Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 690

Every other lady had a maid by her side, ready to hand over scissors or help tidy up the flowers. Only Teresa’s seat was empty. Not a soul stood behind her.

Mrs. Nelson pretended to notice for the first time and let out a surprised little sound. “Teresa, you didn’t even bring a maid with you?”

The lady wearing the pink diamond ring immediately hid her smile behind her hand. “That just won’t do. At gatherings like this, how are you supposed to focus on arranging flowers without a maid to help?” She eyed Teresa from head to toe, her meaning clear.

“But I suppose this is your first time at a tea party like ours. It’s normal not to know all the rules.”

A chorus of laughter swept through the pavilion.

Teresa’s cheeks burned. She hadn’t brought a maid because she wanted to show respect for the occasion, not stand on ceremony or seem like she was showing off. She never expected that her effort to fit in would make her the butt of their jokes.

Mrs. Nelson, sensing the mood was just right, waved for one of the maids standing by. “Go on, help Teresa.”

“Yes, madam.”

Teresa stood up and gave Mrs. Nelson a polite nod. “Thank you, Mrs. Nelson.”

Mrs. Nelson looked a little surprised. She had expected Teresa to be embarrassed or at least flustered. Instead, Teresa was calm and collected. That was interesting.

Mrs. Nelson changed the subject, her voice soft but clear enough for everyone to hear. “Teresa, I heard you’re divorced now?”

Teresa paused, her hand still on the scissors she was taking from the maid, but she quickly went back to trimming her flowers, her expression unchanged. “Yes.”

“Divorced?” someone gasped, drawing out the word. “What happened?”

Someone else suddenly lit up, as if making a discovery. “Teresa… That name sounds familiar. Isn’t she the one who made the news last year? The wealthy wife who got played by her husband, almost lost everything?”

“Oh wow, that’s her?”

The lady in pink diamonds glanced at Teresa, curiosity plain on her face. “By the way, Mrs. Nelson, I’ve always wondered. How did you and Teresa meet?”

Everyone leaned in a little closer, eager to hear the answer.

“Well, that’s a bit of a story,” Mrs. Nelson replied, drawing it out. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Teresa’s hand pause for just a second.

She smiled. “Actually, I didn’t meet Teresa first. I met her daughter, Emmy.”

“Now there’s a young woman with real talent,” Mrs. Nelson told the group. “Has anyone here heard of Starlight Corporation?”

The ladies looked at each other and shook their heads.

There were so many companies in the Capital that it was impossible to keep track. If they hadn’t heard of the name, it probably didn’t matter much.