The Rose He Showed Off Is Putting Down Roots in a Garden of Her Own novel Chapter 178

A sharp pang of discomfort hit Elara's chest, but she quickly rationalized it. It was completely normal for an exceptional man to be sought after by eligible women. As a cheating wife, she belonged perfectly hidden in the dark corners.

Whenever he needed her, she played along.

She was no different than Julian's mistresses—just a convenient distraction for a powerful man.

He was destined to marry a respectable woman from a good family.

So, during the times he didn't call, she was grateful she hadn't made a fool of herself by prying into his personal life and becoming a nuisance.

Elara assumed he and Nadia had taken the next step in their relationship, which explained his silence over the past few days.

She figured their last encounter in the penthouse was likely their final one.

For an illicit, unmentionable affair like theirs, the end usually came without fanfare—as if nothing had ever happened at all.

No mentions, no questions.

It was the most dignified way for adults to handle a messy situation.

Elara walked into her private dining room, the corners of her lips curved in a flawless smile that betrayed absolutely no bitterness.

The key to survival was self-awareness. If you never harbored false hopes, you would never be disappointed.

Outside, Zane escorted Nadia out of the restaurant and even played the perfect gentleman by opening her car door.

He desperately needed a new human shield.

The youngest Neville daughter was too immature, hopelessly infatuated with Gideon Grant, and even his own family thought she was too young. Plus, he had already crossed the line with Elara, so bringing a naive girl into the mix was a terrible idea.

But Nadia Neville was perfect.

Their family backgrounds were a flawless match, both sets of parents approved, and the Nevilles had deep roots in politics. Nadia's cousin, Nicholas Neville, was exceptionally young but already held a pivotal position as a department director. Even Jocelyn Yale had to watch her step around him.

Most importantly, Nadia couldn't stand the sight of him.

That made her the ultimate cannon fodder to keep his mother from arranging endless blind dates and to fend off Jocelyn's relentless attacks.

Sure, his performance tonight had been a disaster, but he hadn't done anything overtly scandalous. At worst, he came off as socially inept, which was fine since everyone already knew his IQ was off the charts.

What could Nadia possibly complain to her father about? That his taste in food was too heavy?

Feeling incredibly pleased with himself, Zane strolled back into the restaurant. He walked straight to the hostess stand. "Which room is President Vance in?"

The hostess checked the system and told him.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify