Ch4 - Wish toss him

After waiting three days, Diya finally responded, saying her family was monitoring her bank account closely, and she could only send a few ten thousand dollars to Lena.

It was just enough for Lena to pay the final wages to the maids, gardener, and driver, with nothing left over for herself. Money wasn’t even the main issue now; she urgently needed a skilled lawyer and some connections to help her. After some thought, she realized her ex-fiancé was her best option—at least he might remember their past relationship. But it was worse than she expected; he only humiliated her.

With no news of her family, she couldn’t just sit and do nothing.

“That lady up there doesn’t have an invitation,” someone pointed out as Lena stood outside a private cocktail party, trying to slip in with an older couple. She was dressed well enough to look the part, so the security guard at the door hadn’t immediately suspected she wasn’t with them.

“Just my luck,” Lena muttered under her breath. When one of the guards approached her, she quickly masked her frustration, putting on a harmless, friendly expression.

“Excuse me, miss. May I please see your invitation?”

“Oh, sure, just a second.” Lena forced an awkward smile, pretending to rummage through her purse.

That’s when Alaric, walking in with his assistant, looked over and smirked at her. “Better look carefully,” he teased.

Lena’s fists clenched. She’d almost gotten inside if it weren’t for him noticing her. She glared at him, wishing she could punch him square in the face. But she forced herself to play along with the guard.

“Ah, I must have forgotten it. Maybe you could make an exception?” She softened her tone and gave the guard a hopeful look.

“This is a private event, It would be risky if we allowed any unauthorized entry,” Alaric said pointedly, clearly aiming his comment at the security guard who was beginning to waver.

The guard’s expression became more resolute as he blocked her path. “I’m sorry, but we can’t allow entry without an invitation.”

Fuming inside, Lena shot Alaric a deadly glare. Why couldn’t he just stay silent? She wished she could toss him in the ocean to feed the fish.

She needed to get in to see her uncle. Out of desperation, she stepped closer to Alaric, took his arm firmly, and latched onto it before he could react.

“What are you doing?” he hissed, attempting to shake her off, but Lena held on tightly.

“Don’t move,” she whispered. “Just get me in.”

“And why should I?” he sneered.

She leaned closer and murmured, “If you don’t, I’ll tell everyone here that you wet the bed until you were ten.”

Alaric’s face turned red with anger, and he lowered his voice. “I told you, someone spilled water on me.”

“Well, I don’t care what it was. If I say it out loud, you’ll be the laughingstock. I have nothing left to lose, so don’t test me.”

Alaric clenched his jaw, clearly furious. They were standing so close that from the outside, they looked like they were sharing an intimate moment. His assistant, who had been with Alaric for two years, couldn’t help but wonder if he’d missed some big secret between them.

The guard looked perplexed as he observed the two of them.

“Actually, I’m here as his plus-one,” Lena said sweetly, looking up at Alaric.

The guard’s eyes moved to Alaric, seeking confirmation. Lena gave his arm a gentle squeeze, and after a long sigh, Alaric relented, “Yes, she’s with me.”

“Oh! Alright then, please go in.” The guard stepped aside.

The moment they were out of sight, they let go of each other and adjusted their clothes, awkwardly clearing their throats in sync.

“I don’t care what you’re doing here, but finish it quickly and get out of my sight,” Alaric muttered angrily.

Lena was about to reply, but decided it was better not to push her luck today. She gave him a quick nod. “Fine, I will.”

Grabbing a glass of champagne, she scanned the crowd for the man she needed to find. She soon spotted her uncle, Tom—a plump, middle-aged man with a mustache and slicked-back hair, laughing with other guests.

Lena moved closer, pretending to chat with nearby guests while waiting for Tom to finish his conversation. When he finally moved away, she stepped up.

He looked shocked to see her, his eyes darting around uneasily.

“Uncle Tom, it’s been ages. How have you been?” She greeted him warmly.

“Uh… well… I’m fine. Thanks for asking,” he stammered. “But, um, how did you get in here?”

“Oh, that’s not important,” Lena smiled calmly. “I’m actually here to speak with you. Would you mind stepping aside for a quick chat?”

Tom hesitated, tugging at his mustache. “I’m… not sure I can do that. I have a lot of guests waiting. So, if you’ll excuse me…”

But Lena wasn’t giving up. Although they were in a secluded corner, she didn’t care if others could overhear. “Uncle, I know my family’s situation is putting you in a tough spot, but you’ve known my parents for years. I just need a little help to get through this rough patch. Once I find them, I’ll repay you.”

Tom’s mouth tightened, not giving any sign of sympathy.

Realizing she wasn’t getting anywhere, Lena added, “I’ll work for you, or I’ll help you in any way you need. I just… need a little help to get back on my feet.”

Tom shook his head. “Oh no, no, that won’t be necessary,” he replied quickly.

“Please,” Lena’s voice grew desperate. “I really don’t have anyone else to turn to.”

After a long pause, Tom finally spoke, “Are you serious? You’d do anything?”

She saw his small, beady eyes linger on her in a way that made her uncomfortable, though she tried to ignore it. Tom had known her since she was young.

But then he relaxed his face into a familiar, kind expression—one she’d seen many times before. Yet somehow, it felt unsettling now.

“Here, let’s have a drink to loosen up,” he said, clinking his glass against hers.

“Does that mean you’re willing to help me?” Lena asked hopefully.

“Don’t worry,” he said smoothly. “As long as you listen to what I say.”