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Ch20 - Useless to them
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2024-11-24 21:02:00It's strange. For days now, Lena hadn't heard anything from her parents. No good news, no bad news—nothing at all. She even checked with Diya, who confirmed that she had been monitoring her messages every day and found nothing.
Her heart sank. The remaining fifteen million in her account had been temporarily frozen. When Diya learned that Stellan had wrecked her home, she was shocked but said there was nothing she could do. All she could ask was where Lena was staying and if it was safe. Lena replied that she was at the Taurus Hotel and would be lying low there for the time being.Two days later, Diya reached out again, saying she wanted to have dinner with Lena. Since Lena had been holed up in the hotel for almost a week, and it was just a three-hour outing for dinner, she eventually agreed after Diya's persistent invitations.But the moment she stepped out of the hotel, a man grabbed her. She wasn’t far from the entrance and was about to shout when the man spoke: "LenaRelated chapters
Rivals to Lovers Ch21 - Name your terms
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
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Rivals to Lovers Ch22 - A new broom
Lena greeted each of the senior management team members one by one, while the rest of the employees had already received an internal email about the new CPO’s arrival. The entire building was buzzing with gossip all day about the new arrival, especially since she had been a frequent face in the news recently. Seeing her in person only fueled the chatter.Lena's office was set up on the same floor as Alaric's, about a two-minute walk away. The reasoning was that it would make discussions and decision-making more efficient. "So why is it just me and him? What about everyone else?" she asked her new assistant, Iris.Iris was a recent graduate who had been with the company for only six months. She replied, "I heard the others felt it was too stressful working so close to him, so they all asked to be moved to different floors."Lena wasn’t surprised; she had heard similar comments about herself at her old company."By the way, who else is in the Project Development and Ma
Last Updated : 2024-11-26Rivals to Lovers Ch23 - Shaved cost
"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
Last Updated : 2024-11-27Rivals to Lovers Ch24 - Imperceptible
With everyone watching, Lena downed the drink in one go. Instantly, her throat and stomach burned—a fiery sensation—as she caught sight of at least five different types of liquor mixed into that single glass. The alcohol hit her brain quickly, but she forced down the discomfort and used a napkin to dab at the corner of her mouth.Bob broke into a broad grin and clapped his hands. "Now that's what I call bold! I like it!"The disdain in his eyes from earlier had vanished, replaced with a hint of admiration. Lena felt that the drink was well worth it. “I’ll be counting on your support from now on,” she said.Only when Bob had signed the contract right then and there did she finally allow herself to relax.“Take me home.” That was the last coherent thing she said to Iris before everything became a blur.The alcohol truly kicked in once everyone had left. Lena had made an excuse about someone coming to pick her up so that the others would go ahead. Only Iris stayed b
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Rivals to Lovers Ch25 - Bitten by dog
Alaric took a deep breath, kicking away his wandering thoughts. "Lena, you troublemaker, let go."Lena ignored him, smiling smugly like she'd just won a victory.Alaric was at a loss, silently repeating to himself to stay calm. He tried to put some distance between them and freed one hand to pry her fingers off, but her hands were clasped tightly behind his neck, holding on for dear life.With no other choice, he resorted to his ultimate move—he shifted his hand to her waist. Lena was extremely ticklish, but he didn’t realize this position was even more suggestive. Alaric’s throat tightened as he found her waist and started tickling her lightly. Lena blinked, completely unfazed."..." Why isn’t it working this time? Alaric felt a bit defeated. He didn’t want to drag this out; something felt like it was about to snap in his mind.He stubbornly tickled her waist again, and this time, Lena's grip around his neck loosened slightly. Alaric looked up in surprise, but i
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Rivals to Lovers Ch26 - Toxic man
Lena thought that since Alaric had given her the position of CPO, she should make the most of it. However, she knew her limits. The last time she negotiated a discount on electrical appliances with the representative from Door, it wasn’t just about closing the deal quickly—she didn’t want to lose.But in general situations, like attending today’s business chamber event, she stopped after her third drink. After toasting a few important figures, she took the chance to slip away to the restroom for a brief break.When she came out, she saw someone waiting outside—since she hadn’t seen anyone else in the restroom, the person was probably waiting for her. She looked up and made eye contact with the person.“Do you have a moment to talk?” Elise asked, her tone neutral. But Lena could tell she wasn’t here to make trouble.Lena wasn’t too surprised that Elise had come to find her. Earlier, she had seen Elise moving around the venue with her parents, and she had caught Elise
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Rivals to Lovers Ch27 - She found out
As they made their way back to the main hall, Lena was still caught up in the thrill of being "rescued by a beauty." Elise was just too cool—so young, yet so decisive and straightforward, never wasting a moment.The look on Stellan’s face, furious but unable to act, was absolutely satisfying.Elise, catching Lena’s unfiltered look of admiration, felt a bit uncomfortable. She glanced to the side, trying to play it off. "Just so you know, I didn’t do that for you. I just couldn’t stand what I was seeing.""Well, I helped you once, and now you’ve helped me. I’d say we’re even."Elise gave a haughty look. "I told you, it wasn’t to help you..."Her refusal to admit it was adorable. Lena handed over a phone. "Alright then, leave me your contact. In case I need help in the future, I can reach out to you, right?" With Elise's personality—someone who doesn’t like owing favors—Lena knew she wouldn’t refuse.After saving her number, Elise mumbled, "If you ever want to g
Last Updated : 2024-12-01Rivals to Lovers Ch28 - Just a kiss
As soon as Alaric stepped into the suite, Lena grabbed him by the collar with surprising force. His first thought: Again with the collar? She already ripped off two buttons last time.Lena’s eyes were red as she released him, pointing straight at him. “What the hell did you do to me?”“What? Don’t make stuff up!” Alaric’s panic was obvious; his eyes widened as he realized that none of his mental preparations included being suddenly interrogated like this.“Making stuff up?” Lena’s skeptical gaze closed in on him. Alaric’s back hit the wall, leaving him with nowhere to retreat. She held up the items in her hand. “Then explain why I have two of your buttons.”It was a custom brand, after all. Alaric hesitated, found himself at a loss for words.Lena scrutinized his expression, looking for clues. One of the buttons was from the night after a business meeting, but what about the other one? She distinctly remembered leaving the bar with Diya and going up to her room a
Last Updated : 2024-12-02
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Rivals to Lovers Ch45 - Honest body
Lena glanced at Alaric, who hadn’t moved a muscle. Lowering her eyes, she swiftly swung her legs off the bed. “Forget it. I’m not thick-skinned enough to hog your bed. I’ll just—”As she brushed past him, her dress lightly swept against his leg. In an instant, Alaric’s hand encircled her waist, pulling her back against him. Her back pressed against his rising and falling chest, and even through the fabric, she could feel the heat emanating from his legs, now supporting her seated on his lap.Her breath hitched, and a gravelly voice murmured by her ear, “Be honest, were you thinking about sleeping with me?”The words were nearly the same as before, but the tone was completely different. The air had shifted. Lena’s heart pounded chaotically. She
Rivals to Lovers Ch44 - Faint-heart
Lena’s heart skipped a beat as she turned her head, finding Alaric standing there, hands in his pockets, a playful smirk on his face."Finished most of that coffee, huh? Aren’t you worried it’ll keep you up even more?" he teased.A small flicker of relief washed over her, but she quickly masked it, turning her head away with a huff. Of all things, he’d managed to track her down and call out her excuse. She lightly touched her cheek with her fingertips, glancing upward. "And what about you? What are you doing down here? How’d you even know I was at the café?""You’re afraid of ghosts, so obviously you’d stay somewhere well-lit," he said matter-of-factly, taking a seat across from her."
Rivals to Lovers Ch43 - Urban legends
Lena ignored the architect's puzzled look. After carefully studying the drawing, she looked up and said, “This design is solid, no doubt. But I do have a question—when designing this linear layout, did you take the impact of wind direction and sunlight on the residents into account? Considering we’re by the seaside, it’s a crucial factor.”The two architects froze, seemingly caught off guard. Lena's focused gaze bore into them, prompting a response after a brief pause. One of them replied, “We’re addressing it by enhancing window sealing. As for the wind direction…”The other quickly added, “We’ll reassess the building’s orientation to see if adjustments are needed.”Lena nodded slightly before pointing out, “Another thing—I n
Rivals to Lovers Ch42 - Business trip
When Lena got home, she leaned against the wall, taking several deep breaths. She was terrified that if she’d walked any slower, the words “Do you want to come up for a bit?” would have slipped out of her mouth.She kicked off her heels, tossed her bag aside, and buried her fingers in her hair, exasperated. “What’s wrong with you, Lena? Have you lost your mind?” she muttered, scolding herself. Her hair became as disheveled as her thoughts. She couldn’t let herself repeat the mistake she made last time—getting drunk and accidentally sleeping with him. No way. Not again....Even if his physique and skills were—Stop!She hurried into the kitchen and gulped down some ice water. The sudden
Rivals to Lovers Ch41 - Physical attraction
Cassian quietly stepped out of Tessa’s room. “Sorry about that—she fell asleep.”Lena guessed as much. “Her love for naps hasn’t changed one bit since she was a kid.”He sighed. “Exactly. I told her to finish just two pages of homework, and not even an hour later, she passed out at her desk.”Lena chuckled. “See? You do spoil her.”“What can I do? She’s my only sister.” He shook his head with a helpless smile. “Next time, I’ll invite you over earlier and cook for you to make up for tonight.”Lena’s eyes lit up. “Really? You better tell me in advance then, so I can skip dinner the day before!”
Rivals to Lovers Ch40 - Old neighbour
As soon as Lena entered Cassian's apartment, a teenage girl, around 14 or 15, came running out of the hallway. Her curly auburn hair matched Cassian's.Lena froze for a moment. The girl she remembered as barely waist-high had suddenly grown so much taller."Brother, you're back!" Tessa exclaimed, throwing her arms around Cassian. He gently patted her head—a habit he had with younger girls. "Look who’s here," he said, gesturing toward Lena.Tessa turned her head curiously and said, "Huh? Who’s this pretty lady? Is she your girlfriend? She looks familiar."Lena chuckled, "I’m not your brother’s girlfriend. But do you remember how you used to run to my house whenever your brother scolded you and you didn’t want to go home?"
Rivals to Lovers Ch39 - Need a explanation
Alaric picked up his phone, glanced at it quickly, didn’t type a single word, and put it away again. His expression turned two shades colder than before.Emma tried to keep the conversation going, but he clearly wasn’t in the mood to talk. His replies grew noticeably shorter.Thinking he might just be overworked and tired, Emma reminded herself of the research she had done before this blind date. Alaric had managed a large company at such a young age, and that alone had earned her admiration before they even met. She didn’t want to let go of such a high-quality match.The main course was finished, and dessert was served. Emma picked up her dessert fork but didn’t take a bite. Instead, she said, “I know you’re here because, like me, your parents pushed you into it. Honestly, I hate this kind of thing, t
Rivals to Lovers Ch38 - Blind date
"Alright, I’m heading out." Alaric placed his napkin on the table, getting ready to stand up.A hand reached across the table and gently pressed down on his.“Alaric, you just got here. You haven’t even warmed the chair and you’re already leaving?” It was Alaric’s mother, Daisy, speaking. She had been pestering him for ages to come home, and now that he finally showed up for dinner, she wasn’t going to let him off so easily. "It’s Friday evening—surely you don’t have anything urgent to do? Stay a little longer.”“I have a few reports to review for Monday’s meeting,” Alaric replied, pulling his hand back as he stood.Mrs. Winfield, not wanting to confront her son directly, redirected her frustration toward her husband, Albert. “Look at you! You handed over the company to him so early, and now he’s too busy to have a life of his own.”Albert was busy staring at his phone.Irritated, Daisy snatched it away.Startled, Albert blinked in confusion. He had been
Rivals to Lovers Ch37 - Conflict
On Thursday afternoon, the meeting was in full swing.The special meeting focused on the project The Corner in Zone 2, unlike the regular Monday meetings. Lena brought three of her deputies, striving to push for an extension on the project’s delivery deadline.Lena presented her reasoning for why the project required more time than initially planned. She pointed out discrepancies in the early calculations and emphasized the importance of execution quality. “Since this is the company’s first build-to-rent project, I firmly believe we should prioritize quality,” she stated.Alaric, however, disagreed. “The schedule has already been delayed due to previous repairs. There’s no room for further extension. I need to see this project completed by the end of January next year.”His tone was resolute.“Rushing the delivery will lead to inevitable flaws and affect our future leasing potential. Please reconsider quality as a priority,” Lena urged.“No. Our marketing cam
