Chapter 54

Isabella averted her gaze when Dominic and his team signaled for her assistance with technical queries. Alexander Whitmore was instantly forgotten as she turned on her heel and strode toward them.

The moment she pivoted, Oliver Westbrook spotted her.

Victoria Kensington had just walked over to Reginald Kensington, leaving Alexander's side.

Oliver nudged Alexander sharply with his elbow, gesturing toward the unexpected sight. "Look who's here - your wife."

Alexander followed the motion and froze. There she was.

Isabella stood slightly apart from the group, tablet in hand, meticulously explaining complex exhibit concepts to Dominic Vega and his colleagues.

The discussion between Isabella and Dominic was so intense they remained oblivious to Alexander's piercing stare.

Oliver whistled low. "Who are those people with your wife? Is she really breaking down core tech concepts for them? Since when was Isabella this brilliant?"

Alexander's gaze remained locked on Isabella, his silence speaking volumes.

At that precise moment, as if sensing the weight of his stare, Isabella glanced up.

Their eyes connected across the crowded exhibition hall.

A heartbeat of hesitation.

The distance made it impossible to read Alexander's expression clearly, but she could swear she saw the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.

Was that smile meant for her? Wishful thinking, probably.

Confused, Isabella looked away.

Oliver caught it too. "What's got you grinning like that?"

Alexander chuckled darkly. "Nothing."

Oliver didn't press, but raised an eyebrow at Isabella's composed reaction upon noticing them - especially Alexander.

She might as well have been looking at a stranger.

Was this her playing hard to get? Or simply being discreet?

If the latter, then considering Alexander's refusal to acknowledge their marriage publicly, her behavior made perfect sense. She'd maintained this careful distance at both the gala and now the expo.

Not a single trace of their relationship left for prying eyes.

Oliver had to admit - when it came to discretion, Isabella was masterful.

Victoria chose that moment to reappear. "What are you two conspiring about?"

Oliver recovered first. "Nothing important." Then, smoothly changing subjects: "Finished your discussion?"

Before Victoria could respond, an approaching group interrupted. "Professor Sinclair, allow me to introduce the algorithmic prodigy I mentioned - Ms. Kensington."

Theodore Sinclair was the same expert Nathaniel Graves had introduced to Isabella at the gala.

That night when Victoria had confronted Nathaniel, Theodore had been present.

But with his unremarkable appearance and Victoria's singular focus on other matters, she'd paid him no attention.

Now, meeting again, recognition failed to spark.

Their tense exchange that evening had gone unnoticed by Theodore, engrossed as he'd been in conversation with Isabella. He'd never inquired about it afterward.

Seeing Victoria now, he made no mention of their previous encounter. Simply extended a hand. "Ms. Kensington."

"Professor." Victoria's reply was perfectly polite.

With the Kensington tech division desperately needing talent, Victoria couldn't afford to offend someone of Theodore's caliber. Even Reginald made a point to come greet him.

Soon Victoria and Theodore were deep in discussion.

Surrounded by cutting-edge exhibits, their conversation stretched on.

Reginald and Beatrice Kensington, however, understood technology about as well as they understood ancient Sumerian.