Eleanor stood frozen, caught in a swirl of conflicting emotions. On one hand, she was relieved and even a bit excited to see Robert here. But on the other, there was an undeniable unease—he should not have been involved in the affairs of the Hampton family.
As her thoughts raced, Robert was already standing directly in front of her.
"You..." Eleanor opened her mouth, but the words didn’t come easily. She wasn't sure what to say, her mind too tangled.
Under the soft lighting, Robert’s strikingly handsome features seemed to glow. His dark, expressive eyebrows gave him an air of sophistication, and his lips, slightly parted with the corners raised in a playful smirk, only added to his charm.
"I'm late," Robert’s voice rumbled, smooth and deep, neither too loud nor too soft. It was perfectly pitched—enough for Eleanor to hear clearly, but also loud enough for the people around them to catch every word.
"I'm late..." The phrase was not only meant for Eleanor but for everyone present.