Calista avoided him."Stop it. You're going to make people misunderstand the whole situation. I came because I need your help." Hector shrugged and followed Calista to their seat. The table could only accommodate two people. Now it had to bear four people. It just wouldn't fit despite the two of them standing.After receiving several glances from the server, Hector lifted his head and looked at Calista's bodyguards."Would you like to take a seat at the next table? The bill's on me."The bodyguards peered at him."No."They could tell at first sight that this man was trying to make a move at Madam. Hector smiled politely."Perhaps you could step aside? It's getting awkward here if you guys insist on staying."Although Hector had a pleasant expression on, his stare pressured the bodyguards. He used to be in the army and he was used to commanding hundreds of men under him.Although he was smiling, he made his warnings evident. The tension in the air grew as Hector continued
Ava's tone oozed with disdain, and it struck Calista that this marked their initial meeting. At this juncture, they hadn't even introduced themselves.Ava's unwarranted air of superiority and condescension toward Calista was rather astonishing, to say the least. Even though Hector was a rugged fellow and hadn't been around many women in recent years, he could pick up on the apparent unpleasant tone in Ava's voice. He furrowed his brow and was about to speak. Suddenly, Calista raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?" Ava had intended to drop a subtle hint to Calista, but since Calista was adamant about being upfront, Ava couldn't help being straightforward."Does Hector know you're married?" Calista stayed silent, glancing at Hector, whose furrowed brows could have flattened a fly. Her silence prompted Hector to explain. Although Ava wasn't very polite, her point was valid. Calista would have reacted even more strongly than Ava if her friend had gotten involved with
Lucian furrowed his brow, his gaze fixed on Calista. He regretted his words. He would have preferred it if Calista were angry with him instead of ignoring him like this. Calista bid Hector goodbye and left with her bag in hand, acting as if Lucian didn't even exist. Lucian followed her and spoke up, "I'm sorry. What I said earlier was unintentional. I didn't mean it the way you might have interpreted it." Lucian found himself in an unfamiliar position. He was not accustomed to apologizing and appeared somewhat awkward now, a stark contrast to his usually aloof demeanor.However, Calista remained unresponsive. Lucian rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat helpless."Calista, how long are you planning to keep this up?" He perceived her silence and unresponsive attitude as a tantrum, with no indication of her willingness to resolve the issue. Despite his attempts, Calista continued to meet his words with silence. She had initially arrived with bodyguards, but now, everything rela
Calista raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Lucian's sudden request. She turned to him as he sat there, looking relaxed. She couldn't quite grasp his intentions. "The doctor mentioned the bleeding has stopped, and you'll heal quicker if you take some rest at home." Public hospitals weren't peaceful, and their rooms couldn't compare to the luxurious suites in private facilities.Stansend Manor, on the other hand, had its doctors and staff, which undoubtedly made it a more suitable place for recovery than the bustling and noisy public hospital. Lucian looked at her with a smile and calmly replied, "You never know when the bleeding might start again. My place is pretty secluded, and there's no one around at night. It could be a real issue if I pass out from too much blood loss." Calista glared at him, her patience wearing thin."What are you up to?" Lucian began, "I thought I'd go to your place ..." Before he could finish his sentence, Calista turned to the doctor and instructed,
Yara nodded in agreement with Calista's sentiment. While she had considered making some sarcastic remarks initially, she chose to refrain from doing so in the presence of Paul.She didn't want to ridicule his friend while he was around, so she kept her comments to herself. Yara handed Calista a gift and explained, "My mom brought this souvenir for you from her trip. It's some food items. She was worried they might spoil, so she asked me to bring them to you." Calista accepted the gift with gratitude and replied, "Please thank your mom for me." Changing the topic, Yara inquired, "Oh, how did you handle that vase from the last time? The employer is getting impatient because they're about to travel abroad and asked if they could have it early." Calista assured her, "I took care of it. I'll go get it for you now." Yara had access to Calista's place with a spare key, but she recognized Calista's eagerness to leave the hospital and did not mention it.All Calista wanted at that m
Paul furrowed his brow and shook his head."I'm sorry, but I had no idea that Calista came to see me that night. The staff possibly took the money but didn't follow through." After all, Calista was rather timid back then, and the staff may have taken advantage of that. Yara remained unconvinced, no matter what Paul said."If it weren't for your customized, one-of-a-kind watch, Calista wouldn't have mistaken you for Lucian ..." Calista wouldn't have ended up in the wrong bed and forced into marrying Lucian. She was nervous and had accidentally consumed too many drinks while waiting for Paul that night. She had dozed off, and when a man helped her from her seat, her blurry state prevented her from seeing his face. However, she distinctly noticed the unique watch the man was wearing. Paul had mentioned that his watch was custom-made, one of a kind in the world. Calista believed that tipping the waiter to convey a message to Paul had worked. Furthermore, the man exuded a famili
Paul wasn't one to readily accept responsibility. He usually maintained a friendly but emotionally distant demeanor, making it hard for others to connect with him. However, this time, he couldn't avoid feeling personally involved. His emotions were a complex mix of anger, regret, and even a hint of sympathy. Lucian replied, "Yes." Lucian had been sober that night, fully aware that Calista had gone with him under the mistaken belief that he was Paul. Their subsequent intimate encounter had not been consensual. Paul clenched his fist without hesitation and swung it toward Lucian's face. While Paul wasn't used to having fights, he had received training since childhood due to potential threats from his family's background. His punch packed a considerable amount of force. Lucian quickly stepped back, using his hand to block Paul's attack and simultaneously attempting to land a kick on Paul's knee. The room was small and poorly soundproofed, causing the commotion to reach the h
Lucian and Paul continued to throw punches at each other relentlessly. Calista's voice quivered with anxiety, "Lucian ..." However, her plea failed to deter the enraged and uncontrollable man. Instead, they only fueled his fury, intensifying his assault on Paul. Paul, who wasn't used to physical altercations, was visibly outmatched. Calista tried to restrain Lucian, but a man consumed by anger was beyond reason. He nearly flung her aside in his blind rage. As Lucian attempted to lay another punch at Paul, she clung to his arm, using her body weight to hold him down. Despite Lucian's strength, he couldn't break free from her grip. Lucian gradually came to his senses, but his anger and desire for destruction grew stronger.His expression remained impassive as he questioned, "Calista, are you protecting him?" Lucian remembered the time he had fought with Hector, and Calista had walked away, showing no interest in the altercation.She had been detained by apartment security b