Chapter 3 A Shock News

“Come on, Christopher my son. How could you be so wild even before the wedding?” Grace teased with a sleazy chuckle, wanting to let all the guests learn that her son's marriage to the daughter of the Grant family was imminent.

So, it remained to be seen to whom the heir-ship will go.

All in her complacency, Grace didn't notice the frozen face of her son. Christopher stared at Roxanne with hidden anger in his eyes, waiting for a reasonable explanation.

The last time they had made love was months ago. When and how the hell could she get such a mark? He couldn't believe that a meek girl like Roxanne even dared to cheat on him.

Meeting his angry gaze, Roxanne felt her heart clench but it soon turned to be the thrill of revenge.

'See? No one likes to be cheated on, Christopher.'

She sneered inside and simply explained, “Ah, this is just a mosquito bite.”

"A mosquito bite?"

Her answer caused the faces of the crowd to vary.

Grace was embarrassed, Christopher was confused, and Lance's grin froze on his lips.

How dare this woman compare him to an obnoxious mosquito?

'You'd better be ready to pay the price for your words, woman.' Lance thought as he took a sip of the wine in his hand.

Trying her best to ignore Lance's meaningful gaze, Roxanne took Christopher’s hand in hers and explain to him again.

“Iris had forgotten to fumigate her place.”

She knew Christopher wouldn't buy her words at once, but he had no reason to doubt her when 'she was at Iris' home last night'.

"You know I hate mosquitoes the most, but you were not there by my side at that time." She pouted as she complained to Christopher, which slowly dispelled his doubts.

Maybe he was just overthinking. Where did a good girl like her get the guts to cheat? Christopher always knew how much she cherished marriage and family.

Watching the couple regain their apparent harmony, Lance chuckled, “Yeah, good job of the mosquito.”

His sarcastic comment had both Christopher and Roxanne glancing at him. Roxanne warned him with her eyes but Lance didn't care at all. He seemed to say something more, the voice of his father sounded to draw all their attention.

"Thank you all for taking the time to attend our family party." Lance's father Layton raised his wine glass high at the center stage as he stated, "In addition to celebrating the birthday of my father, the Chairman of the Laurent Cop, there is one more important announcement to make today."

Layton smiled mysteriously, making the hearts of the crowd tense up. And finally, his eyes fell on Lance.

“Let’s make a toast to my son Lance Laurent who shall be engaged by the end of this month.”

The words were followed by applause.

There was a tradition in the Laurent family that the offspring could only get the heir-ship after they got married. Most people had thought the succession was close to going to the stepson Christopher first, after all, he was already engaged while Lance still enjoyed the indulgent single life without any semblance of getting married.

Yet now, a simple engagement announcement helped Lance win back easily.

Sure enough, the Laurent family value their own bloodline more.

Nearly at once, Lance was quickly surrounded by congratulations from different guests.

Roxanne couldn't see his face clearly as she was pushed out of the way by the crowd. But she could clearly feel the anger from Christopher, who was standing beside her but staring hard at Lance.

For a moment, Roxanne had a feeling of indescribable pleasure.

She hadn't yet carried out much of her plan, and Christopher was going to lose everything. This should be his retribution for betraying her, right?

Roxanne stepped closer, intending to watch more of his suffering face but Christopher just turned away, excusing himself to the restroom.

In an instant, her heart hit rock bottom again. So, this was his true attitude toward her. As long as he found she was useless to him, he would abandon her like trash.

He doesn't love her at all.

Roxanne should be glad that she had already found this out, but why did her heart still hurt?

** ** ** **

[Third Floor, fifth room.]

Roxanne stared at the message on her phone that had come from an unknown number.

She was ready to leave when other guests were standing outside in the garden watching the exquisite firework show.

Christopher was not in the mood after that announcement, and she was also not interested in pretending to keep this loveless relationship. She would inform him of dismissing their engagement soon, but not today.

She was not going to break him twice in one night. This would be her last mercy for him.

After all, he did accompany her at the darkest time when she lost her parents.

After tonight, they would have no relationship and she would start her new life.

Ignoring the inexplicable message, Roxanne was about to leave. But it was as if the other party had read her mind. A new message popped up again.

[If you don't want to let others know about last night, come over soon.]

Damn it! She knew she had chosen the wrong date for a one-night stand last night.

Lance Laurent. Why would he try to pester her when he clearly had no shortage of women? And it was not to mention he'd already engaged.

That liar.

She clearly remembered that she had confirmed his single condition before she took him to the hotel. Obviously, he lied to her.

Roxanne was tempted to walk away but recalling the madness that had flashed in his eyes, she decided it was better to have a talk to him.

It was only a one-night stand and they should just forget it.

She looked back to observe the garden where everyone was focusing on the firework show and they would only think she had gone home. It wouldn't hurt for a short stay.

She finally arrived at the location Lance had told her as she walked through the building. In front of the room, she took a deep breath in, calming her nerves as she raised her to push the door open but stopped when she heard the familiar sound of moaning.

“Ah… Chris… ah, fuck.”

It didn’t take Roxanne more than a second to recognize Amber’s voice. Her hand shivered and once again, her heart ached in disappointment.

Why Was Amber here? During such a family event, was Christopher so eager to fuck his mistress? What the hell did he think she is? Anger was burning in Roxanne's heart.

She should really call the others over to see how shameless the stepson of the Laurent family was.

At that moment Roxanne really wanted to do that, even if it would draw her ridicule at the same time. Just as she was about to move, she heard their talk.

“Are you still going to continue your plan, Chris boo?”

"Why not? I have put so much effort into Roxanne, it's time for her to repay me."

Repay? What gave him a face to say that? Hadn't she given his company enough support over the years? She even fought many times with her family for that.

“You aren't really in love with her, right?”

For some reason, Roxanne’s heart lightly throbbed, but what she heard next totally shattered her heart.

"Love?" Christopher chuckled as if hearing a big joke. "Just dealing with her family is sick enough for me. If they weren't obstructing everything, all her property should have been under my name already."

"With that, I should have defeated Lance long ago."

"How nice it will be if her damn family could also die in some accidents like her parents. That way, Roxanne will just be my obedient puppet and you will be my only noble queen."

“Oh, you’re so bad.”

"Don't you just love the bad way I am?"

Amber giggled and their moans and grunts of pleasure restarted again. And Roxanne, who heard all their talk, was almost on her edge.

How dare he curse her family like that?! She thought he was at least the most person who know her pain of losing her parents. So it was all a lie, right?

How stupid she was to fall for such a hypocritical bastard! Seven whole years wasted. Roxanne thought as a quiet self-deprecating laugh left her lips.

Taking a deep breath, Roxanne was going to kick off the door but was stopped by a firm hand.

She turned around and saw Lance who was standing behind her with a smirk.

“So sunshine, do you want to join my plan?”