Chapter 291
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Chapter 291:
“Thank you,” Justin said, his voice low and very soft. “You are a much better parent than I am p>
Carmen looked away, staring hard at the floor, fighting the tears burning at the backs of her eyes.
Justin didn’t push her to speak. He simply reached out and took her hand, his large, warm fingers folding around hers. His thumb moved slowly across her knuckles, brushing away a small smudge of dust.
“Come on,” he murmured, drawing her gently toward the door. “Our VIP seats are waiting p>
Fiո𝘥 n𝘰𝘷е𝗹 𝖯DFѕ 𝘰ո ѕ.com
The school auditorium was vast, with high vaulted ceilings and heavy red velvet curtains concealing the stage. The house lights were already dimming.
The front row of VIP seats was packed with New York’s elite — hedge fund managers, real estate tycoons, and politicians settling in beside one another.
Jocelyn and Gaston were already seated near the center. Gaston looked enormous and deeply uncomfortable in the small velvet theater chair, his long legs cramped against the row ahead. Between his expensive leather shoes sat a massive black plastic garbage bag.
Justin walked down the aisle with his hand wrapped firmly around Carmen’s. Carmen was attempting to subtly pull free, but his grip held like iron.
Jocelyn spotted them immediately. Her eyes dropped to their joined hands. She leaned toward Gaston and nudged his ribs with her elbow, shooting him a highly amused, conspiratorial look.
Gaston’s lip curled. “My brother is a hypocritical predator wearing a suit,” he said quietly.
As Justin and Carmen approached the row, Jocelyn quickly slid over one seat, opening two adjacent spaces beside her so the pair could sit together.
Gaston noticed. A wicked, vengeful light sparked in his eyes.
Just as Justin moved to step into the row, Gaston shot his long right leg out, blocking the narrow walkway entirely. He pointed to the single empty seat on his far left.
“Justin, sit over there next to me,” Gaston announced, his voice carrying easily over the quiet chatter of the surrounding parents. “Let Ms. Golden sit next to Jocelyn. The ladies need to catch up p>
It was a blatant, petty act of revenge for the neon sign.
Carmen looked as though she had been thrown a life preserver. She ripped her hand from Justin’s grip, squeezed past Gaston’s outstretched leg, and practically dove into the seat beside Jocelyn.
Justin’s face darkened. The look he aimed at Gaston through his gold-rimmed glasses could have cut glass.
Gaston smiled back — a brilliant, entirely unapologetic smile of pure provocation.
The heavy red curtains parted. The play began.
Ten minutes in, Aaden marched onto the stage in his silver armor and red velvet cape, the small gold rose at the seam catching the stage lights. He planted himself center stage and puffed out his chest.
Justin immediately leaned over the armrest and drove his elbow hard into Gaston’s ribs.
“Hold the sign,” Justin hissed.
Gaston’s jaw locked. He looked like a man walking to his own execution. Slowly, grimly, he reached into the black garbage bag and pulled out the massive foam board.