and Eleanor Rhodes returned.
Eleanor was beaming, though she looked a little shy.
However.
When she turned her head, she saw Henry Sterling staring at Wendy Wynn from a distance, his expression a complex, unreadable mix of emotions.
In that instant.
Eleanor felt a sharp pang, as if she’d been stabbed. Her heart twisted. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Professor Sterling... do you... want to go over and say hello?"
Henry Sterling didn’t nod, but he didn’t refuse either.
He seemed undecided.
But just as Henry was about to turn back toward Vivian with Eleanor, Wendy Wynn was already walking toward them.
"Henry, long time no see."
Wendy Wynn’s voice was sweet, yet laced with a mature sort of charm.
The moment she spoke, Eleanor felt her own body go numb. She turned stiffly to look at Wendy Wynn.
Wendy Wynn’s gaze, however, never left Henry Sterling.
Henry looked up at Wendy. After a long moment, he finally said, "Long time no see. When... did you get back?"
"Yesterday."
Wendy Wynn smiled softly and stepped in front of Henry. Her eyes were filled with a boundless tenderness as she said, "Henry. I heard there was a banquet here tonight and that you would be coming."
"So, I came too."