Chapter 13

As Blythe stepped into the reception hall, the air seemed to shift, all eyes turning towards her. Whispers of admiration followed in her wake, but she remained indifferent to the attention. With determination in her gaze, she began to search for Kai amidst the sea of people, but he seemed elusive in the bustling crowd.

"Damn it! Where is he?" she cursed under her breath.

Feeling a surge of irritation, she approached the bar counter and began indulging in tequila sunrise. Shot after shot, she tried to drown out her frustration, yet Kai remained elusive amidst the throng. Determined, she resumed her search, weaving through the crowd in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. After what felt like an eternity, her gaze finally landed on the young man, but her relief was short-lived as she noticed a woman wrapped around his arm, prompting a quizzical raise of his eyebrow.

"How dare that bitch?" Blythe muttered angrily. "Nobody dares to threaten what is rightfully mine! Or even ours!"

Blythe walked with determined strides, her visible discomfort contrasting with her poised demeanor and strong charisma, which effortlessly commanded the attention of those around her. With a swift yet graceful motion, she decisively untangled the woman from Kai's arm, catching them both off guard with her assertiveness.

"Who the hell are you?" the woman's voice rang out, her irritation evident. Blythe's gaze turned sharp as she scrutinized the woman before glancing back at Kai, whose expression had shifted.

"Kai, I’ve been searching for you, and here you are," Blythe declared, her tone carrying a hint of challenge as she intertwined her arm with his.

"Don't ignore me!" The woman's grip tightened on Blythe's shoulder. "Who the hell are—"

Before the woman could finish her sentence, Blythe swiftly freed herself from her grasp and locked eyes with Kai. Ignoring the woman's growing frustration, Blythe's attention remained solely on Kai. As Kai's gaze lingered on Blythe, his surprise was palpable, unable to tear his eyes away from her captivating presence. Blythe exuded an undeniable beauty that evening, drawing everyone's attention, but Kai quickly regained his composure, though not without a lingering sense of astonishment.

"Sorry—"

"No need, it’s fine. I’ve already found you," Blythe remarked with a hint of flirtation, her gaze returning to the woman who had previously clung to Kai. She couldn't help but notice the woman's simmering resentment, which seemed to fuel her own sense of triumph.

"Take a step back, slut! Get lost, he's mine!" Blythe implied with her gaze at the woman.

She meticulously assessed her from head to toe, her eyes lingering for a moment before she casually looked away. Even from her peripheral vision, she could sense the woman practically seething with anger, the fury barely concealed on her face, especially when Kai seemed oblivious to her presence. In a fit of frustration and humiliation, the woman stormed off in a dramatic exit. A satisfied grin spread across Blythe's face, as if she had triumphed in a hard-fought battle of wills.

"Bitch with a low score!" Blythe muttered triumphantly.

She returned her attention to Kai, who was now looking at her.

"What?" Blythe asked, puzzled.

"Nothing—"

Mr. Abayon intervened, cutting off any attempt by Kai to speak. "You don't need to explain yourself to an old geezer like me about why I shouldn't pry into your private life," he insisted.

Kai was on the verge of protesting, but Mr. Abayon didn't give him a chance to speak. "You should enjoy the rest of the night, Chef Kai. I genuinely appreciate the effort you put into preparing the food for my daughter's special day. You have truly exceeded my expectations!" Mr. Abayon exclaimed with evident delight.

Observing the happiness on Mr. Abayon's face, Kai opted not to argue further. "Thank you, Mr. Abayon. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the preparation," Kai responded with a warm smile.

"I also want to take a moment to express my gratitude to our event manager, who did an outstanding job preparing the venue. It perfectly complemented my daughter's wedding theme," he added, turning his gaze towards the young woman as he spoke.

"It’s my pleasure to work with you, Mr. Abayon," Blythe replied with a smile.

"Well, this is the only thing that Blessie is decent at," she thought to herself.

"I believe I should go welcome some visitors. Thank you once again for your excellent work. Enjoy the rest of the night with this lovely woman. Have fun together," Mr. Abayon said meaningfully before turning away, but he glanced back at them. "You two look great together; have a great night tonight," he added with a wink before walking away.

Kai laughed at Mr. Abayon's behavior, which seemed more like that of a teenager.

"I think I like what's going through his head," Blythe said with a smile, glancing at Kai, who was now looking at her.

"Shall we enjoy the night?" Blythe asked sweetly, taking Kai's hand and leading him to the bar counter.

"And this is the place where we will relax," she said happily, ordering a full shot of vodka.

"You love this place?" Kai asked after ordering whiskey.

"Indeed! This is the only spot where I can unwind," Blythe agreed cheerfully, downing another shot of vodka. Kai watched as she enjoyed her drink.

Blythe looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "What?" she asked.

"You're behaving strangely tonight," Kai remarked, taking a sip of his whiskey.

"Am I?" Blythe asked, feigning innocence as she looked at him. "Don’t you like it?" she added teasingly.

"It's not that I don't like it, but you're acting really differently tonight than when we were at the clinic," Kai explained.

"Just forget about it and let's have fun!" Blythe said cheerfully, clinking her glass against his. "Cheers!" she said, taking a sip of her drink. Kai couldn't help but drink his own as he watched the beautiful lsdy im front of him.

"Did I mention how stunning you look tonight?" Kai asked her, watching her closely.

"Will you say it after I say, 'No, you didn’t'?" Blythe asked with a smirk.

Kai couldn't help but laugh, feeling completely aware of the woman's obvious interest in him based on her behavior. Despite her stark contrast in demeanor compared to before, the young man found himself enjoying her presence. However, his amusement turned into surprise as the woman leaned in closer to him, her sudden proximity catching him off guard.

"So, did I catch you?" she whispered, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.

He placed his hand on hers and gently moved her away before nodding in response.

"You got me there, but I'm serious. You look especially lovely tonight," he said sincerely.

"I already know how lovely I am, but I appreciate you taking the time to compliment me," she said with a wink, leaning back.