Chapter 110: She is mine and mine alone
Lena arrived at the venue without any strain, her car pulling smoothly to a stop under the bright lights that illuminated the grand entrance. The building stood tall and elegant, its glass doors reflecting the soft glow of chandeliers within. She stepped out, adjusting the hem of her dress, her heels clicking lightly against the polished floor as she made her way inside. Her eyes immediately found Sylvia, who was already waiting for her near the entrance, looking as lively and put together as ever.
"You look stunning, Lena," Sylvia said warmly, her face lighting up as she linked her arm with Lena’s.
Lena gave a small smile, allowing herself to relax just a little under her friend’s admiration. Together, they paused for a few pictures, flashes going off as photographers captured the moment.
Lena maintained a composed expression, though inside, her thoughts were far from calm.
Once they were done, Sylvia wasted no time pulling her closer as they began walking in.
"Now tell me everything," Sylvia said eagerly, lowering her voice but unable to hide her excitement. "How did he take it when he found out you were coming to this event without him? Tell me everything."
Lena hesitated for a brief second, then sighed softly.
"Well... he didn’t take it well," she admitted. "And we kissed."
Sylvia stopped walking abruptly, turning to stare at her. "You did what?" she asked, her voice rising in disbelief. "I thought we were going to make him jealous and have him crawling back to you!"
"Yeah, I’m still going to do that," Lena said quickly, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "I just... you should have seen his lips. They were so inviting. And I can’t stay mad at him forever." She exhaled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Besides, I didn’t kiss him. He kissed me."
As she spoke, she reached for a glass of wine from a tray a waiter was carrying past them, taking a small sip as if to steady herself.
Sylvia stared at her, clearly still processing. "But you’ll still go through with our plan, right?" she asked cautiously.
"Of course," Lena replied, her confidence returning. She gestured lightly at her outfit. "I didn’t dress this sexy for an event I don’t care about for nothing. One kiss doesn’t change anything. If anything, it’ll make him more jealous. He’ll want more when he sees me with another man."
Sylvia studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay... if you say so."
They continued walking toward the front where their seats were located, their heels moving in sync against the marble floor.
"David," Lena said suddenly, her face lighting up with genuine surprise as she spotted him standing near the seating area.
"Lena," he replied, greeting her with a polite nod before acknowledging Sylvia as well.
"What are you doing here?" Lena asked, clearly caught off guard. The last time she had seen him was at an art exhibit, so his presence here felt unexpected.
"I’m here for the event. I was invited," he replied curtly, his gaze lingering on her a moment longer than necessary.
Sylvia, sensing the shift in conversation, quietly excused herself and moved ahead to take her seat, leaving Lena standing with David.
"I waited for you, you know," David said, his tone changing slightly. "I waited for your call. I got nothing. I even tried to look for you, and now you just walk into this event like nothing happened."
Lena blinked, confusion spreading across her face. "I... don’t understand what you’re talking about," she said slowly. "Why were you looking for me?"
A chill ran down her spine as his words settled in.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he said, reaching out as if to touch her.
Instinctively, Lena stepped back, pulling her hand away before he could make contact. Her heart skipped, unease creeping in. She immediately regretted approaching him.
She should have just walked past and joined Sylvia. The only thing that gave her a sense of comfort was the crowd around them, people moving, talking, existing. She wasn’t alone.
David raised both hands in surrender, clearly surprised by her reaction.
"Hey, don’t be scared of me, Lena," he said with a light chuckle. "I just want to be your friend. Don’t see me as a creep, I’m actually a really good guy."
Lena looked at him carefully, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Why are you laughing?" she asked, irritation slipping into her voice. "Is something funny?"
He shook his head. "Nothing really. I just find it funny that you seem scared because I said I looked for you everywhere. You don’t have to be scared of me, I promise." He gestured toward the seating area. "Come on, let’s sit. The event is about to start. We can talk properly. You can ask me anything you want."
He gently tugged at her, and though Lena was still skeptical, she allowed herself to follow him. Together, they walked toward the seats where Sylvia was already seated. David took a seat beside Lena, placing himself comfortably as if he belonged there.
"Hi, I’m Sylvia," Sylvia said, extending her hand politely.
"I’m David," he replied, shaking her hand before settling back into his seat.
Moments later, Raymond walked into the venue.
The moment his eyes landed on Lena, everything else faded into the background. She was seated with another man, smiling, engaged, completely at ease, and that sight alone was enough to darken his expression instantly.
His gaze shifted to the man beside her. There was something familiar about him. After a moment, he realized he had seen him once before, at the last event he attended. Not important enough to remember, but not entirely a stranger either.
Raymond remained where he was, standing at a distance, watching.
He remembered clearly, Lena had denied having anything to do with that man. Yet here she was, smiling like they shared something deeper, something personal.
Without a word, Raymond turned and made his way to his private booth. He ignored everyone who tried to greet him, brushing past directors, CEOs, and other important figures who had hoped to get even a moment of his attention. Tonight, he had no interest in socializing.
All that mattered was Lena.
He sat down, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, fixed entirely on her. From his vantage point, he watched closely, every movement, every expression.
And then he saw it.
The man placed a hand on Lena, and she didn’t resist. Instead, she allowed him to guide her, the three of them moving together before taking their seats.
Something inside Raymond snapped.
The glass he had unconsciously picked up tightened in his grip until it shattered in his hand, fragments falling to the ground with a sharp, sudden sound.
His eyes darkened further, a low, humorless chuckle escaping him.
"Lena... Lena... Lena," he muttered under his breath. "You’re cheating on me?" His voice dropped, cold and dangerous. "I’ll remind you whose woman you are... in case you’ve forgotten."
The charity event began shortly after, starting with a model auction that quickly drew the attention of the crowd. Bidders raised their paddles, voices echoing through the hall as the atmosphere grew lively.
But Raymond remained still.
His eyes never left Lena.
She laughed at something the man said, her attention completely on him, and that only fueled the fire burning inside Raymond. He didn’t participate in the auction, didn’t raise his paddle even once. Glass after glass of drink found its way into his hand as he silently watched, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
His lack of participation did not go unnoticed. This was a charity event, after all, and Raymond Black was known for his generous contributions. The auctioneer began to sweat, his confidence faltering as he noticed Raymond’s cold demeanor.
Still, the event continued.
When it finally came to an end, Raymond wasted no time. He stood and left his booth, heading downstairs with purpose.
He knew exactly where Lena would pass.
And he waited.
Moments later, Lena appeared, walking toward the exit. The instant she saw him standing there, her steps faltered, her eyes widening in shock.
Raymond moved forward, blocking her path completely.
He was done being patient.
Done pretending.
Lena was his, and his alone.
"It’s time to go home, baby," he said calmly, though there was an unmistakable edge beneath his tone. "Let me take you back. You know the doctor said you need a lot of rest. We wouldn’t want you ending up in the hospital again."
His words sounded casual, almost caring, but his presence left no room for refusal.
Lena coughed suddenly, the sound sharp and unexpected.
She quickly turned her head, hoping no one had noticed the interaction, or worse, recognized the implication behind his words.
The last thing she needed was to become the center of a scandal.
But standing there, with Raymond blocking her way and his gaze fixed on her, Lena knew one thing clearly... raynond is not leaving until he achieve what he came for
.
