From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Paisley had been delayed waiting for Emery and the others, so by the time she took the elevator down to the grand ballroom on the hotel's first floor, the cocktail party was already in full swing. Inside, guests mingled and clinked glasses, their conversations lively and full of energy.
Since Paisley didn't know many people here, and Emery and Lucy were nowhere to be found, the only familiar face who might exchange a few words with her was Nathaniel, the host of the event.
Paisley planned to find him, share a drink, offer her congratulations, and leave as soon as possible.
But when Paisley spotted Nathaniel, he was standing with Dominick, Marissa, and a group of people who had been with them at the stables earlier. Other guests were also discreetly watching Nathaniel and Dominick, clearly interested in their interactions.
Feeling out of sorts, Paisley wanted to avoid any interaction with Dominick and his group in a setting like this. The last thing she wanted was to become the center of attention. So, she quietly moved to a corner, picked up a glass of wine, and took small sips.
The moment the wine's sharp yet slightly sweet taste reached her throat, she knit her brows gently, thinking, 'Hmm... This is good but not as good as the wine I make.'
Paisley had a deep appreciation for wine—both tasting and crafting it—but she never indulged excessively. For her, it was about savoring the experience, not losing control.
After marrying Dominick, she had stopped drinking altogether to ensure she could have a healthy pregnancy. Once Grayson was born, she sacrificed a lot for her family, including her love of wine tasting and winemaking.
After her divorce from Dominick, Paisley discovered she was pregnant with Serena shortly after, which delayed her return to her passion for wine even further.
It wasn't until last year, when Serena turned two, that Paisley finally picked up her winemaking hobby again. Even so, it had been nearly six months since Paisley's last drink.
Although the wine here was mediocre, it still managed to awaken Paisley's craving for a drink. She finished one small glass quickly and was about to grab a second when Nathaniel's voice suddenly rang out, startling her so much that her hand holding the glass trembled.
He shouted, "Oh, that's my mentor. Over here, Ms. Sutton."
The people in the ballroom had already been keeping an eye on Nathaniel and Dominick. So when Nathaniel suddenly called out, everyone turned their heads, curious about the kind of big shot worthy of being called "mentor" by Axion Enterprises' heir.
However, when they looked over, all they saw was the entrance to the hall, flanked by ushers and security personnel. No one else was there. Well, not quite—near the bar by the entrance stood a strikingly beautiful woman in a unique gown.
Everyone present couldn't help but show a look of astonishment upon seeing Paisley. There were plenty of women who looked stunning in unique gowns, but someone like her, whose elegance and outfit complemented each other so perfectly, creating such a breathtaking effect, was a rarity in real life.
However, the moment of admiration was brief—their curiosity about who Nathaniel's "mentor" was quickly took precedence.
Paisley felt a massive headache coming on. The whole reason she was standing here in the first place was to avoid drawing attention. With so many beautiful women around, she figured no one would pay her any attention.
But thanks to Nathaniel's shout, now everyone was staring at Paisley. And then there was Dominick, that jerk—his brows furrowed, glaring at her like she owed him money.
Seeing that she wasn't coming over or reacting and even looked rather displeased, Nathaniel clinked his glass against Dominick's and casually said, "You guys carry on. I'm going to have a chat with Ms. Sutton." With that, he strode toward Paisley, his signature muscular legs closing the distance effortlessly.
It was only then that the crowd realized Nathaniel's so-called "mentor" was none other than the stunning woman in the unique gown by the door. Instantly, the room buzzed with murmurs.
There were all kinds of questions like "Who is she? Why is Mr. Beaumont calling her 'mentor'? Is she the heiress of some powerful family? Does anyone know her? What's her relationship with Mr. Beaumont? What kind of 'mentor'? Is it some sort of pet name between lovers or something?"
The guests started discussing in hushed tones, most speculating about Paisley's identity and her connection to Nathaniel. Of course, not everyone was confused. Those who had been at the stables earlier, Nathaniel and Dominick's old schoolmates, already had some idea.
But even they couldn't hide their surprise. Sure, they knew Paisley was a world champion in equestrian sports, and they knew Nathaniel wanted to become her student. Still, seeing it play out like this caught them off guard.
One of them thought, 'So Nathaniel really is serious about becoming her student. It's not just talk. But...over horse riding? Isn't this a bit much?'
Nathaniel ignored the stares and whispers from the crowd, striding over to Paisley without a care. "Why are you only getting here now, Ms. Sutton? And why are you standing here all alone? Why didn't you come find me?"
She felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her. With so many people around and the fact that she was Nathaniel's guest, she figured she had to give the guy at least a little face.
Leaning in slightly, Paisley lowered her voice and warned him, "Let me say this one more time. I am not your mentor. I don't have the time to teach you horseback riding. You'd better find someone else."
She paused, glanced up to meet his gaze, and continued firmly, "And another thing—don't call me 'mentor' in public anymore. It's embarrassing."
Nathaniel, standing a towering six-foot-three, loomed over Paisley by more than a full head. As she leaned forward and tilted her head up, her gaze landed on his sharp jawline and the curve of his smiling lips.
"Come on, Ms. Sutton, don't be so cold-hearted," he said with a playful tone. "I'm serious about making you my mentor. If this didn't feel sincere enough, I'll find another way to host you next time."
For such a big guy, it was surprising how effortlessly Nathaniel could pull off acting playful, almost coy like it was second nature.
Seeing the increasingly curious and amused looks from those nearby, Paisley felt a headache coming on.
"I said no more calling me your mentor, and I won't be accepting your next invitation either," she said flatly. Inwardly, she groaned, 'Good grief, I thought this would just be a straightforward business event. Turns out it's just one big headache.'
Meanwhile, in the distance, Dominick stood with a glass of wine in hand, his fingers tightening until his knuckles turned faintly white. His expression was unreadable, but Marissa caught every subtle reaction. She hadn't missed the flash of amazement and infatuation in his eyes the moment he saw Paisley.
Marissa chuckled softly and casually remarked to Alexis, who was standing beside her, "Looks like Nathaniel's really into Ms. Sutton. He's ignoring all of us just to talk to her."
Assuming Marissa was still bitter about the horseback riding incident, Alexis eagerly played along. "Exactly. Here we all are, and yet we don't seem to matter as much as a horse-riding champion in Nathaniel's eyes."
Looking at Paisley, who was dressed in a unique yet understated gown, Alexis felt a twinge of irritation.
Alexis had spent a fortune on her gown for the evening, aiming to outshine everyone. It was bad enough that she couldn't overshadow Marissa—after all, Marissa was Dominick's date, and Alexis had to tread carefully.
Yet Paisley, dressed in what looked like an unimpressive, random gown from who-knows-where, easily stole the spotlight and captured everyone's attention.
Frustrated, Alexis couldn't help but say something harsh, "Honestly, she's just some horse rider. Every single one of us here is more accomplished and better connected than she'll ever be. One word from any of us, and she'd be done in Harrowfell."