The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 272

Misjudged.

Cassandra had expected… less.

That was the only way she could put it.

When Walter mentioned his son came from a small town, she had imagined something modest, plain, and forgettable.

However, the moment the front doors opened, Cassandra’s smile froze.

The man who stepped inside did not look like someone who needed help.

There was a natural confidence in the way Xavier carried himself. He was dressed in a champagne blazer over a pale blue shirt, every line of it tailored to perfection. Behind his glasses, his gaze was sharp and composed, his expression calm with a confidence that didn’t need to be announced.

And then her eyes dropped to his wrist.

Xavier wore a Rolex watch, and from what she could tell, it was an expensive model. ‘How?’

Her gaze flickered to his sleeves.

Xavier’s golden cufflinks caught the light.

Cassandra’s lips twitched. She wondered if they were fake.

Then she looked at the woman beside him.

At first glance, the dress seemed simple—a champagne silk midi, clean in design, nothing overly embellished. But the way it fit her, and the way it moved, made Cassandra somewhat envious.

That wasn’t ordinary.

The woman next to Xavier was wearing a designer dress.

Xavier’s girlfriend wore light makeup. Her skin looked healthy and bright, her lips softly tinted, her eyes bright and defined in a way that only enhanced her natural beauty.

She didn’t look like she was trying, and somehow, that made her even more striking.

For a moment, Cassandra forgot how to speak.

This was not the struggling son she had imagined.

And this was definitely not the woman she had expected him to bring.

“Xavier—wow, you look amazing, and so does your girlfriend,” Walter remarked. He tapped Xavier’s arm, adding, “You look like—like—I don’t know, I can’t quite put my finger on it. Like an important person?”

Cassandra, “...”

“Oh, please, Mom, that Rolex he’s wearing is a limited edition. Don’t you remember I asked about it? There are only ten in the world. Why would Xavier have something like that?” Cassandra’s son, Hudson, whispered to her ear. “It’s probably a replica.”

Cassandra nodded. She completely agreed.

However, looking at the woman beside Xavier, she could not deny that the dress was from a famous brand because she and Haley had tried to buy that same dress.

She bit her lip, then realized something. ‘They are probably just trying too hard.’

Cassandra laughed inwardly. ‘They probably bought that on a credit card. Twenty-four months to pay! Haha!’

‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, Xavier, and your girlfriend. You won’t fool us,’ she thought silently.

Introductions were made.

Everyone eventually knew each other's names.

***

During dinner, Cassandra and her children began asking about Xavier’s life. Cassandra asked, “Xavier, did you ever get to finish college?”

“Yes, I did,” Xavier answered in the most carefree way, not giving any further details.

“Really? It must have been hard for you,” Cassandra said. “You must have been working through several low-paying jobs just to get yourself through school.”

Alice raised a brow, whereas Xavier said clearly, “No, actually. I was an academic scholar. Mom did not struggle to put me in school."

“A scholar?" Haley made a face.

"I’m sorry, Xavier, that was my fault,” Walter said, looking guilty. “If only I had supported you long enough, you wouldn’t have had to go through a scholarship.”

“That must have been tough,” Cassandra said. “Relying on what is essentially charity just to finish your studies.”

“Don’t scholarships have some sort of conditions?” Hudson asked. "I can't imagine the pressure you had to deal with."

“Yeah. I’m so grateful Mom and Dad made sure we didn’t have to go through that,” Haley said, putting a hand on her chest like she was greatly relieved.

To Alice, there was nothing wrong with how Xavier finished his studies. In fact, his scholarship had been granted as a kind of refund from the school after he consistently made the Dean’s List. But to the Reeves family, it was something to be looked down on, as if a scholarship made him lesser.

Alice was about to defend Xavier when he shut them up.

“A scholarship isn’t charity,” Xavier said calmly. “It’s earned. And maintaining top grades was easy for me. You see, it depends on one's capability. I imagine that’s not something everyone can handle.”

Cassandra’s smile faltered the moment Xavier responded.

Alice wanted to laugh at the smart insult Xavier had thrown in. However, Cassandra quickly made a comeback. Her words were smug, self-assured, and completely misguided.

Cassandra remarked, “Well… I’m sure it was easy for you, Xavier. Smaller schools do tend to have lower standards.”