All Chapters of Rivals to Lovers: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Lena was a little overwhelmed by the lavish dinner setup—it was brimming with a sense of ceremony. The table was adorned with exquisite dinnerware and intricately carved crystal glasses.Elise had only learned she was coming over not long ago, yet she had prepared such a sumptuous feast. Lena knew this about Elise: though she seemed carefree on the surface, she was tender and meticulous at heart.The appetizer was a luxurious lobster salad, dressed with a tangy champagne vinaigrette and served alongside crispy French baguette slices."Here, try this," Elise said, pouring vintage champagne into Lena’s glass.The bubbles were delicate, and the aroma was layered with hints of musk and citrus, perfectly complementing the appetizer's nuanced flavors. It was easy to lose track of how much you were drinking, but since they were at Elise’s house, Lena, usually a lightweight, felt no need to restrain herself.In the open kitchen, the chef was preparing steaks to their ind

“The speech earlier was pretty good,” Alaric said, quickly signing the document and handing it back to Lena.“Thank you.”Her tone sounded tired. Alaric fiddled with the pen in his hand, hesitating slightly before speaking. “Is it because of Keaton? If you’re uncomfortable dealing with him, I can have Linda take the lead on this project. You can work behind the scenes and avoid meeting him directly.”Lena shook her head. “No, it’s fine. He hasn’t done anything to me. It might just be a cultural difference. I’ll adjust. Besides, I always have my team with me.”For a project this important, how could she avoid showing up as CPO? She wasn’t that fragile.Despite the odd tension between her and Keaton, Lena still defended him, which unsettled Alaric. “You’re clearly not okay. Why won’t you tell me?”Lena looked up at him, her eyes calm. “I’m fine. This is my job, and I’m doing it for the company.”Her response was eerily similar to the corporate platitudes he

Lena had a dream. She found herself back in her high school classroom, sitting by the window with her chin resting on her hand, lost in thought. It was autumn, just like now. The midday sunlight streamed through the half-open window, enveloping her in a warm glow.Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, followed by the surprised voice of a classmate. “Lena, look!”Still dazed, Lena followed the direction her classmate was pointing. Looking down from the fourth floor, she saw Alaric standing beneath the shade of a tall tree. He was wearing a deep blue sweater, one hand hanging by his side, the other casually tucked into his pocket. His posture was upright, almost regal.In front of him stood a petite girl with a braided ponytail, her face lit up with a sweet smile. She looked up at him, saying something

The words barely left his mouth before regret set in. Just when things between them had started to ease, his impatience might have set them back.Lena froze for a moment, her gaze locking on Alaric. She caught a flicker of guilt in his eyes just as the grip on her wrist loosened.“Just put Max in his seat,” Alaric murmured, trying to smooth over the awkwardness and skip past the conversation.“Alright.” Lena carefully lifted Max off her lap and placed him on the car seat.Outside, the world had darkened with the setting sun, leaving the car’s interior as the only source of light. The passenger door creaked open slightly, sending a thin beam of light onto the cobblestone road. The door stopped moving. Lena hesitated, then turned to Alaric.“My friend’s sister has an emergency. Thanks for driving me over,” she said quickly.With a soft click, the door shut again.The street lights flickered on, illuminating Alaric’s eyes. He watched Lena’s silhouette vanish around the corner, yet a smal

In less than thirty minutes, the Carrington family’s scandal had dominated the front pages of major news sites and was spreading like wildfire across social media.Lena stood frozen for a long time. She had never received the slightest hint that her family was planning to issue a statement, and now, without warning, she found herself thrust into the eye of a public storm.“Former Real Estate Tycoon: Involved in a Major Embezzlement Scandal!”“She Destroyed the Family That Raised Her: Wealthy Clan Accuses Adopted Daughter of Betrayal!”“Financial Crime and Family Feuds: A Tale of Betrayal Behind a Bankruptcy!”From these headlines alone, Lena could roughly piece together her family’s strategy. She let out a cold laugh. She had suspected there was a reason her family had so smoothly agreed to