A Love Forgotten Novel by Webfic

In a spacious and elegantly decorated private room, I was greeted by a few familiar faces. These people… 1 had seen them on TV!

My mind went numb again, but I remembered Logan’s instructions. Forcing a smile, I clung tightly to his arm. Everyone at the table turned to look at us, smiling warmly.

One of them teased, “Well, this is the first time I’ve seen Woody bring a date. Come over here, Woody! Let me get a look.” Mr. Maynard, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, looked sharp and polished.

Logan led me over, respectfully greeting him. “Mr. Maynard, this is my girlfriend, Ariana.”

The room instantly fell into a dead silence. Even the waiter pouring tea turned to look at him in shock. I froze, not knowing where to put my hands or feet.

Wait. Did he just make it public? Is this for real?

I had to be dreaming, or I must have misheard. My neck felt stiff as I slowly turned to look at Logan, but he stood tall and composed, his flawless side profile showing no emotion.

Mr. Maynard was the first to break the silence with a hearty laugh, “Well, now! What a surprise! Woody, I’ve always said you should settle down. And this young lady…”

For once, my foggy brain finally kicked into gear. I grasped Mr. Maynard’s hand and mimicked Logan’s manner of speaking.

“Mr. Maynard, it’s an honor to meet you! I’m Ariana, but you can just call me Ari.”

Mr. Maynard gave me an appraising look, clearly satisfied. “Good temperament, and quite the looker too. You and Woody make a fine match.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

I blushed and smiled modestly. Thanks to Mr. Maynard’s playful tone, the shock in the room quickly dissipated, and everyone became chatty again.

Logan introduced me to each person one by one. Most of them were older, calling Logan “Woody” with” affection, while their glances toward me were filled with kindness. I even recognized the chairman of the business association, whom I had met before.

He didn’t seem surprised to see us together and kept talking about attending our wedding soon. Logan handled everything with grace, and the atmosphere was warm and friendly.

I began to feel at ease. I wasn’t a stranger to these kinds of events thanks to my dad, who was a doting father and often brought me along to similar dinners when I was young.

So, after the initial awkwardness, I quickly found my footing. By the time the food was served, I had already mingled comfortably with the group.

Mr. Maynard was even more delighted when he learned that I had studied music since young. He eagerly had someone bring over a violin.

I played a short piece on the spot, and the room fell silent in awe before erupting into applause.

Mr. Maynard, clearly pleased, said, “No wonder Woody is taken with you! The violin is much harder to master than the cello. It looks like you’ve been practicing for years. You’ve really got some skill.”

1 responded modestly, “You’re too kind, Mr. Maynard. I haven’t played in a long time, so I’m a bit rusty.”

Mr. Maynard smiled knowingly and said, “I’ve known the Wood family for ages. I’m familiar with what the old man likes. Keep practicing–it’ll be to your advantage.”

With that, he turned back to his conversation with Logan. Sitting on the stool, I felt a mix of emotions. Did I just gain the approval of one of the elders? But still, my position here felt so awkward.

Just as the meal was about to begin, the door to the private room swung open again. I

I glanced up and froze.

Elijah?

For a moment, I thought I was seeing things and rubbed my eyes, but there he was, casually walking in with Jocelyn on his arm.

When his eyes landed on me, he immediately looked away, pretending not to notice. I was certain he saw me, so why was he acting like I didn’t exist?