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Ch19 - His offer
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2024-11-24 21:00:00Since seeing Stellan, Alaric hadn’t been able to shake the unsettling mood weighing on his mind. After finally wrapping up work for the day, he returned to his hotel room at 10 p.m. He owned an apartment nearby, but this hotel had only recently opened, and he wanted to keep a close eye on it for a while, checking for areas where service could improve.
He leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and let out a long sigh. Suddenly, a scent of soap hit his senses, and he opened his eyes abruptly.Directly above him, a pair of wide, clear eyes stared down at him. His heart skipped a beat—he’d completely forgotten someone else was staying in his suite. He started to sit up, only to bump into her leg by accident. Her knee gave way, and she lost her balance, toppling forward and falling right onto him.“Ah!” Lena exclaimed, closing her eyes instinctively. But instead of the expected pain, she felt herself caught in a solid, warm embrace. Somehow, the feeling seemed strangely fa
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The memories halted, and the person in his arms was stiff as a board."You look really ugly when you cry," he said on purpose, though she didn’t look ugly at all right now. Her eyes were red, her nose was red—just like the rabbit she had kept all those years ago.Lena’s eyes flickered, but she didn’t argue back, didn’t scold him. That only made Alaric more nervous. Her once-dry tear ducts were now moist again. The previously empty corner was suddenly filled with people, and to any onlooker, it seemed like he was bullying her.Alaric regretted getting involved. He wondered just what had hit Lena so hard that she was crying like this. Her current behavior didn’t resemble her at all. Even when he kept his arm around her waist, she didn't react or pull away.Carefully, he moved his hand, and a teardrop the size of a bean rolled down her cheek. He froze. Then, his hand returned, patting her back gently as he turned his face away, feeling awkward. After a long moment, he c
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"Lena, why didn’t you contact me yesterday? I was worried sick about you all night." Lena stared coldly at Diya’s "late" message, feeling a chill pass over her. She couldn’t help but find Diya’s performance both amusing and pitiful."When did you get involved with Owen?" Lena shot back.The message was read, but there was a long silence. That kind of silence often speaks louder than any excuse. If Diya had just told her from the beginning that she liked her brother Owen—even though Lena thought he was a nearly thirty-year-old slacker—she would have given them her blessing if it made Diya happy.The only reason Diya wouldn't tell her was because she was plotting with Owen or doing something that would harm Lena’s interests. It all made sense now, from the family’s financial troubles to Diya’s excuse of her parents not allowing them to meet. Lena had thought Diya’s usual naivety was genuine, but it turned out everyone around her had hidden motives...Two days passed, a
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Lena’s dress was made of pure white satin, its smooth fabric reflecting a delicate sheen under the lights, exuding an aura of elegance and sophistication.The minimalist design featured thin straps and a square neckline, perfectly outlining the graceful curve of her shoulders and collarbones.The highlight of the dress was the double thigh-high slits on both sides, adorned with delicate pearl and metal buttons. Paired with a shimmering silver ankle-tie stiletto, the entire look was effortlessly stunning.This time, Elise didn’t overload her with extravagant jewelry, said that simplicity and elegance suited the occasion best.Elise dragged Lena to a commercial high-rise that looked strikingly similar to the one they had visited months ago. Lena frowned in confusion. "Are you sure he’s here?"The "he" she referred to was Elise’s boyfriend—the owner of the nightclub they had gone to last time."Yes," Elise pointed upward. "One of his bars is on the top floor."Lena was taken aback. If he
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A month and a half later, Alaric’s injuries had completely healed.Just in time for Lena’s court case against her adoptive parents. He was by her side through it all.The trial officially began in mid-January. When Lena once again faced her family in court, she felt none of the past longing or hesitation—only a detached sense of calm.Her brother wore his usual arrogant expression, looking down on her even from the defendant’s seat, his gaze filled with disdain. Her father’s face was unreadable.As for her mother… she looked far more haggard than before. The once-radiant woman was nowhere to be seen. When their eyes met, Lena thought she caught a flicker of guilt, perhaps even regret.
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Twelve hours on a plane had taken them from the sweltering heat back to a city blanketed in snow.Alaric had already received a reply from his grandmother, Isla, telling them to head straight to the house."Your house? Won't your mom not want to see me?" Lena asked, skeptical.Alaric shrugged. "No idea. Whatever method Grandma used to convince her, it worked."After landing, the family driver picked them up."But if you don’t feel comfortable going, I can ask the driver to bring Grandma out instead. I booked a restaurant before, and I haven’t canceled it yet.""
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On Christmas Eve night, this country, surrounded by the sea, welcomed the festive cheer. The sound of church bells and street carols intertwined as the moist evening breeze drifted in.Before the shops closed, Lena stepped out to buy some essentials nearby. Alaric said he’d take care of dinner, so she didn’t have to worry.But while passing a charming boutique, she decided to get into the holiday spirit and bought some gingerbread along with two treats—a pair of Christmas Santas made from strawberries.Clutching her treats, she headed back to the hospital. Remembering the call with Elise and the report that had just come out, she asked Alaric as she entered his room, "You must be happy now, right?"She didn’t notice the dimmed lights inside.
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"Whoa! Lena, you’re crazy—this is true love!" Elise didn’t care that she was in the middle of a date on Christmas Eve; as soon as she saw the trending news, she immediately made an international call to Lena."The whole world knows now—you and Alaric are officially the ‘golden couple’!"Her tone was so exaggerated, as if she had never heard of this before.In reality, when Lena was waiting to board her flight to Singapore, she had a feeling that she might be spotted by reporters. So, to be ahead of the news, she had proactively told Elise that she and Alaric were officially together.Elise had always suspected that there was something going on between them, so back then, her reac
Rivals to Lovers Ch110 - U should take her offer
This doubt was resolved in no time.A young woman’s figure emerged from the patient room, and when she looked up, she was surprised to see Lena."This is Emma, the fund financial advisor from Ridley’s investment side," Zayn introduced.He hadn’t realized they’d already met.Though everyone was surprised to see each other here, they quickly resumed their usual expressions. Lena greeted her,"Hi Emma, are you here on a business trip too?""Ah, yes, I arrived a few days ago to handle a merger case, and I’m here to spend Christmas as well—my family is in town," Emma explained after a moment’s thought.Then she added,"Keaton told me that Alaric ended up in the hospital an
Rivals to Lovers Ch109 - Sth. must have happened
Lena shook off Daisy’s words with a forceful gesture, taking a deep sniff as she pushed open the revolving door of the building.A blast of cold wind hit her—much chillier than she’d imagined. Snowflakes settled on the tips of her hair and on her scarf, giving the impression that she was draped in a delicate layer of white gauze.When she looked up to snap a photo with her phone, fresh snow landed on her cheeks and melted instantly from her body heat.After sending the photo to Alaric, thinking he should be calling any minute, she decided to wait for his call out on the street.But two minutes passed, then five, and she still hadn’t received any call from him. Alaric was always punctual.
Rivals to Lovers Ch108 - His mother
In Lena’s eyes, Daisy was never the traditional kind of mother.Maybe it was because she’d always been fiercely independent. When Alaric’s grandparents—Daisy’s own parents—transformed their trading company into a real estate business, Daisy poured a lot of effort into Winfield.She and her husband were married through a family alliance, and at the time, the company was just getting started. Daisy needed a husband who could help support her career. In other words, she was willing to sacrifice even her marriage for her career without complaint.That mindset even extended to how she raised her son—as if nurturing a business.In that respect, Lena felt Daisy was somewhat similar t
