Chapter 95


    Drinking aftermath “Are you worried, Cora?” Jack couldn’t hide his amusement. “I can almost smell


    jealousying from you!”


    “It might sound irrational to you, but there’s something like a female instinct, and it screams that I


    shouldn’t underestimate the fact that Aren’s ex-girlfriend suddenly appeared in the city, ” I said. “I’m


    aware that it is quite shallow of me to worry about his ex while he is still unconscious. Nheless, it


    bothers me more now that I’ve just heard how Aren couldn’t cope with her leaving him. What if someone


    brought her here on purpose? What if it was someone who knew how much she meant to Aren and


    wanted to mess him up?”


    “Don’t you think that you are a little bit paranoid, Cora?” Chris mocked. “Aren seemed to be happy with


    you. I doubt that he would take a trip down memoryne and reminisce about some chick that double-


    crossed him.”


    I frowned and clenched my fist. “He already did! He had nightmares the night after someone sent him


    pictures of her, walking around the streets of New York! And you seriously think that I have nothing to


    worry about?!”


    They both stayed silent for more than a minute. I could see the mocking grins disappear from their


    expressions and give way to hesitation and concern. Nheless, they didn’t want to admit that it was


    something that I should worry about. “Let’s just focus on Aren’s health right now, OK?” Jack tossed


    before getting up to refill our drinks.


    Their avoiding the subject was like they were admitting that I was right. Yet, of course, my main concern


    was Aren and his condition. The doctor said that all of his parameters returned


    to normal, and there was no reason for him to stay in aa, and yet, he didn’t wake up…


    I felt lonely and weak without him. Perhaps the main reason why I kept drowning myself in work was that


    I had trouble facing my helplessness.


    “I’m tired…” I mumbled, sipping another ss of whiskey. “What did you say?” Chris’s words made me


    realize that my thoughts became audible. It was no sense in denying what I’d just said. “I said that I am


    tired,” I repeated with a bitter sinile.


    Chris straightened up in his seat. “Are you sleepy? I have a guestroom upstairs. There’s a quite


    comfortable bed, so you can just “No, I’m not sleepy…” I chuckled softly. “I think I’m just tired of being so


    weak.” “You are not weak!” Jack and Chris protested almost simultaneously, making me burst out into


    sourughter.


    “Thanks, guys, but I really mean it… If that Lanfen even showed up, I wouldn’t even know how to punch


    her! Not to mention that I’ve already stepped into Aren’s world where people have real guns, and I do not


    even know where to look for a trigger!” I whined.


    “I can teach you!” Jack dered, painting a smug grin on his face. I blinked my eyes at him, processing.


    “Teach me… what?”


    “I can teach you how to shoot,” he said confidently. “That’s not a bad idea, Cora. Jack is an excellent


    sniper… He managed to shoot me and I’m not an easy target.” Chris snorted, making me wonder if he


    actually meant what he said, or if he was joking “Are you guys serious or not?” I smiled nervously, trying


    to read their expression. “We’re serious!” they responded immediately, and then Chis added, “And I will


    teach you how to fight.” A peal of hystericughter escaped my throat as I watched them, determined to


    train me in shooting andbat. Even in my mind, this sounded like the worst idea ever. Nheless, I


    said, “All right, let’s do it,” and then quickly drank what was left in my ss.


    ***


    I ended up sleeping in Chris’s guestroom. Of course, I wanted to take a taxi, but Jack and Chris both


    objected, convincing me that Aren Lan’s wife should not go anywhere by herself in the middle of the


    night. When I tried to tell them that they were acting all-paranoic, they reminded me of my recent


    kidnapping and the fact that I was currently running a multibillion dorpany. Finally, I was forced to


    surrender since my alcohol-soaked brain was unable to produce any more logical arguments.


    I woke up with the worst hangover I had felt in years. I crawled out of the bed, trying to keep my head in


    a steady position, but frankly, doing it was like a mission impossible. Thankfully, Chris was sober enough


    to send a message to Benjamin so that he could bring my bag with clothes and my phone from the clinic.


    Once I took a shower and changed, Chris called me down for breakfast. I knew that I was alreadyte,


    but somehow I couldn’t refuse the smell of freshly ground coffee.


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    “Good morning!” Chris sang as if yesterday’s alcohol had had zero effect on him. “Morning,” I said


    hoarsely, my gaze fixed on the cup of coffee on the table. “Chocte croissantsing right up,” Chris


    called out while bending down to take the te out of the oven.


    My eyes widened in shock. “You can bake?!”


    He smirked, “I make excellent pizza as well.”


    “If I wasn’t already married, I would propose to you this instant,” I said, inhaling the amazing coffee scent.


    Chris leaned closer, locking his eyes on me. “You shouldn’t say that. Otherwise, I will start to think of a


    way to steal you from Aren.”


    A nervous chuckle escaped my throat. “Sorry, Chris, I don’t think that anyone could everpete with


    my husband… even if he makes me delicious croissants.” from me. “Besides, you already said that I’m


    not your type.”


    Chris looked at me, a frown forming on his forehead. “I’ve never said anything like that!” I crossed my


    arms over my chest. “Yes, you did. When you were talking about that one girl whom you found perfect.”


    “She was like encyclopedic kind of perfect, and I was talking about her body… but that doesn’t


    change the fact that you are hot. I have far too much respect for Aren to make a move on you.


    Nheless, if you’ve decided to leave him, or if he’s disrespected you in any way, that would have


    made a whole different case,” he dered, keeping a dangerously serious expression.


    I swallowed hard and quickly covered my flusteredness with a smile. I would lie if I said that I didn’t think


    that Chris was handsome. He was a perfect guy in many ways, and maybe I would have spared more


    than one nce at him seeing him on the street… if Aren had never existed. Looking at Chris, I realized


    that I waspletely incapable of cheating on Aren.


    I gave him a sympathetic smile. “I will never leave my husband willingly, and truthfully, if he decides to


    leave me, I’m not sure if I will ever be able to fall in love again.” My words tasted bitter in my mouth, yet


    they were true. Day by day, I became more certain that my heart had


    already chosen its path, even though it was a risky one. After I delivered caffeine and carbs into my


    system, I became aware enough to go through the messages on my phone. I froze, seeing over twenty


    missed calls from Neil. I called him back in a panic. “What is it? Is it something about Aren? I spent the


    night away from the clinic… Oh, God! I’m sorry… Just tell me that he is OK… please?” Tears started


    flowing down my cheeks before I even heard Neil’s voice.


    “Mr. Lan’s condition hasn’t changed. That wasn’t the reason I called you, Mrs. Lan. I need you toe to


    thepany… We are dealing with a crisis here…” he said, lowering his voice at the end.


    I gulped. “A crisis? What kind of a crisis?” “Someone started to spread rumors that Mr. Lan is about to


    die and that you are incapable of running apany. A few executives came to Mr. Lan’s office, and


    they are threatening us to make this issue public,” he whispered to the phone.


    “Shit…” My temple vein started throbbing, and I started to feel even worse than the moment I woke up.


    “Neil, send me the list of their names and positions in thepany. I’ll be in thepany in thirty


    minutes.” I ended the phone, clenching my fist. The anger buzzed in my veins. How dare those


    executives to start a riot when their boss is in aa?! Thepany wasn’t facing any difficulties, for


    God’s sake!


    “I had to go,” I tossed, getting up from Chris’s kitchen table and rushing to the door.


    “Cora!” Chris called out as I was about to leave.


    I turned around, frowning. I needed to get to thepany as fast as I could, and I couldn’t allow myself


    to waste even a second.


    Chris chuckled. “Good luck, Mrs. CEO! Bring them down to their knees!”


    His words unknowingly made the corners of my lips curl. “I will,” I said as a mischievous grin crossed my


    face.