Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

“You’re a whore! The guy has a girlfriend, and you’re still flirting with him!”

Elizabeth was heading back to the party from the restroom when the woman who had kissed Wulfric earlier screamed and pulled her hair.

“This is what you deserve! You’re a flirt!”

The slaps came one after another as Elizabeth tried to block them, but sharp, red-painted nails scratched her face.

“Idella! Damn it!”

Someone pulled the woman away from her. Elizabeth struggled to breathe, her cheeks stinging from the blows she had received.

“What the fuck are you doing, Woman?” Wulfric’s voice thundered.

Dizzy, she tried to get up. She wanted to hit back, but her body felt weak.

“S-She’s flirting with you,” Idella stammered.

“You don’t understand…”

Once again, she was shoved down onto the carpeted grass. Idella hit her several times—one slap near her ear, leaving her momentarily dazed. The next thing she heard was an angry voice, but the words were a blur.

Murmurs filled the air, and she gasped as someone lifted her. Her petite frame was crushed against a familiar hard body. She couldn’t protest, especially when her gaze met the one holding her. His eyes were filled with rage as if he would confront anyone who dared to stand in their way.

Through her blurred vision, she spotted Erica staring at her in confusion. She instinctively buried her face against Wulfric’s solid chest.

“OUCH!” she exclaimed loudly as Wulfric pressed a cotton ball on a small cut at the side of her lips.

His expression darkened as he removed the cotton. “That witch!”

She snatched the cotton ball from him and dabbed at the scratches on her arms, fighting back tears.

“Your girlfriend's scratches really hurt, Sir,” she said, blowing on her wounds.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Wulfric replied in a sharp tone.

Oh, please! That woman wouldn’t act that way unless they were in a relationship.

Typical men….

Irritation bubbled up inside her. She suddenly didn’t care if he was a client of her boss.

“If you two are fighting, don’t drag me in. My cheek’s still numb!"

Next time she saw that woman, she'd rip her hair out. She wouldn't be caught off guard again.

“She’s not my woman,” he insisted.

Elizabeth shot him a pointed look before rolling her eyes.

“Now you’re rolling your eyes at me.” His jaw clenched in irritation.

As if she’s scared of him!

"You have many women and can’t seem to be satisfied with just one. Even the ones who aren’t interested end up in your drama."

“Woman!” Wulfric seemed to be losing his patience. He closed his eyes tightly as if his head was pounding from dealing with her stubbornness.

She glared at him before returning to tending her wounds, feeling teary-eyed once more.

It seemed Wulfric couldn’t tolerate her fussing any longer. He grabbed the cotton and lifted her chin to inspect her face.

“Take it easy. Ouch, careful.”

Wulfric clearly didn’t understand the meaning of “take it easy,” given how he’d been acting that night.

He looks more mature than Liz remembered. The blond hair he used to have, tied up in a top knot when they first met, was now gone.

Instead, he had jet-black hair, stylishly tousled. His low-cut beard perfectly framed his chiseled jaw, and his nose and eyes seemed sculpted by a skilled artist. No matter how long Elizabeth stared into them, they remained a mystery she could never unravel.

Whatever secrets lay behind Wulfric’s beautiful gray eyes, she had already decided she didn’t want to know.

“Aren’t you even going to apologize for what your mistress did?” she asked.

His brows, already knitted together, furrowed even more. What did she say wrong this time?

Idella was clearly his mistress since Wulfric was already married.

“I don’t have a mistress,” he bit out through clenched teeth.

She scoffed. Her gaze dropped to the wedding ring on his finger. “Then what do you call your girlfriend when you’re already married?”

His jaw tightened further.

“You’re married, Sir. So, if I were you, I’d stop flirting with me. Let’s just stick with what I said and forget what happened. We’ve both got our own lives now."

“You’re right. I’m married.”

Elizabeth couldn’t respond. Pain cut deep into her chest suddenly. She bowed her head; afraid Wulfric might read her. 

Wulfric dropped the cotton ball and stood up. Even without looking up, Liz could sense that he had placed his hands on his hips again, like some commanding general.

"Fix yourself. I’m taking you home," he ordered.

Her stomach churned at the coldness of Wulfric's voice. 

"I'll just ride with Anne," she replied softly.

"They left. I sent all the guests home."

She suddenly felt embarrassed. Even though what happened wasn’t really her fault.

"Mr. Wolkzbin—"

"Why the hell are you looking for Noah?" he cut her off angrily, veins almost bulging from his neck as he glared at her.

"I just wanted to say goodbye and apologize to him.”

"Forget it." He ran a hand through his hair. Frustration was evident in his face. "Damn this!"

She was left speechless as he stormed out of the guest room. Hurriedly, she fixed herself and rushed after Wulfric. She couldn't risk being left behind—his patience was notoriously thin.

She quickly sent a text message to Dory, telling her she’d stay the night at Amanluo Hotel and would just head to her condo early in the morning.

When she caught up to Wulfric, he was leaning against his car, smoking a cigarette. He shot a look at her phone and tilted his head slightly.

"Get inside. I’ll finish this first." His voice was surprisingly calm.

Without a word, she obeyed Wulfric’s instructions. Not wanting to stir up any more trouble.

She waited a few minutes for him to finish his cigarette before he got into the car.  His expression darkened again at the sight of her phone.

So, despite not receiving a reply from Dory, she felt compelled to tuck it away in her bag. She could almost imagine him snatching it away in frustration and tossing it out the window.

"Where are you staying?" Wulfric asked as they drove along the highway.

She told him the address of the Amanluo Hotel. She noticed a slight furrow in his brow, but he didn’t say anything. Amanluo Hotel wasn’t a five-star but so what? Carrie had arranged for them to stay there for free—she had no reason to complain.

The drive took about thirty minutes. By the time they arrived, fatigue and pain had settled into her body. All she could manage was a brief ‘thank you’ and a wave before she walked straight to the suite.

As soon as her back hit the mattress, she fell asleep.

The next morning, her phone vibrated continuously. She jolted upright when she saw she had ten missed calls from Dory. It was already ten in the morning and the twins were looking for her.

"Where are you?" Dory immediately asked when Liz called back.

“Sorry, I overslept. Where are the twins? I’ll pick them up; I just need to shower.”

"Don’t bother. We’re on our way there. Your kids are driving me crazy with all their demands."

“Wait, what? Okay, I’ll be quick.”

She rushed into the bathroom as soon as the call ended. Took a quick shower before covering the bruise on her cheek with concealer. She was already in the elevator when Dory texted that they had arrived by taxi.

Feeling a rush of excitement, she was about to step out when she froze in her tracks. Her heart raced as she spotted Nikolaus Wulfric. His gaze fixed on her while he sat casually on the couch.

Liz swallowed tensely. Her eyes immediately spotted Dory outside the hotel.

“Shit!” She quickly averted her gaze, pretending not to notice Wulfric.

Seeing Wulfric stand up, she immediately turned in the opposite direction from the twins’ direction to throw him off. She casually approached the receptionist and asked some questions.

 Subtly, Elizabeth scanned the surroundings. She breathed a sigh of relief when she no longer saw the ‘dictatorial general’. Just in time, the trio had entered the Hotel’s doors.

“Momma!” Lottie waved at her as soon as she saw her. Her baby girl's gums were showing again with that wide grin.

She was about to wave back when Wulfric suddenly appeared from behind a post. His eyes were fixed on his phone as he walked towards the twins.

Her heart pounded even harder, especially when Earl's gaze focused on the man.

Lottie let go of Dory's hand and ran towards her. But her left foot caught her right, and she stumbled, falling right in front of her father. The ‘dictatorial general ‘stopped in his tracks.

Elizabeth held her breath as Wulfric slowly lifted his gaze from his phone.

Without hesitation, he crouched down to help Lottie stand. It felt like a scene from a movie as the father and daughter’s eyes met. Recognition dawned in Lottie's eyes, and her lips, which were about to cry, broke into a wide smile.

“Daddy!” she shouted, standing up as if nothing had happened. She looked at her brother. “Earl, it's our Daddy!”

Then she turned to her. “Momma, Daddy’s here again!”