Chapter 53 Love Is a Nurturing
Force
Felix smiled and said, “Mr. Green, I think you might be disappointed. This lovely lady is my date tonight.”
Abigail linked her arm with Felix’s, confidently meeting Vincent’s gaze.
She added, “Exactly. Besides, Mr. Robinson and I are already in the process of getting a divorce. Soon enough, we won’t even be considered a couple. Since he brought his date, I won’t be crashing the party.”
Her words cut through the air, exposing the fragile nature of Anthony and Michelle’s relationship.
Whispers rippled through the crowd as they processed the news of the impending divorce, and Anthony’s face darkened to a deep shade of crimson.
“Oh? Well, it’s good to part on amicable terms. If that’s the case, I’ll let you young folks sort out your affairs. Enjoy yourselves!” Vincent remarked, his tone light.
Vincent was sharp; he understood the dynamics at play.
With Abigail eager to distance herself from Anthony, he felt no need to maintain the facade any longer.
Chapter 53 Love Is a Nurturing Force Under his guidance, the crowd began to disperse.
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Abigail and Felix walked to a quieter corner, arm in arm.
Meanwhile, Anthony stood frozen, trapped in an awkward limbo.
He felt like an uninvited guest who had stirred up trouble.
Leaving now would seem rude, but staying felt equally uncomfortable.
The tension lingered for a moment longer before Ryan and Morgan exchanged glances and approached Anthony.
“What’s the plan? Should we stick around or bail?”
Michelle clung to Anthony’s arm, her voice choked with emotion. “Anthony, maybe we should just go.”
Anthony’s expression was icy as he cast a glance toward Abigail and Felix, who were chatting and smiling with others.
It had been a long time since he’d seen Abigail look so radiant and carefree, and an uncomfortable twist of jealousy churned in his gut.
Gritting his teeth, he finally said, “We’ve come this far; we should at least stick around for a bit.”
Ryan and Morgan shared another look, weighing their options.
Chapter 53 Love Is a Nurturing Force
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“We don’t have any ties with Vincent, and there are still plenty of guests downstairs. How about we head down?”
“Yeah, Anthony. We can’t just leave everyone hanging.”
Understanding their intent to leave, Anthony shot them a glance.
He said, “Go if you want.”
Ryan and Morgan didn’t hesitate, quickly turning to exit.
Jason, eager to follow, was pulled back by Hannah.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked.
“They’re leaving, so why should we stick around? Mr. Green has only kept Anthony here, not us.”
Hannah held onto his arm firmly. “We can’t leave; what if Michelle gets bullied?”
Jason sighed, feeling cornered, and ultimately stayed put.
After the earlier scene, the four of them stood in silence, the crowd keeping their distance.
In their circle, many were involved in affairs, but few had aired their dirty laundry so publicly.
As the music began to play, signaling the start of the dance,
Chapter 53 Love Is a Nurturing Force couples made their way to the floor, twirling gracefully with their partners.
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Abigail settled onto a nearby sofa, needing a moment to breathe. Felix noticed and approached her.
“Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of inviting you to dance?”
Abigail chuckled, thinking he was joking. “Oh, come on, you can’t be serious.”
Felix extended his hand, unwavering in his invitation. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Seeing Felix invite Abigail to dance stirred something in Anthony, who felt like a child vying for attention.
He walked over with Michelle, positioning himself next to the sofa with a mocking grin.
Anthony sneered, saying, “She doesn’t even know how to dance.”
As Anthony moved closer, the warmth in Abigail’s smile faded, replaced by a hint of discomfort.
Felix rolled his eyes dramatically.
“Honestly, it’s no wonder Abigail is divorcing you. You clearly know her less than a casual acquaintance does.”
“Y–You!” Anthony stammered, struggling to keep his composure as frustration bubbled beneath the surface.
Chapter 53 Love Is a Nurturing Force
5/8
He managed a derisive sniff. “Abigail, not being able to dance isn’t embarrassing; putting on a front when you can’t is.”
Abigail shot him a cold look.
She wasn’t one to crave competition, but his words sparked something within her.
She placed her hand on Felix’s and rose gracefully to her feet, ready to join him on the dance floor.
Anthony’s embarrassment deepened as he watched her go.
As much as he didn’t want to see Abigail dance with someone else, he couldn’t help but mutter, “What’s with the show? You’ll regret it when you embarrass yourself!”
Michelle, standing by Anthony, pressed her lips together, subtly reveling in Abigail’s predicament.
She understood Anthony all too well; the harder he pushed, the more it indicated he hadn’t quite moved on from Abigail.
If she wanted to make sure Abigail was completely out of the picture, she’d need to step up her game.
Despite it being their first dance together, Abigail and Felix moved with unexpected grace and fluidity, quickly becoming the center of attention in the crowded room.
Dressed in a striking red gown, Abigail looked like a blooming
Chapter 53 Love Is a Nurturing Force
rose against the backdrop of the dance floor, her skin illuminated under the soft lights.
As they twirled, onlookers slowly stepped back, eager to watch the captivating duo.
The more the crowd cheered, the more Anthony’s expression
soured.
It had been ages since he’d seen Abigail radiate such happiness.
He hadn’t realized how incredibly well she could dance.
Jason, unable to help himself, found himself transfixed, watching Abigail dance with an almost childlike wonder.
Hannah, annoyed by his lack of attention, gave him a shove to snap him back to reality and stormed out in frustration, leaving Jason to scramble after her, trying to smooth things over.
The whispers among the spectators grew louder.
“Who knew she could dance so well? She and Mr. Rowe are practically made for each other!”
“Didn’t you know? She’s Abigail from the Taylor family. When the Taylors were at their peak, she was like a dazzling rose!”
“Ever since she got married, we haven’t seen her this bright and cheerful. She’s like a whole new person!”
“Love is a nurturing force, but some folks‘ love is like a toxic
Chapter 53 pesticide.”
The more they talked, the worse Anthony’s mood became.
Michelle seized the opportunity to dig at him.
“Wow, Abigail has really thrown it in your face, hasn’t she? Dancing g with someone right in front of everyone while your divorce is still in process?”
With each word from Michelle, Anthony felt a growing
resentment.
“If she can’t show me any respect, then why should I show the Taylor family any courtesy?”
He took Michelle’s hand and left the party behind, determination set on his face.
As the first dance ended, Abigail and Felix completed the spin with flawless poise, turning to acknowledge the applause from
the crowd.
Accompanied by the applause of the crowd, the two returned to their seats.
“You’ve got some impressive moves!” Felix grinned, unable to hide his delight.
Abigail felt a wave of relief wash over her. In the past, she had always believed that Anthony wasn’t very good at dancing, so she had deliberately hidden her own talents, always thinking of
Chapter 53 Love Is a Nurturing Force
him.
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But at that moment, as she embraced her own talent, she felt more alive than ever before.
As the gala wound down and the clock neared 10 PM, Abigail stepped outside and dialed Amy’s number.
A Second Chance After Divorce