Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 706

If memory served, the only real conversation they’d ever had was at that last cocktail party, when she’d declared herself the stain on Dennis Williams’ record.

The disgust in her voice that night hadn’t been disguised in the slightest.

And now, she was chatting amiably as if nothing had ever happened—her tone warm, her demeanor relaxed.

She was even acting like the hostess of the evening, the way the others deferred to her.

Camila Davis found it almost funny, but she kept her composure and replied politely, “I will, thank you. You should help yourself, too, Ms. Lee.”

Larry Adams watched Cynthia Lee’s performance from the side, letting out a derisive snort.

He couldn’t help but glance at Sarah Brown, puzzled as to why she’d insisted on letting Cynthia stay.

Didn’t she realize this was killing everyone’s appetite?

Sarah caught his look and flashed him a sly, knowing grin, then flicked her gaze meaningfully toward Camila Davis and Dennis Williams.

Well, if someone was determined to stick around and make herself miserable, why not let her? Let her stew in it a bit more—maybe she’d think twice before looking down on one of Sarah’s closest friends again.

Larry was slow to catch on—until Lillian piped up in her sweet, childish voice, “Daddy, I want that one!”

Dennis Williams looked over to see his little girl pointing at a plate of crab.

The restaurant had sent a server to help with the shellfish, but Dennis didn’t like being waited on while he ate, so he’d sent the staff away.

Now, hearing his daughter, his eyes softened. “Of course, sweetheart. Daddy will do it for you.”

Cynthia Lee involuntarily glanced his way, as if she couldn’t believe those words had come from him.

But Dennis didn’t spare her so much as a glance. Calmly, he pulled on a pair of gloves, picked up the crab crackers, and set to work.

There was an elegance to his movements—even doing something as ordinary as shelling crab, he managed to make it look like a refined art.

Camila watched, a little surprised. Who knew he could do that?

Sarah Brown grinned, equally amused. “Is there anything Mr. Williams can’t do?”

Larry Adams laughed. “Well, that’s thanks to Ms. Williams over here. Back when Audrey was little, she’d always pester Dennis, and with Lillian now—well, he’s picked up all sorts of useful and not-so-useful skills.”

Audrey huffed, “Not useful? It’s very useful! If it weren’t for me, do you think Jordan would be so handy around the house?”

Dennis shot her a cool look from across the table.

Audrey immediately wilted, then quickly corrected herself. “I mean, if it weren’t for me, my brother wouldn’t be so domestic and caring!”

They wouldn’t be seeing this softer side of Dennis if it weren’t for her, after all.

Larry fought back a laugh and agreed, “You’re absolutely right.”

Camila couldn’t help but smile at their banter.

What stung most was Dennis Williams. He was always so untouchable, always above it all—and yet here he was, personally shelling crab for another woman and a child.

If it were her, she could accept it. But for Camila Davis and that brat?

How could he?

How could he show such obvious favoritism to those two?

But Cynthia had no grounds to say anything. If she spoke up, she’d only earn Dennis’s displeasure.

So she forced herself to swallow it, letting jealousy claw at her insides.

And the crab was just the beginning.

When Camila and Lillian began to eat, Cynthia watched as Dennis carefully picked the bones from Camila’s fish, ladled her soup, and wiped Lillian’s mouth with a gentleness Cynthia had never seen before.

He cared for them without the slightest self-consciousness, attentive and kind—just as Audrey had said, suddenly so at home, so warm.

It was everything Cynthia had ever wished he’d be for her.

And now, he really had changed—no longer the distant, cold-hearted man of her memories.

But all that tenderness belonged to someone else, leaving her to look on, aching with longing she could never hope to satisfy.