A hush descended upon the private room. The earlier revelry and spectators now silent as mice. An icy chill seemed to permeate the air. Oliver sat with a frosty glare fixed on the boisterous blonde, his eyes like piercing swords brimming with hostility. Her brazen boldness instantly withered under his gaze; she retracted within herself, too afraid to even peep—having accidentally locked eyes with him was like staring death in the face. She scuttled behind Serena. Serena’s smile was clearly faltering. Sneaking a glance at Suo Qiao, who’d taken refuge behind her, she had no choice but to plead with Oliver. "Oliver, please don’t be angry. Suo Qiao, she's...straightforward, but she means no harm. Suo Qiao, you need to apologize to Lillian now." With reluctance flaring in her eyes, apologizing to Lillian felt worse to Suo Qiao than death itself, but recalling Oliver’s terrifying stare prompted her to face Lillian and spit out a begrudging, "Sorry." "Lillian, Suo Qiao genuinely d
Whose gaze it was, was quite evident by now. But Lillian remained indifferent, cradling her glass and taking a small sip, just as delightful as the previous one.Seated closer now, Mason could see the rosy hue of her lips as she sipped from the glass, her lips stark against the rim, causing him to feel an inexplicable dryness in his throat.Mason adjusted his glasses, forcing his eyes away and asked in a hushed tone, “Does it not bother you anymore?”Lillian paused at the question.Mason’s lips quirked up into a half-smile, voice lowered, “I mean, everyone is saying such things, do you really not care?”The truth was, indifference was key to shrugging off others’ words, wasn’t it?Reflecting on this, her lips curved slightly, “It’s simply the truth.”Their marriage was a sham; what was the point in agonizing over it? What good would it do to care?Mason’s eyes, hidden behind his lenses, darkened subtly at her response. This Lillian was different, more disconcerting than he anticipated
Lillian cupped cool water to rinse her face, her emotions settling into a cool stillness. She leaned against the washbasin, studying her reflection in the mirror while Ji Qingbei's words echoed in her mind. To feel calmly and attentively? Feel what, exactly?She didn't quite comprehend his words which, coupled with the chaos of the crowded private room, were left unprobed.It was absurd, she thought. Ji Qingbei's intentions contrasted starkly with Oliver's. Was he trying to matchmake her with Oliver? And why not Serena?But she dismissed the thought. Dwelling on it was pointless.Drying her hands with a paper towel, she made for the exit."Serena, don’t beat yourself up over what happened today. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t spoken carelessly, Oliver wouldn’t have lashed out at you."The familiar voice halted Lillian in her tracks. Standing rooted to the spot, she watched the group at the restroom entrance—Serena and her friends, including Suo Qiao, the one who’d nearly become viole
Just as Serena was about to hit her head on the steps, she realized she'd miscalculated. She’d only intended to fall gently, not mar her beauty. In a gut reaction, she threw her hands up to protect her face, but the fall was still brutal. There was a thud that echoed, arresting the attention of everyone present. "Serena!" Her friends flocked around her as the rest of the group from the private room converged. Lillian stood still, her hand frozen in the air, her heart tightening. She had not even touched Serena. So, how did she fall? A twisted ankle, perhaps? Then, an icy voice cut through the buzz. "What happened?" Oliver and Mason were here. Oliver’s gaze swept over Lillian, her disheveled hair, and his expression darkened. He grasped her shoulders, straightening her stance. "Did she hit you?" In that moment, Lillian was stunned, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and uncertainty. Could it be that Oliver not
Lillian remained silent, lost in contemplation. Sophie released a sigh through the phone. "I know she once helped you, and it's like you're seeing her through rose-colored glasses. But think about it, even her help back then had ulterior motives. Sure, we can repay her kindness in some other way, but that doesn't imply she won't harm you now.""I understand," Lillian nodded, albeit to herself.Sophie detected low spirits in Lillian's tone and suggested, "Why don't you come over tonight? We can talk. I can call in sick tomorrow, stay up all night with you.""No, it's alright," Lillian shook her head gently. "Grandma’s waiting at home. I can’t skip."And besides, the night's events had cleared away any illusions she might have harbored after Ji Qingbei's words. All fantasies were effectively shattered.Blame whom? Herself, for harboring hopes of impossibilities."Alright, then hurry back. It’s not good to sit outside the hotel in this wind. It's piercing my ears just hearing it; aren’t
With this in mind, Kartika averted her gaze, a veiled distance echoing in her voice, “Planning on settling down here long-term?”“Yeah, everything should be stable in about half a month.”At that, Kartika replied, “Then consider this an early congratulations on your return. However, I foresee my schedule being quite packed. It's unlikely I'll have spare time to hang out.”Dima needed no further hints to grasp the subtle rejection in Kartika’s tone. Yet, the impulsive youth he once was had evolved into a more patient man. Years had taught him not to rush things—for Kartika, he was willing to play a long game.“It's alright,” he maintained his calm, “We can catch up whenever you’re free. Just don’t forget this old friend, even after all these years."His unexpected composure left Kartika second-guessing her earlier assumption. Had she misunderstood his intentions?Quickly, she made peace with the idea. It was possible that Dima, after five years abroad, already had a girlfriend. The tie
Farhan's words paused, trailing off as they should have been followed by the revelation: I saw you come back in Dima's car.But the words never quite made it past his lips. Perhaps, he thought, she'd clarify things herself, especially after being dropped off right at their door.However, to Kartika's ears, she assumed he was broaching the topic of Lestari's accident. She was certain she hadn't pushed her, but there was little point in explaining—would he even believe her?He'd probably only believe in "his" Lestari, right?With this in mind, Kartika looked squarely at Farhan and retorted with a question of her own, "What did she tell you?""What?" Farhan was taken aback, his mind still preoccupied with her return in Dima's vehicle.After a beat, he caught up to what Kartika was asking about. "You mean Lestari?"The affection in his voice for Lestari didn't escape Kartika, prompting a mocking smile, "Yes. She got hurt, didn't she? If I told you she fell on her own, would you believe me
The more Lestari pondered, the more her resentment festered, igniting fury that paid no heed to the attempts at restraint. There stood Lee, Farhan's aide, called in post-work hours by an abrupt summons, now silently observing the commotion at the hospital's entrance, her outburst scattering debris like confetti. He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, a silent eyewitness to the unfolding drama, inwardly shaking his head at the facade crumbling before him. Despite the distressing idea of Lestari's potential scar, which the doctors had grimly predicted, his compassion was short-lived. The thought of Kartika's pregnancy instantly striped away any pity for Lestari. Especially when her friends incessantly insinuated to the all-too-trusting Farhan that it was Kartika who had pushed Lestari. How could Kartika, already silently bearing the brunt of her pregnancy, be responsible for such an act? If so, surely there must have been provocation. Lee's loyalty obviously lay with Karti