Chapter 235: A Rival From The Past

The ballroom entrance was already buzzing with guests when Kristoff arrived.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though the entire entrance slowed around him.

He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal-gray tuxedo that fit his broad shoulders and tall frame flawlessly.

The sharp cut of the suit emphasized his powerful presence without making him look as though he had tried too hard.

He didn’t need to.

His dark hair was neatly styled, his handsome features striking beneath the warm glow of the chandeliers. There was something effortlessly commanding about him—the quiet confidence of a man who was accustomed to being noticed without ever needing to ask for attention.

And tonight, he certainly was.

Heads turned.

Conversations faltered.

A few women couldn’t resist stealing another glance as he passed, while several influential guests greeted him with knowing smiles.

Kristoff acknowledged them with little more than a nod.

His attention was elsewhere.

He wasn’t looking for business partners.

He wasn’t looking for familiar faces.

He was looking for one woman.

Isobel.

And until she arrived, nothing else in the glittering ballroom seemed to matter.

And when Isobel finally appeared, he knew the wait had been worth it.

She stepped into the ballroom wearing a breathtaking blue evening gown.

The fitted bodice was heavily adorned with delicate beads that shimmered beneath the crystal lights, accentuating her slender figure without making the dress look excessive.

The skirt flowed gracefully to the floor with every step, creating an elegant sweep behind her.

A single blue teardrop earring dangled from her ear, catching the light whenever she moved.

For a moment, Kristoff simply stared.

He had seen Isobel countless times before, but tonight, she seemed almost like a different woman.

Beautiful was an understatement.

There was a refined elegance in the way she carried herself—the graceful posture, the measured steps, the quiet confidence in her eyes.

It was the kind of poise that didn’t come naturally. It was something cultivated through years of training, discipline, and knowing exactly how to conduct oneself in a room filled with influential people.

But Isobel grew up in the orphanage. How could she have such elegance?

Yet somehow, Isobel wore it so effortlessly that it looked completely natural.

The moment she stepped into the ballroom, she simply belonged there—as though she was born to stand beneath those dazzling chandeliers, surrounded by people who were waiting to be impressed.

She didn’t need to demand attention.

Kristoff’s lips curved into a faint smile as he walked toward her.

"You look beautiful."

Isobel’s cheeks warmed slightly.

"Thank you. And you look very handsome yourself."

He offered his arm.

"Shall we?"

She slipped her hand through his arm like it was the most natural thing to do. Together, they stepped onto the red carpet.

And the effect was immediate. Conversations died one after another. The clinking of glasses stopped.

Even the people posing for photographs turned their heads.

One by one, every gaze in the ballroom shifted toward them.

Kristoff and Isobel walked side by side beneath the dazzling chandeliers, looking so perfectly matched that they seemed to have stepped out of a magazine cover.

Whispers soon followed.

"Who is that woman?"

"That’s Isobel Lancey."

"She’s with Kristoff?"

"They look incredible together."

Across the ballroom, however, Mary Dalton’s expression darkened.

She had been watching them from the moment they entered.

Unlike everyone else, she wasn’t impressed.

She was displeased. Very displeased.

Mary had never approved of Kristoff getting too close to Isobel. In her eyes, Isobel was not the kind of woman who should become involved with her son.

And seeing them enter the ballroom together, drawing everyone’s attention as though they were the most important couple in the room, only strengthened her resolve.

Her fingers tightened around the stem of her wineglass.

"<anno data-annotation-id="12374522-9540-567e-0a7d-af828809b9ce" data-title="Selene.">Selene.¹</anno>"

The woman standing beside her immediately turned.

"Yes, Mrs. Dalton?"

Mary’s gaze remained fixed on Kristoff and Isobel.

"You’ve known Isobel for a long time, haven’t you?"

Selene’s expression changed subtly.

"Yes. We grew up in the orphanage.

"Then you should know her better than most."

Mary finally looked at her.

"I don’t want Kristoff getting any closer to her."

Selene was silent for a moment. Then a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I understand."

Mary stepped closer and lowered her voice.

"Good. Then do something about it."

Selene’s eyes flickered toward the couple across the ballroom.

She had known Isobel long before tonight.

They had once shared their childhood.

Both girls had grown up without knowing who their parents were, both wondering what kind of lives they might have had if someone had chosen them.

But their paths had eventually taken very different turns.

Selene had later discovered the truth about her birth.

She was the illegitimate daughter of the city mayor.

Overnight, the orphanage girl had become someone with a powerful family name and connections that could open almost any door.

And now, standing beneath the glittering lights of the Dalton charity gala, Selene watched Isobel receive Kristoff’s undivided attention.

Something dark flickered in her eyes.

Perhaps fate had brought them together again for a reason.

And this time, Selene had no intention of letting Isobel walk away with everything.

...

The moment Kristoff and Isobel stopped at the end of the red carpet, they became the center of attention.

But before they could get far, a familiar voice suddenly called out.

"Isobel?"

Isobel stopped.

She turned around and saw a beautifully dressed woman approaching them with a bright smile.

At first, Isobel didn’t recognize her.

Then her eyes widened.

Selene laughed softly and opened her arms.

"It’s really you!"

Before Isobel could react, Selene pulled her into a warm embrace.

"I can’t believe it. It’s been so many years!"

Isobel returned the hug politely, though a strange feeling had already settled in her chest.

"Yes. It has been a long time."

Selene pulled back and looked her over from head to toe.

"Look at you."

Her smile grew wider.

"You’re so beautiful now. I almost didn’t recognize you."

Isobel smiled faintly.

"You look wonderful too."

"Of course, you do too." Selene glanced at Kristoff and then back at Isobel.

"And you’re here with Kristoff?"

There was a hint of surprise in her voice.

Isobel nodded.

"We met at the doorway."

Selene’s eyes flickered between them before she smiled knowingly.

"I see."

She covered her lips with her fingers as though trying to hide her amusement.

"I never imagined the little girl I used to share a room with at the orphanage would one day arrive at a Dalton charity gala with a man like Kristoff."

The words sounded harmless. Almost nostalgic.

But ...

<annotations style="display: none;">Remember Selene? She is the one who wanted Richard’s birthday gift for Isobel.</annotations>