No matter how enchanting his words were, anything that came out of his mouth sounded malicious. Forcefully suppressing my fear deep inside, I put on a tough front and asked, “What have you done with Macy?”
Raising his hand, he edged closer and peered at me before saying casually, “She’s fine.” Lifting up my chin, he remarked helplessly, “Letty, you’ve grown thinner, but you still look stunning still!”
I lowered my gaze, refusing to talk to him.
“J City’s Harrison Family is a prominent centuries-old clan. They have produced many top military leaders and politicians throughout the years. In the business world, they are second to none. You’d better stay close to me later.” he said with a strict tone.
Hearing that made me frown. It’s been five years since we last met, I wonder what he has been doing for all these years/ How did he transform himself from a hacker into someone who could reach the pinnacle in both business and politics?
Just as I was lost in my thoughts, my ride came to a stop outside a European-styled luxurious villa. John alighted first from the car before opening my side of the door and ushered me out in a gentlemanly manner. He then whispered in my ear, “Make sure you hold my arms at all times.”
I hated and feared his hypocrisy. His smiling façade was simply revolting. He had always been the type of person who would stab someone in the back without even blinking an eye. Everything nice he ever did was always the precursor to his evil intent.
Yet I had no choice but to listen to him. Holding onto his arms, I got off the car.
The villa was architecturally elegant outside while tinged with culturally inspired design on the inside. The entrance led not into a hall as per a normal villa, but rather a cobblestone path that meandered through a small garden before arriving at the actual hall.
Walking arm-in-arm with John, I strutted on smoothly in my high heels.
Outside the hall, I caught sight of Ashton standing not far in front. He was clad in a black suit and a white shirt underneath. With crisp-white collars, short-cropped hair, and groomed-sharp features, he looked handsomely stunning.
His mere presence exuded a strong, manly aura that even among the crowd, he could still be easily spotted with a mere glance.
Realization finally dawned on me that this elegant party was Cameron Anderson’s aforementioned birthday banquet. Ashton, together with many from the J City’s business and political circles were invited. My eyes widened as I realized that I knew quite a few of them.
I was Ashton’s wife, yet here I was, holding onto another man’s hand. By showing up like this, I knew that it was akin to a slap on Ashton’s face.
I descended into a state of fear and worry and abruptly withdrew my hand.
However, John was never the type of person to miss out on opportunities to torment others. Grabbing my hand forcefully, he growled, “Letty, behave!”
I could only bit my lips as sweat started to break out from my palms.
Raising my eyes to look in the direction of Ashton, I realized to my horror that he had his sights on me too. His deep, dark eyes narrowed as his gaze fell on the black, drop-shoulder gown on my body.
Shortly after, he turned his attention to John and greeted, “Mr. Stovall, it’s been a long while since I last saw you.”
What? Ashton and John know each other?
John pulled me closer as he smiled, “Indeed, Mr. Fuller. It has been a while since our last meeting.”
The exchange between the two seemed ordinary enough that I could not sense anything wrong.
Ashton shifted his gaze onto me and queried, “And who’s this lovely lady beside you, Mr. Stovall?”
“My fiancée!” John’s false admission clearly shocked Ashton. The latter’s expression became grim as his gaze turned frosty.
Still, he maintained his smile as he remarked, “Words on the street is that Mr. Stovall has no interest in women. But I guess that’s not true, seeing that you have such a stunning fiancée by your side.”
John held my hand as he smiled, “It’s not that I don’t have interest in women. It’s just that I’ve been waiting for the right one to appear.”
Hearing those words, Ashton narrowed his eyes dangerously as his lips repeated softly, “The right one to appear…”
At this point, I was already in full-blown panic mode. I had never mentioned John to Ashton. Even though I might able to do so in the future, but for now, the matter itself had been exacerbated to a critical point. All I wished at that moment was for a hole to open up and swallow me whole.
However, I could not get away as my hand was held firmly by John. I dared not open my mouth either to denied the nonsense he spouted.
My heart was in a mess.
Ashton’s dark gaze fell upon me for a moment before he suddenly smiled and asked sarcastically, “How shall I address you now? Mrs. Fuller? Or Mrs. Stovall?”
My heart sank. Forcefully yanking away from John’s iron grasp, I stepped forward and grabbed Ashton as I stuttered, “A-Ashton, I…”
“Ashton!” Just then, a gentle and sweet voice of a woman called out from the side. Turning my head toward the source, I saw Rebecca coming over. She was wearing a nude-colored, mermaid-bareback gown that fully accented her gorgeous figure. Lifting her gown skirt in one hand, she sashayed gracefully to Ashton’s side and hooked her arms into his.
Standing together, they looked like a match made in heaven.
Rebecca was not surprised when she noticed me. Her expression betrayed a certain dislike as she greeted, “I see that Ms. Stovall is here as well.”
As her eyes rested upon John who was beside me, she smiled faintly and remarked, “Ms. Stovall, is he your… friend?”
She purposely emphasized the word “friend” in an ambiguous manner.
I looked down and averted her gaze. I was prudent enough to suppress the retort I had in mind because no matter how I put it, in the current situation, I would be merely making a fool out of myself.
“Letty, let’s go in.” John simply glanced at Rebecca with indifference as a look of disdain flashed across his face. Holding onto my arm, he pulled me toward the hall.
Truthfully speaking, it wasn’t that John had no interest in women, it was that he was disgusted by women. He had been repulsed by women since the age of eight. If it were not for the fact that I grew up with him, he would have also hated me.
His special condition was like a sentence to hell for me, as it made it that much harder for me to escape from his evil clutches.
