Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 745

Chapter 745 Dinner With Jaron

Chapter 745 Dinner With Jaron

Harold led her into the private dining room of the main building.

“Mr. Cross,” a group of guests greeted him warmly as they stood.

A few others scattered around the room remained seated, offering only brief nods.

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Before anyone could inquire further, Darren rose to his feet. “Ms. Bowman,” he said, addressing Claudia directly.

Claudia had known Darren would be attending this dinner–originally, she was supposed to accompany him, but she hadn’t planned on coming at all. She certainly hadn’t expected Harold to be the one to bring

her here.

His gesture took her by surprise. She returned Darren’s greeting with a slight nod.

Harold noted the deference in Darren’s tone toward Claudia.

Around the room, murmurs began to ripple through the gathering.

No one had ever seen Harold with a woman before. She wasn’t a familiar face in their circles either. And now, even Darren was showing her clear respect.

Claudia showed no sign of unease. She carried herself with a quiet composure, as though such settings were nothing new to her.

One of the guests leaned toward Darren and asked quietly who she was.

Darren responded with nothing more than a faint, unreadable smile.

Harold paid no mind to the whispers. He pulled out a chair and gently guided Claudia to sit.

Everyone watched how attentively he attended to her, and the room fell into a careful silence.

Claudia wasn’t sure what he was trying to accomplish, but she played along, following his lead without objection.

A well–dressed, middle–aged woman nearby leaned forward slightly, trying to get a better look at the unfamiliar guest.

“Mr. Cross, aren’t you going to introduce her? This is the first time any of us has seen you with a companion. Whose family is she from? Should we be expecting wedding invitations soon?”

Harold’s expression remained neutral. “Mine,” he replied, his tone leaving no room for further inquiry.

Claudia offered the woman a polite, measured smile and another nod.

The woman returned the gesture cordially. Sensing Harold’s unwillingness to elaborate, she dropped her playful tone and didn’t press further.

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Chapter 745 Dinner With Jaron

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Darren stayed quiet for the most part, listening while occasionally exchanging a few words with those beside him.

Dinner was served shortly after. Not long after the first course arrived, an older gentleman entered the room. His eyes immediately found Claudia, lingered for a brief moment, and then moved on:

“Glad everyone could make it,” he said.

The guests rose once more to acknowledge him. As Claudia stood, she noticed her wine glass had been discreetly refilled–this time with orange juice.

The older man smiled warmly. “I invited you all here tonight to express my gratitude for your continued support. I hope you’ll also join me in a few days for the grand opening–your presence would mean a great deal.”

“You’re too kind. It’s an honor to be invited by you. Who wouldn’t want to witness the launch of your project?”

“For you to extend the invitation personally–it feels like a golden ticket.”

Praise flowed freely around the table. Harold and Darren remained quiet throughout.

“Thank you,” Jaron Levin said, raising his glass before finishing it in one smooth drink.

The rest of the table followed suit.

Then Jaron invited everyone to be seated and enjoy the meal.

Throughout dinner, Harold would occasionally serve Claudia, placing selections on her plate only after asking, “Do you want this?” If she declined, he would simply take it for himself.

His only words to her all evening were variations of, “This one. Want it or not?”

By the end of the meal, Claudia found herself completely full, largely thanks to his persistent offerings.

Afterward, guests mingled in the courtyard outside.

Harold stepped away to take a phone call. From where she sat, Claudia could faintly make out a child’s voice on the other end of the line, excitedly shouting, “Dad! I’m back!”

Her heart gave a sudden, unexpected leap.

Does Harold have a child?

The thought arrived uninvited and immediate.

No wonder someone as handsome and wealthy as him had agreed to marry her so readily–he must already have a family of his own.

She swallowed quietly. Was she going to be a stepmother now?

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Chapter 745 Dinner With Jaron

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When she glanced toward him, Harold was already looking back at her, phone still to his ear. His gaze held hers steadily.

He tilted his head slightly, as if to ask, “Everything alright?”

Claudia gestured vaguely toward the hall. “Bathroom,” she mouthed, shaping the words with her hands.

She had no idea if he understood–the gesture was impulsive, and she instantly felt self–conscious.

But Harold simply nodded and signed back, “Be careful.”

Once again, he had caught her off guard. Harold kept turning out to be more layered than she had assumed.

She rose slowly and made her way toward the restroom.

“Claudia.” Jaron met her just as she stepped out into the hallway–not really headed to the bathroom, but more in search of a moment alone.

She slowed her pace and approached him. “Mr. Levin.”

Jaron was the founder of Willow Studio, a calligraphy studio set to open on September first. Both he and Claudia had studied under Marion.

With Marion gone, Jaron had become a torchbearer of his legacy.

He had invited Claudia to join his institute more than once, but she had always hesitated. She preferred to stay out of the public eye, and at her age, she worried others might not take her seriously in such a respected field.

Jaron had already built a considerable reputation. Eventually, comparisons between them would be

inevitable.

Years ago, Claudia had studied calligraphy for over a decade, pushed into it by her grandfather Graham–a mix of encouragement and expectation.

She had met Jaron several years earlier. That year, Graham had taken her to stay at a monastic retreat up in the mountains, where they lived simply, ate vegetarian meals, and practiced calligraphy under Marion’s guidance.

Jaron and Graham had been classmates. Jaron had brought his nephew Nolan along, and together they had all made that journey up the mountain.

Marion had long stopped accepting formal students. Claudia had originally gone merely as an observer, but her natural aptitude quickly drew his attention. In the end, he took both her and Nolan on as pupils at the same time.

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