The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 275

Lexi fumbled for words, acutely embarrassed by her previous hysterical cry for help that echoed in the room. That was a real face-palm moment!

Meanwhile, Callum had been choosing wine in his cellar when he stumbled upon a long-cherished bottle of red wine. He instantly thought of Lexi, believing the sweet, fruity wine would be to her liking. So he brought the bottle up to share.

Callum uncorked the bottle with an elegant twist, letting its rich, sweet aroma fill the room.

"Sweetheart, this is a special wine from my private collection, perfect for ladies. I thought I'd bring it up to share with you," he said, pouring the ruby liquid into a delicate wine glass, twirling it gently to aerate the wine before handing it over to Lexi.

Lexi shook her head. "I... I don't drink."

Truth be told, Lexi could hold her liquor - given it was sweet enough. But she didn't want to drink anything from Callum.

Why? Because the last time she drank, she ended up... under him.

Seeing Lexi's evasive gaze, Callum knew what she was thinking. He reassured her, "Darling, this wine won't get you drunk. And I promise, there's nothing poisonous in it."

Hearing his words, Lexi felt a surge of defiance. She wasn't going to let him think less of her. She grabbed the glass, threw her head back, and downed the wine. To her surprise, the wine was indeed delicious – rich and sweet with a tantalizing fruitiness. Very refreshing!

"Mmm, this is really good wine!" Lexi couldn't help but praise.

Callum nodded approvingly and refilled her glass. "I told you it's good. But remember, fine wine is to be savored, not gulped down."

He lifted his glass, guiding Lexi's eyes to his fingers. "Appreciating wine is a three-step process. Observing the color, smelling the aroma, and tasting it gently. A visually appealing wine isn't necessarily good, but a truly good wine always has a captivating color."

Lexi nodded. She was vaguely aware of these things, but never really bothered to delve into them.

Callum continued to swirl his wine. "Two-thirds of a wine's value lies in its aroma. If the wine's aroma hasn't fully developed, gently swirl the glass to let it interact with the air, releasing its richness."

"Yeah, yeah," Lexi raised her glass. "I know all that."

Seeing her dismissive gesture, Callum chuckled and pointed to her fingers holding the glass. "When holding a wine glass, your fingers shouldn't touch the bowl. It not only maintains the aesthetics but also prevents your hand's warmth from affecting the wine."

Only then did Lexi realize she was holding the glass by its bowl. She shrugged. "So what? This is how I always hold a glass. What's the big deal?"

Callum saw through her nonchalance and laughed. "Appreciating wine is an elegant pastime, not downing shots. Sometimes, seemingly insignificant details can reveal a person's class."

"So you're saying I lack class?" Lexi puffed up her cheeks in indignation. "I insist on holding my glass this way. Refill my glass!"

Callum shook his head in amusement. "I've never heard of anyone demanding a refill of wine like that. You really are something else!"