Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 689

She walked through a maze of winding corridors, passing by pavilions and graceful buildings. Beneath her feet, the stone path shone like glass, smooth from years of careful polishing. On either side, water trickled over artfully arranged rocks, and rare flowers in every color bloomed among lush greenery.

Everywhere she looked, there was a quiet, effortless luxury. It was more refined and breathtaking than any garden Teresa had ever seen. She felt a jolt of awe. This was what real old money looked like.

The butler finally stopped in front of a huge glass conservatory. The entire place was capped with a glass dome, and the moment Teresa stepped inside, the winter chill dropped away. The air was warm and sweet, filled with the scent of flowers and the freshness of new leaves. It felt like she’d walked straight into spring.

She wandered down a path lined with pebbles, each step surrounded by more blooming flowers. Somewhere ahead, she could hear laughter and voices, a lively group just out of sight. As she turned past a thick cluster of banana plants, Teresa stopped in her tracks.

Not far away, in a pavilion, five or six elegantly dressed women were gathered. Their hair and makeup were flawless, their dresses expensive and tastefully chosen. Light danced across their jade bracelets and diamond rings, casting little rainbows over the table. They radiated confidence and privilege, the kind that came from generations of wealth.

Teresa glanced at her own jewelry, pieces she’d picked out with care that morning. Next to these women, her accessories suddenly felt plain, even a bit dull.

As soon as she appeared, the chatter died out. Every woman turned to look at her, their gazes sharp and appraising.

One lady, her hand resting on an enormous pink diamond ring, was the first to speak. She barely spared Teresa a glance before turning to the woman seated at the head of the table, the one who carried herself with obvious authority. “Mrs. Nelson, who’s this?”

Mrs. Nelson looked up at Teresa, her eyes cool. She let her gaze slide over Teresa’s antique hairpin and jade bangle, items Teresa treasured the most. But here, they just didn’t measure up.

Still, Teresa’s poise and beauty were hard to ignore. Mrs. Nelson’s lips curled in a silent, private smile. No wonder her daughter could steal her son’s heart. Like mother, like daughter.

She turned away, her voice deliberately indifferent. “Teresa, find yourself a seat.”

No sooner had she finished than another woman piped up, her tone dripping with disapproval. “Look at that, showing up at this hour. Whose wife is she, thinking she’s so important?”

A spike of anxiety shot through Teresa. She glanced at the time. It was only two thirty. The invitation had clearly said three.

She wasn’t late.

Mrs. Nelson didn’t react to their glances. Her tone stayed cool and distant. “Now that you’re here, go ahead and take a seat. No need to let a little mix-up spoil our flower arranging party.”

“I’m quite looking forward to seeing what you can do, Teresa.”

In that moment, every woman at the table knew exactly what was happening. They moved in the same circles. They understood the game.

Mrs. Nelson was putting Teresa in her place.

But they couldn’t help wondering why. What was it about this ordinary-seeming woman that made Mrs. Nelson go to so much trouble?

Teresa kept her composure, her smile never slipping as she found an empty seat. But the instant she sat down, she realized something was off.