Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore! - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Cole knew that Braden's third party was Linda. I smiled faintly, "Thank you, if I need help, I'll seek your assistance."
As soon as I finished speaking, I felt a burning gaze from not far away. Following the feeling, I looked over to see Braden watching our direction. His eyes had originally carried a smile, but that smile instantly faded when he met my gaze. His wine glass stopped at his lips, not moving for several seconds.
"Let's all play a game together!" Charles suddenly spoke up with a laughing suggestion, "I'll tentatively call the game 'Time Cellar'—it's actually not complicated, just a wine tasting game."
The banquet hall filled with agreeable voices, everyone expressing interest and willingness to participate. I stood in the corner, not wanting to join the excitement, treating it as watching a performance. Perhaps once they had their fill of fun, the gathering could end early.
Servers covered three bottles of wine with black cloth, only pouring out three glasses on a tray. The game rules were simple: the taster drinks a sip and states the key flavor note.
Braden was pushed forward first. He unhurriedly picked up the wine glass, swirled it, took a light sip, and said calmly, "Blackcurrant."
"Correct, next person." Charles announced.
Then came Linda. She moved elegantly, gently swirling the glass before her red lips parted slightly: "Could it be oak barrel flavor?"
"Miss Carter, how did you guess wrong this time?" Charles unveiled the wine bottle cloth with a teasing laugh.
Linda put on a pleading expression, "Then Mr. Anderson must punish me lightly."
"Then you're punished to drink this glass!" Charles said, pushing the tray toward her.
I saw Linda furrow her brow, covering her lips with her hand and coughing softly. That troubled yet pitiful appearance—her acting was truly impressive.
"I'll drink it for her." A flat voice sounded.
My gaze paused as I saw Braden reach for the wine glass in front of her and drain it in one gulp. My fingertips tightened slightly, a cold laugh rising in my heart—Linda really knew how to make him feel sorry for her.
Under the lights, Linda's fair face showed a soft blush as she said softly, "Thank you."
The scene shifted to Cole's turn. He picked up the wine glass, took a light sip, and said gently, "I'll guess—it should be graphite flavor."
"You can guess correctly even blindly, impressive."
Next, Charles's gaze swept through the crowd and suddenly paused, as if just remembering I was there too, giving an awkward smile. The wealthy lady who was friendly with Linda laughed and said, "This young lady, please!"
"She doesn't need to participate." Braden's voice suddenly rang out, indifferent and unquestionable.
But the wealthy lady laughed, "Mr. Kingsley, it would be more fun to let your wife participate."
Instantly, everyone's gaze converged on me. I felt no timidity, just smiled slightly, "Then I'll also take a guess. If I'm wrong, please don't laugh."
I reached for the wine glass, my slender fingers grasping the crystal-clear stem, gently swirling it and bringing it close to smell the aroma. In that moment, I sensed a faint tension spreading through the air, especially from Linda—she had a smile at the corner of her mouth, but her eyes held a trace of expectation and mockery.
She was wondering whether Braden would also drink for me if I guessed wrong.
I wasn't rushed or flustered. I gently sipped, quietly experiencing the flavor blooming in my mouth, then said slowly, "Forgive me, I'll blindly guess this is blackcurrant flavored wine. I don't know if that's correct."
Charles laughed heartily and unveiled the wine bottle's black cloth, "Mrs. Kingsley truly has a way with wine tasting, you're correct."
I heard Linda give a light hum, her eyes full of impatience. She had probably forgotten that Braden's house had quite a wine collection, and my accompanying him to taste wine, read wine reviews, and pair wines with meals wasn't done in vain.
The next moment, Linda's smile returned, "Mrs. Kingsley is truly impressive. Since you understand wine tasting, I believe you must also have accomplishments in the arts. There's a piano over there—I wonder if Mrs. Kingsley would be interested in playing a piece?"
Her voice carried obvious probing and teasing, as if deliberately creating difficulties for me.
"Linda." Braden's tone was flat, seemingly reproachful.
Linda bit her red lips lightly, her smile carrying some willfulness, "Then forget it, pretend I didn't mention it."
The air momentarily froze. Everyone looked at each other, and Charles and Gavin exchanged glances, about to speak to smooth things over when I smiled.
I gently set down my wine glass, my voice gentle but unrefusable: "Then I'll make a fool of myself."