The day after the recital, Aaron had an important business function he couldn't miss—he only attended such events when absolutely necessary, as he disliked them intensely—and he begged Keeley to accompany him. She detested these functions even more than he did, as they evoked bad memories; however, she didn't want to leave him to suffer alone. He had attended her work Christmas party despite the gawking, so she felt obligated to reciprocate. She spent a week agonizing over her outfit. Despite her aversion, she shopped in the expensive district for a dress, shoes, and jewelry specifically for the event.
Aaron assured her it wasn't necessary; she could wear whatever she wanted. However, she envisioned being mocked by his associates' wives, experiencing a war flashback to her past life. Despite the time elapsed, Keeley still knew how to navigate such events. No one would intimidate her this time.
His jaw dropped when he saw her descend the stairs in her designer dress. "You look like…"
"I know," she replied flatly.
She resembled the wannabe socialite, Mrs. Hale, who never quite fit in. She wasn't that person anymore, but she needed to project that image tonight.
Aaron sighed and shook his head. "Go back upstairs and change into something comfortable. No one will dare say anything to you; I won't let you leave my side all night."
"Do I look that bad?"
"No, you look stunning. But I want you to look like you."
Her heart fluttered at his words. He always seemed to know what to say since their reconciliation. Keeley decided to tease him.
"Are you saying I don't normally look stunning?"
"Don't twist my words. You know I think you're the most gorgeous woman ever. Now go; we're going to be late," he urged, gently shooing her back upstairs.
Keeley returned in a simple, three-quarter sleeve, ice-blue cocktail dress. She removed the pearl necklace—she had always disliked pearls, as they reminded her of difficult times—but kept the diamond earrings she'd purchased for the occasion. She also changed into more comfortable nude pumps.
"That's my girl," Aaron said sweetly, kissing her cheek. "Come on, let's go downstairs."
This business function celebrated Hale Investments' 100th anniversary—a significant event. All employees were invited.
Consequently, their friends needed babysitters. However, the Hale and Singleton children insisted on a sleepover that very night (their parents had promised weeks earlier, forgetting the party date), so they hired someone to watch them at Cameron's apartment.
Keeley offered to use their home, as it was larger; but the children preferred Cameron's because of his dog. Aaron had conceded on kittens, but refused a dog, claiming they were too much work. He argued they already had four children and didn't need another furry one.
The party was held in a Plaza Hotel banquet room, as Hale Investments' building lacked sufficient space. Aaron, as CEO, was in high demand, but he kept the "vultures" away from Keeley.
Their arms remained linked until Keeley spotted Alice. She politely excused herself to chat with her friend. Jennica was also occupied, being the vice president's wife; Keeley hadn't seen anyone else she knew.
She hugged her friend warmly. "How are you? It feels like ages."
"It has been a couple of months. I've been busy with the kids and French tutoring. What about you? How was the recital? I saw your pictures," Alice replied.
"Violet did amazing, as expected. She loves to sing. I'm glad I could watch her solo; the little ones were chaotic. We should have just gotten a babysitter."
They chatted pleasantly about their children until Aaron's speech. Keeley knew the routine: stand beside him, smile, and look pretty.
The first time she'd done this, shortly after their marriage, she felt like a Miss America contestant, smiling and waving under everyone's gaze. That feeling lingered throughout her years as his "arm candy."
Despite not understanding the business jargon, she paid attention to Aaron's speech. She grasped the essence: Hale Investments was thriving, thanks to its employees' hard work.
It was difficult to stifle her laughter, knowing the speech's insincerity. Aaron told people what they wanted to hear, even if he didn't believe it. He'd recently complained about "slackers" after speaking with HR.
Following the speech, applause allowed them to step slightly out of the spotlight. She thought she was managing well until she spotted her in-laws.
Alistair, though still a shareholder, surprisingly appeared. He rarely attended meetings anymore!
Roslyn's presence was even more astonishing. She surveyed the room haughtily, arm in arm with her husband, seemingly oblivious to her well-known infidelity. She possessed remarkable resilience to appear publicly with him, given their history.
Ten years had passed since the news broke, but people still gossiped about it whenever "Hale" was mentioned. Old gossip, especially about high-profile individuals, had a remarkably long reach.