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“Oh? What a coincidence,” I said, arching a brow as my lips curved into a sly smile. “I wonder where this dear, late
friend of yours is now to make you miss them so much.”
Arthur stiffened for a brief second before brushing off the subject with a half–hearted chuckle. “Uh… it’s all in the past. No need to dwell on it.” Quickly, he shifted gears. “Speaking of the present, your Meyer Group has been making some serious waves recently. I hear you’re seeking a partner to develop that northern suburban land. I’m interested. Why don‘ t we discuss it further?”
As Arthur and Daniel delved into business discussions, I could feel a pair of eyes boring into me. I didn’t need to look to know who it was–Bella. She’d been sneaking glances at me all night, her expression a cocktail of suspicion and
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hostility.
During the intermission, while the men continued their negotiation, I wandered over to the dining table to nibble on some fruit. Before I could enjoy even a single bite, Bella swooped in, her heels clicking against the polished floor with an almost predatory precision.
“Ms. Sheren, right?” she said, her tone sugar–laced with malice. “Why do I feel like you look familiar? Have we met. somewhere before?”
I stifled a laugh. The irony wasn’t lost on me. Despite my meticulous transformation -new face, new name, new life–there are some things that can’t be easily erased. A subtle gesture, an unconscious habit… they can betray even the best–kept secrets.
Feigning surprise, I met her gaze with a cool indifference. “Oh, really? I can’t seem to recall. Where do you think you‘ ve seen me before, Ms. Bella?”
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Her eyes narrowed and the saccharine tone. dissolved into a venomous snarl. “Funny, isn’t it? Just now, while Arthur was clearly talking business with Daniel, his eyes kept wandering over to you. I can’t imagine what sort of charm you must have to distract my fiancé like that!”
Her words almost made me laugh out loud. Fiancé? Oh, this was going to be fun.
“Your fiancé?” I asked, tilting my head innocently. “Are you two engaged?”
Bella’s lips curled into a smug smile. “Of course! You must be new to Jingbei and wouldn’t know. After his former fiancée- that vile woman–attempted to kill his parents and ran off, Arthur decided to align with our family. We got engaged just last month. The wedding isn‘ t far off now.”
I felt the faintest tug at the corner of my lips, a smile so subtle it was almost imperceptible. “Then congratulations are in order, Ms. Bella,” I said smoothly, my voice as calm as a still lake.
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Her demeanor shifted instantly. She leaned closer, her eyes darkening as her tone dropped to a hiss. “Consider this your warning. Stay away from my fiancé, or don’t blame me for what happens next.”
Ah, Bella. Still the same venomous snake she always was. Her mask of civility. hadn’t changed and neither had the ruthless person beneath it.
I decided not to dignify her veiled threats with a response. Turning on my heel, I moved to leave, but before I could take a step, I felt something wet and cold splash down over me.
The sharp scent of red wine filled the air.
I turned back slowly, my hair and dress dripping with crimson liquid. Bella stood before me, a gasp escaping her lips as she clutched her now–empty wine glass.
“Ah… Ms. Sheren!” she exclaimed, her voice trembling as crocodile tears welled in her eyes. “What are you doing? I just
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mentioned my engagement and you… you attacked me! You threw wine at me out of jealousy!”
For a moment, I simply stared at her, incredulous. Then, a laugh escaped my lips -a cold, sharp sound that silenced those nearby.
“Ms. Bella,” I said, my voice steady and loud enough for the gathering crowd to hear. “It seems you‘ ve had too much to drink. You‘ ve drenched yourself and are now blaming me? How amusing.”
“Sheren!” she spat, her voice rising in pitch. “You‘ re jealous of me! Jealous that I’m marrying Arthur! Admit it–you threw this wine at me out of spite!”
Calmly, I turned to a nearby security guard and gestured with a wave of my hand.
“Would you be so kind as to retrieve the venue’s surveillance footage?” I asked. “Let’s see exactly how this incident‘ occurred.”
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“No!” Bella snapped, her tone suddenly desperate. She forced a weak smile, though the panic was evident in her eyes.
“There’s no need for that. Sheren, if you just apologize, we can let this go. No need to escalate things further.”
Her sudden shift in demeanor was almost comical. Weakness crept into her voice, betraying the cracks in her composure.
By now, Arthur and Daniel had arrived, their expressions shadowed with concern and curiosity. Arthur immediately stepped forward to assist Bella, gently dabbing at her dress with a napkin. But his sharp eyes flickered toward me, his brow furrowing.
“Ms. Sheren,” he said, his tone heavy with accusation. “Is there some misunderstanding between you and Bella? Why would you act so hostile toward her when you‘ ve just met?”
I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head.
“Mr. Arthur,” I said, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence. “Before
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“No!” Bella snapped, her tone suddenly desperate. She forced a weak smile, though the panic was evident in her eyes.
“There’s no need for that. Sheren, if you just apologize, we can let this go. No need to escalate things further.”
Her sudden shift in demeanor was almost comical. Weakness crept into her voice, betraying the cracks in her composure.
By now, Arthur and Daniel had arrived, their expressions shadowed with concern and curiosity. Arthur immediately stepped forward to assist Bella, gently dabbing at her dress with a napkin. But his sharp eyes flickered toward me, his brow furrowing.
“Ms. Sheren,” he said, his tone heavy with accusation. “Is there some misunderstanding between you and Bella? Why would you act so hostile toward her when you’ve just met?”
I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head.
“Mr. Arthur,” I said, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence. “Before
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jumping to conclusions, I suggest you figure out who’s being hostile to whom. There’s surveillance footage available. Why don’t you review it for yourself?”
The challenge hung in the air, daring him to uncover the truth.
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