Reading Juicy Gossip in Her Mind: Chapter 189 - Alexander Is a Rebound

After Eleanor and Lily sat down, a tense atmosphere settled over their table. Everyone felt anxious, bracing for a confrontation. Patrons at nearby tables strained to eavesdrop.

However, Alexander and Isabella's reactions were unexpected. They behaved as if Eleanor's arrival was insignificant. Still, a sense of foreboding lingered—the calm before the storm.

Conversation at their table stalled, creating an oppressive silence. Some awaited the anticipated drama, hoping for more awkwardness. Others felt genuinely uncomfortable, unsure what to discuss. Should they continue talking about the wedding Alexander mentioned, or express concern for Eleanor's return? They sensed any topic would be unpleasant.

Just then, the dishes arrived, the servers' bustling activity momentarily breaking the tension. Once everyone was served, Roland seized the opportunity to lighten the mood. He engaged Aide and Ines in conversation about the exquisite food, subtly shifting the focus. Roland, somewhat fond of Isabella, wanted to avoid embarrassing her. Aiden and Ines, also friendly with Isabella, readily cooperated.

Deborah and Damien soon joined the conversation, recounting a story about Aiden. He had once upset Ines, so he prepared a meal featuring all her favorite dishes, even hiring eight chefs for guidance.

Aiden chuckled, "The best dowry a man can have is humility and culinary skills. When it comes to cherishing a wife, none of you can compete with me."

Alexander glanced at Aiden, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. Really? Is that how one shows love to their wife? He then looked at Isabella, who was lost in her own world, mechanically sipping soup and ignoring the crab legs in front of her. Clearly, she was engrossed in gossip, oblivious to her food.

Resigned, Alexander picked up a crab leg, surprising everyone. He had a mild seafood allergy and rarely ate it. Then, to everyone's astonishment, he put on gloves, expertly extracted the crab meat, and delicately placed it on Isabella's plate, even adding dipping sauce. His actions were unhurried and graceful, as if caring for her were second nature.

Eleanor, observing secretly, nearly wept. How could Alexander care for another woman, and right in front of me?

Lily, a shipper of Alexander and Eleanor, whispered to Eleanor, wide-eyed, "He surely did that on purpose for you to see!"

A glint flashed in Eleanor's eyes. Intentionally? Of course! Everyone knew Isabella had schemed her way into her marriage with Alexander. How could he genuinely care for her? Others were baffled; showing off wasn't Alexander's style. They were incredulous that he cherished his wife so dearly, though since their arrival, many unbelievable things had occurred.

Isabella, completely absorbed in the gossip, didn't notice Alexander's actions. She ate mechanically, her attention fixed on her mental eavesdropping.

Isabella's greatest curiosity about Eleanor was why she had broken up with Alexander. Eleanor always seemed to harbor unspoken feelings for him, leading others to suspect she faced difficulties.

Alexander, uninterested in the past, found Isabella's fascination with gossip unavoidable. He listened, despite his lack of interest, to learn the truth.

Isabella's inner thoughts then piqued Alexander's curiosity: "Huh? Did I see that wrong? Huh?"

Isabella's thoughts continued: "I initially thought this would be a heart-wrenching drama. I expected cancer, car accidents, amnesia—the usual clichés. It turns out her reason for leaving is almost identical to Audrey's: pursuing higher status. To think even a man of Alexander's caliber would be seen as a rebound!"

Alexander was stunned.

Isabella's inner monologue continued: "So, she failed to marry a foreign aristocrat. Despite years of trying, he didn't fancy her. Seeing Alexander's success, she couldn't bear it. After discussing it with her family, she returned to pursue him."

Alexander's expression subtly shifted. So that's what happened. It's common in my circles. He wasn't upset; others' opinions didn't concern him. In fact, he was enjoying the gossip. Isabella always assumed he and Eleanor would reconcile, despite his denials. She never believed him, imagining he wasn't being truthful. He hoped that learning Eleanor's true intentions would end her ridiculous fantasies.

Isabella's thoughts abruptly shifted into Alexander's mind: "How can she do that? Damn! This is outrageous!"

Her furious tone surprised Alexander, but he quickly recovered, smiling. I'm not even angry, yet Isabella is angry on my behalf?

Isabella's panicked thoughts continued: "If this continues, how are we going to divorce? I thought I could reunite them. I can't watch Alexander jump into troubled waters! But if he doesn't, my divorce will be postponed indefinitely! I've been stuck in this marriage, waiting for alimony to find a handsome young man with a six-pack! Eleanor, you idiot! Why can't you simply like him? You're making things difficult for me!"

Everyone casually chatted, observing Alexander's unusual attentiveness to his wife. Then, they saw him frown, put down the crab leg, and remove his gloves. He began eating his own food, seemingly sulking.

They assumed it was because of Eleanor. Moments before, someone had asked Eleanor about her years abroad. She vaguely replied, "I did well."

Seeing Alexander's reaction, Eleanor felt smug. I knew it! He cares about me! She then saw Isabella's disapproving gaze and couldn't contain her glee.

"You were in a sanatorium for a long time. How could you possibly be fine? We're all old friends, Eleanor. Don't hide the truth, or people will use the past to attack you!" Lily retorted.

"Lily, don't—" Eleanor tried to stop her.

But Lily continued, "Eleanor forbade me from revealing this for years. But I can't hold it in any longer. The reason she left was because she became seriously ill. Uncertain about her future, she didn't want to be a burden and secretly left for treatment."