Chapter 295: He Wants Only Isobel

Carlos, however, had every reason to attend the celebration.

As the district representative overseeing the area where Wonderland was located, he received an invitation to Alexander’s first birthday party. He arrived with Denise and her younger sister, Dani, the three of them still dressed in the same outfits they had worn earlier that day.

They entered the ballroom shortly after the Foster family, drawing a few curious glances from the guests.

The moment Carlos crossed the threshold, his gaze swept across the magnificent hall.

The dazzling decorations, the life-sized spaceship on the stage, and the enormous illuminated Earth backdrop created a spectacle worthy of a grand celebration. Guests in elegant attire mingled beneath the star-studded ceiling, their laughter blending with the soft music playing in the background.

It was an impressive affair, one that reflected the wealth and influence of the families in attendance.

Yet Carlos barely spared the decorations a second glance.

His attention was fixed on the faces in the crowd.

He scanned the ballroom, his gaze moving from one group of guests to another, searching for someone he had secretly hoped to see.

But no matter how carefully he looked, that familiar figure was nowhere to be found.

The faint anticipation in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a trace of disappointment he couldn’t quite conceal.

She’s not here?

Carlos’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Alena was absent.

For a moment, he stood motionless amid the lively crowd, his expression betraying none of the thoughts churning inside him.

He had no reason to expect her to attend. After all, Alena had no connection to the Dalton family, and she wasn’t a member of the Fosters either.

Her absence was perfectly understandable. So why was he disappointed?

Carlos adjusted his cufflinks and forced himself to look away, dismissing the unreasonable feeling.

He was here on official business, not to look for a woman.

At least, that was what he told himself.

But even as Denise began speaking to him, a part of his attention remained fixed on the ballroom entrance. As though he were still hoping that, at any moment, Alena might walk through those doors.

Beside him, Kai seemed entirely oblivious to his father’s thoughts.

The little boy’s eyes widened at the sight of the enormous spaceship onstage. He stared at it in open fascination, his excitement growing with every step he took toward the display.

For a child, it was the kind of sight that made the impossible seem real.

Perhaps, in Kai’s imagination, he was already an astronaut preparing to blast off into the stars.

Meanwhile, the birthday boy and his father had become the center of attention.

Kristoff looked striking in a pristine white suit, its clean lines lending him an air of effortless elegance. Beside him, Isobel wore a sunny-colored midi dress that brightened her complexion and gave her a fresh, radiant appearance.

In her arms, little Alexander was dressed in an adorable astronaut costume.

The miniature spacesuit, complete with its adorable details, made Alexander look like a tiny astronaut ready to embark on his first mission beyond Earth.

The sight elicited affectionate smiles from the guests, but not everyone’s attention was focused on the birthday boy.

Several curious gazes drifted toward Isobel, who stood beside Kristoff with Alexander in her arms. Whispers soon rippled through the crowd.

"So the rumors about Isobel and Kristoff Dalton are true after all?"

"Who would have thought? I always believed Kristoff was devoted to Charlotte. He used to treat her like she was the only woman in the world."

"Exactly! What happened to that engagement? How did Isobel manage to take Charlotte’s place?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. They’re right over there!"

"But look at them. Kristoff is standing beside her, and she’s even holding his son. If they aren’t together, then what are they?"

The whispers spread from one group of guests to another, accompanied by curious glances and barely concealed speculation.

Kristoff Dalton had once been known for his unwavering devotion to Charlotte Harris. Few had expected him to abandon that relationship, much less become associated with Isobel who was an orphan.

Naturally, the guests couldn’t resist trying to piece together the story behind their relationship.

Isobel, however, gave no indication that the whispers reached her ears. She continued tending to Alexander, her attention fixed entirely on the little boy rather than on the curious faces watching her.

Whether she was genuinely oblivious or simply chose not to dignify the gossip with a response, no one could tell.

But one thing was certain: her presence beside Kristoff Dalton had given the guests plenty to talk about.

...

While the guests were busy speculating about her relationship with Kristoff, the birthday celebration had another spectacle in store.

And this time, the attention shifted from the young couple to the proud grandparents.

Henry and Mary Dalton had dressed to the nines for their beloved grandson’s special day.

Mary, in particular, had spared no expense in choosing her outfit. She wore a spectacular couture gown blending deep cosmic blue with shimmering gold and milky white accents. The intricate embellishments resembled distant stars scattered across a midnight sky, while the layered patterns evoked the swirling beauty of nebulae and spiral galaxies.

Every movement sent a subtle shimmer across the fabric, making her appear as though she had wrapped herself in the splendor of the cosmos.

Henry wore a matching suit, its elegant details complementing his wife’s elaborate ensemble.

Together, the couple looked every bit the proud grandparents of a little spaceling.

In fact, one might have mistaken them for the guests of honor of gala rather than the grandparents attending a one-year-old’s birthday party.

Mary certainly seemed pleased with her appearance.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said of her mood.

Alexander had been unusually clingy that day.

From the moment he arrived, he had refused to leave Isobel’s arms. Whenever someone else tried to carry him, he would tighten his tiny fingers around her clothes and bury his face against her shoulder, as though afraid she might disappear if he let go.

Not even Kristoff was spared.

His own father could hold out his arms, coax him with a smile, and promise him all sorts of wonderful things, but Alexander would merely turn his face away and reach for Isobel again.

It was both amusing and baffling.

The little boy seemed to have decided that, since it was his birthday, he had every right to demand exactly what he wanted.

And what he wanted was Isobel.

Only Isobel.