Chapter 9

Bryce worked until the evening after returning to his office. He loosened his tie, then cast a frosty stare at Tobin. "Have you investigated what I told you to?"

"Mr. Gabelman, Hayden has no affectionate pet name. His family only addresses him as Hayden or Hades," Tobin replied.

The looming threat in Bryce's eyes lessened as if he had predicted this outcome.

Holly had always kept the elusive Abel deep in her heart.

Still, Holly wouldn't get into a relationship with Abel before finalizing her divorce. Although she was young, she always handled things maturely.

At that thought, Bryce pushed his chair back and stood to button his suit with one hand. "Have someone else attend the business discussion with Mr. Hogg tonight. I have plans."

"Got it, Mr. Gabelman." Tobin helped tidy up the documents on Bryce's desk.

…

Bryce left Gabelman Group and drove to the antiques street.

The sun was setting, so the sky dimmed gradually.

Bryce sat in his car while phoning Holly. "I'm outside your shop. You can come out now."

A shocked Holly spoke from the other end of the phone. "I'm currently eating out with some colleagues."

"Who's with you?"

"All of my colleagues at the shop."

"Is Hayden there, too?"

"Yeah, he's in charge of our shop," Holly answered.

Bryce's chest tightened with displeasure as he recalled Holly merrily chatting with Hayden this afternoon. Despite that, he didn't let his sentiments show in his voice. "Call me when you're done eating. I'll pick you up."

"Thanks." Holly deliberately maintained a formal tone as if deliberately distancing from him.

That made Bryce unhappy, and his fingers wound tighter around his phone.

After hanging up, he dialed Yax Xanthos' number. "Get out here and join me for a drink."

"Dude, it's too early for drinks." Yax lazily slurred his words like he hadn't woken up yet.

Bryce's voice rang clearly and sharply. "Bring the official stamp and the contract for the property sale. Come to Tentation within half an hour. Don't be late."

That instantly took away Yax's exhaustion, and he said, "Great! I'll be right over!"

…

Half an hour later, Bryce, Yax, and many people gathered in a dimly lit room on Tentation's private room floors. They were busy signing contracts, going through formal procedures, and transferring money.

After all that, the others exited the room, leaving Bryce and Yax alone.

Yax rested against the chair. He placed his arm on the backrest, glanced sideways at Bryce, and studied the latter. "Bad mood?"

Bryce sipped his wine before blandly replying, "Don't be ridiculous."

His slender fingers held his wine glass. The sight of it was beyond beautiful, like a sculpture.

"Tsk. You're already out here drowning your sorrows with alcohol. Why bother denying it? Others seek out women for fun when they're in a bad mood.

"Meanwhile, look at yourself! You purchased a big plot of land! That's a huge sum. Remember to seek me out if you're in a foul mood again. My old man still has several properties," Yax teased.

"Quit painting me out to be an idiot. I already planned to sign this contract before. I'm merely doing it a week in advance." Bryce put down his drink.

Yax picked up the bottle of wine and refilled the former's glass. "I heard Samantha's back in the country, and you guys have been real close lately."

Bryce raised his brows. "Just say what's on your mind."

"Holly's a great woman. Don't betray her." Yax locked eyes with the former and appeared serious, which was a rare sight.

Bryce clasped his hands before placing them on the table. A light chuckle came from his lips. "Who was it that despised Holly when I wanted to marry her back then? I recall that person saying she was unworthy of me. What's with the changed tune?"

"That's because I thought she was a greedy gremlin, so she didn't mind marrying anyone for money. I later learned that wasn't the case.

"She genuinely cares for you. Holly would've fled shortly after getting your money if she were a money-hungry woman. She wouldn't have bothered looking after you for so long."

Bryce's intense gaze darkened. "Indeed, she's a great woman."

"So, why would you—"

Bryce looked down at the white wine in his glass and blandly said, "Holly's an excellent young woman. She only married me because her family lacked money three years ago.

"Although she's never complained, I bet she's always felt upset about it. She's endured her helpless situation for three years. I don't want to continue putting her through it."

Yax was alarmed. "You're divorcing her over this mere reason?"

"Pretty much."

"You'd be willing to let go of such a great woman?" Yax found it pitiful.

"What else can I do?" Bryce appeared unbothered, but the faintest grim emotion flickered in his eyes.

He couldn't bear to keep Holly by his side or watch her call out to her mysterious Abel whenever she had nightmares.

Bryce couldn't stand seeing her in pain.

At the same time, he couldn't withstand the shame of knowing she loved another person. He was a prideful man, after all. He couldn't tolerate any disloyalty.

Yet, he also couldn't quite bring himself to let Holly go.

It was a conflicting dilemma.

Bryce raised his glass to his lips, then dowed all its contents. The white wine was spicy and burned down his throat. The heat ultimately got trapped in his chest.

That was when someone knocked on their private room door.

Yax called out, "Come in."

The person soon entered. It was a woman with an oval face and attractive features. She wore a white blouse with tulle poofy sleeves tucked into a tight bodycon skirt.

She also donned an entire set of Cartier jewelry, held a Chanel coat on one arm, and carried a Hermès Birkin bag.

It was none other than Samantha.

Bryce's expression turned cold once he saw her. "Why have you come here?"

Samantha swayed her hips as she approached the spot behind Bryce. Then, she rested her arm on his backrest and leaned forward, bringing her red lips to his ear. Elegance oozed from her very being. "I heard you were eating here, so I came to say hi."

As she exhaled, her warm breath tingled Bryce's ear. He leaned aside to avoid her. Upon realizing she wasn't leaving anytime soon, he offered emotionlessly, "Have a seat."

"Thanks, Bryce." Samantha pulled out a chair and put her coat on the backrest.

A waiter soon came to set up an extra cutlery set.

Bryce handed the menu to Samantha. "Order whatever you want."

Upon glancing at the table full of dishes, Samantha pushed away the menu and flashed a sweet smile. "There's no need. I like eating whatever foods you like."

Goosebumps spread down Yax's arms, so he rubbed them.

Samantha grabbed the grilled shrimp dish and turned to face Bryce. Her eyes rounded with anticipation at him. "I want some shrimp, Bryce."

Yax pressed his lips together. "Don't you have hands?"

Samantha huffed, puffing her cheeks while pouting. "I've never shelled a shrimp in my life! Mom and Dad do it for me at home. Back when I used to eat out with Bryce, he'd shell my shrimps, too."

She held Bryce's arm and mewled with a honeyed voice, "Bryce, I really want you to shell my shrimps for me. Please?"

Bryce glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Subsequently, he put on a pair of single-use gloves and picked up a shrimp to shell.

He didn't know why, but he recalled how Holly had shelled his shrimp before. She moved so skillfully that the shell remained intact after getting removed. Bryce had tried to do it several times but always failed.

He shelled one shrimp and was about to place it on Samantha's plate.

Suddenly, Samantha leaned in to eat the shrimp he held. She took his fingers in her mouth on purpose. The tip of her tongue gingerly circled his fingertips as she kissed them sensually.

Her eyes clouded with desire as she stared at him.

Soon enough, she released his fingers, shot him a coy smile, and chewed on the shrimp. Her gentle voice rang out not long after. "The shrimp you shelled is yummy."

Bryce's features tensed, and he was rendered speechless. After taking off and tossing his gloves aside, he picked up a napkin to clean the fingers Samantha put in her mouth.

Goosebumps popped up all over Yax's skin. He desperately wanted to slap Samantha for doing that. How dared she cross the boundaries with Bryce when he still wasn't divorced?

He couldn't believe Samantha had ignored his presence and seduced Bryce in front of him.

Yax picked up his phone to send Holly a text at once. He texted, "Holly, your husband drank too much and is throwing a drunken fit. He's not fully conscious of what he's doing anymore.

"Please pick him up now. We're in a private room on the third floor of Tentation."

…

Holly was having a meal with her colleagues at Jardington Hotel and Restaurant.

That was when she received Yax's text. She called him right away, wanting to know more about the situation.

After all, Bryce always had a decent alcohol tolerance.

She had never seen him throw a drunken fit before.

The call was ringing, but Yax immediately declined the call.

Holly clicked on Bryce's contact and was about to call him instead. That was when she received another text from Yax that read, "Please hurry over, Holly! ASAP! It's urgent!"

Her heart dropped once she read that.