The night is ruled by tales of romance and intrigue.
When Audrey Sutton arrived, Flora and the others hadn’t shown up yet, but she did run into Faye Xavier and Luc and Mor at the entrance.
Audrey sat with them for a while, and perhaps because of her presence, Faye and Luc refrained from inviting any won over.
But their eyes were constantly drawn to the dance floor, discussing the faces of one woman, the figure of another, clearly tempted to make a move.
Mor was always quite proper, seemingly the kind of person who wouldn’t be swayed even by a beautiful woman.
As for Shane Warner... Audrey wondered if it was because she was there, but she always saw him as soone not interested in won.
However, Phoebe King had also said that Shane Warner wasn’t the type to be swayed by lust.
Restless n wouldn’t settle down just because they’re married, so she was willing to believe that Shane Warner could rationally face temptation.
Flora texted to say she had arrived at the entrance, so Audrey bid goodbye to Shane and rushed outside to et her.
This was her fourth brother’s venue, so Shane wasn’t too worried about Audrey’s safety and allowed her to have fun without constant oversight.
Audrey t up with Flora and was about to head inside to wait for Barry Barrett and Seraphina Vaughn when they saw a black Bentley pull up in front of the hotel.
Both recognized the car as Nolan Hawke’s, and at the sa ti, Barry rolled down the window, cheerfully waving to them.
Initially, they thought Nolan had just dropped Barry off, but unexpectedly, they both got out and walked over together.
Nolan’s gaze lingered several tis on Audrey, but none of the three won noticed this.
Nolan ntioned he also arranged to et friends here, so after settling Barry at the table Flora had booked, he went to find his friends.
Flora had worried that Nolan might cluelessly linger and disturb their conversation.
Seraphina was a few minutes late but aptly penalized herself with a drink.
"Ah! It’s been ages since I’ve seen these vibrant scenes; I feel like I’m almost forced to beco virtuous." Flora remarked, swirling the wine in her glass, her eyes scanning the handso young n on the dance floor.
But clearly, she no longer had the vigor to flirt, just indulging in ocular enjoynt.
Since Barry had started a relationship, he too had slightly toned down his amorous inclinations.
Seraphina was never much interested in these things. She found dating immature and therefore had no intention of flirting with n. More often, she was the one being flirted with, but everyone was t with harsh rejections.
As for Audrey, she genuinely believed no one was as handso as her husband.
Upstairs, the private box was much quieter compared to the hustle downstairs.
Nolan pushed open the door and entered a room at the end of the corridor, the speakers inside playing very soft music.
Besides the music, there was nothing else in the room.
In the box spacious enough for more than twenty people, only one figure was lazily reclined on the sofa.
Nolan reached for the switch by the door, lighting up the room.
Clarissa Morgan seed to have been dozing, only lifting her gaze to Nolan when the lights ca on: "You’re here?"
"Falling asleep here, was work exhausting?"
Clarissa smiled as she sat up on the sofa: "Just a bit bored waiting, you know I don’t like waiting for people."
Clarissa picked up the glass in front of her, slowly pouring herself a drink: "Besides, do you know whose territory this is? And you still dared to bring here."
Nolan took off his suit jacket, sat on the sofa beside Clarissa: "Couldn’t help it, that young lady told last-minute she was coming here with her friends tonight. Didn’t want her to get suspicious, so I ca up with this plan."
"So that young lady is here too? And you still dare co find ?"
Nolan took the glass of wine Clarissa handed him, sipping lightly with a smile: "The wine Clarissa pours tastes different from regular wine."
"Don’t give that, I’ve watched you for quite a while, yet you’ve made no progress. Can you do it?"
Nolan set down the glass, saying: "Didn’t you want to develop an emotional connection with Audrey Sutton rather than just a physical one? If it was simply about spending a night together, I could complete that task anyti. But matters of the heart take ti, don’t they? Seducing a married woman isn’t easy, you know that, right, Clarissa?"
Clarissa sneered coldly at Nolan: "Save those fancy words for Audrey Sutton."
"Honestly, that girl is quite intriguing. I don’t know why, but the more I see her and Shane Warner in love, the more I anticipate the day I conquer her, hoping to see her suffer in betrayal, watch her caught in the act and then kneeling before Shane Warner, begging for his forgiveness, only to be abandoned by Shane Warner, and then kicked aside by , left with nothing because of her betrayal..."
Clarissa, hearing this, couldn’t help but think of herself. Nolan Hawke was more frightening than she imagined, and she felt that if she wasn’t careful, she might beco that "left with nothing because of betrayal" woman he spoke of.
She picked up the pitcher and refilled Nolan’s empty glass, smiling as she asked, "Did you ever love soone deeply before?"
Nolan’s smile deepened, but he didn’t respond directly: "Clarissa, do you care about my past?"
Clarissa gently reminded him: "We’re just in a business arrangent."
Nolan wasn’t upset, "Thanks for the reminder, I almost forgot."
He took another sip from his glass, saying as he set it down: "But if you’re curious about my story, I don’t mind sharing it with you."
"I’d be happy to be your listener."
Nolan chuckled, seemingly recalling so unwelco mories, his gaze dark and mocking: "I indeed loved a woman, deeply. I planned our future, gave her everything I could, but she left with soone else. She used my money! To buy a car, a house, even fund a wedding for herself and her dear one, all with my money! She even showed off to , saying everything she has is thanks to , and she was very grateful, hahaha."
Clarissa listened with a bland expression; she had heard plenty of such bizarre love stories.
She could sowhat understand why Nolan had such an obsession with "betrayal." It was rely an inner vendetta.
His pathological hatred towards won, perhaps, was a good thing, at least directing it towards Audrey was like wielding a highly destructive weapon.
Clarissa didn’t ask how Nolan dealt with the woman who betrayed him, only smiled as she said to Nolan: "I look forward to your deliberate intentions with Audrey Sutton."
Nolan’s smile widened, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass, his eyes dreamy: "I’m looking forward to it too."
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