Chapter 108


    Showtime


    “I eximed, standing in front of the mirror as I was about to put on my evening gown.


    In less than an hour, I was going to walk into the Langham Hotel as Aren’s plus one and drink


    champagne at the party celebrating the 20th anniversary of New Business Journal. Since the journal had


    been known for presenting innovative and emerging technologies, it was certain that the event was going


    to gather everyone in business who wasn’t afraid to look into the future. And since in business, those


    who stay still are already two steps behind, it was obvious that the event would attract everyone who


    counted.


    I took a deep breath and put on a fitted white dress with a V-neckline, deep just enough to expose my


    mesmerizing ne but not overly expose my breasts. The gown was simple yet sexy; it underlined


    my thin waist and wrapped around my curvy hips, and the slit at the front was perfect to show off my legs


    embellished in Jimmy Choo heels. With my eyes emphasized with liner and mascara and my hair tied up


    in a neat bun, I was finally ready to show myself in front of my husband. He watched me walking down


    the stairs, and I could see his grin widen.


    “You easily outshine any diamond,” he said, holding the Tian Kong ne.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    I chuckled. “I doubt that. I bet that everyone who tries to talk to me is going to stare at my neck instead of


    my eyes.”


    “I’d rather they stare at your neck than at those two beauties a little lower.” He smirked and walked


    toward me to help me put on the ne.


    It felt much heavier than before, but I guessed it was my anxiety that added weight to it.


    “I have something more for you,” Aren said, pulling out a small jewelry box from his pocket. There was a


    pair of diamond drop earrings that went perfectly with the ne’s style.


    Once I put them on, I started to feel like a debutante going to her first ball in high society… which


    instantly made me even more restless. My onlyfort was having Aren near me, and I prayed that he


    would save me in case I was about to make myself aplete idiot.


    “God, they won’t expect me to have actual knowledge about business, don’t they?” I asked nervously,


    getting into the car.


    Aren burst outughing, “Sunshine, you know a lot about business. I can assure you that everyone is


    going to expect you to know less than you know. There will be a lot of wealthy people there, but don’t


    expect them all to even fully understand what their own business is about. Stop worrying.”


    I let out a breathy chuckle and nodded. I tried to repeat Aren’s words inside my head like a mantra, but it


    didn’t help me calm down. I kept tapping the seat with my fingers and nervously correcting the strands of


    my hair. Suddenly, Aren grabbed my chin, turned my face to him, and kissed me hard and passionately.


    He grabbed the back of my neck, preventing me from breaking the kiss, while his other arm slid around


    my waist. He was relentless, his tongue flicking softly then stroking lushly and deep. When he finally


    leaned back with a sly grin, my heart was hammering, my lips werepletely swollen, and my


    restlessness was gone… I felt something else instead.


    “Seriously?!” 1 red at him. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve put on that makeup? And


    now my lips are going to look puffy like from bad lip surgery!”


    Arenughed. “I like your puffy lips. They look delicious.”


    I groaned, turned away from him, and took out my makeup. Fortunately, I managed to cover the signs of


    my husband’s mischievousness before we arrived at the hotel.


    The red carpet outside and the limousines lining up to the entrance proved that we were in the right


    ce. The press was crowding outside, hoping to snap a few pictures of celebrities and the richest


    people in some weird, extravagant, or insanely overpriced outfits. Finally, it was time for us to walk


    across that carpet. Observing that the press showed minor interest in the few couples before us, I


    secretly hoped for the same kind of attitude, but that didn’t happen…


    “They’reing!” As one of the reporters shouted, the thousands of shes blinded me


    I slid my hand around Aren’s bent elbow and took my first step toward the entrance, trying to ignore the


    flickering light. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel intimidated. After my first hesitant step, I walked with confidence,


    curving my lips into a gentle smile.


    “The diamond! Look at the diamond!” I heard the loudments and gasps from the photographers and


    then saw Aren’s smirk. By tomorrow, every Aren’s enemy was going to hear the news of me wearing the


    Tian Kong; everyone, including the entire Lan family.


    From the moment we stepped inside the lobby, we were surrounded by people who wanted to greet


    Aren. I noticed that most of those people bowed down to us as if we were royalty. It took me less than a


    minute to figure out that even at a party, the strict rules of hierarchy prevailed, Those at top of the top of


    the food chain dictated who those below could talk to and even who to greet. It was annoying and unfair,


    but it had always been like that. Those people respected me even though they knew nothing about me,


    and it wasn’t strictly because I was Aren’s wife, My pass to the top of the food chain was hanging around


    my neck. It almost seemed like the fact that I was Tian Kong’s owner had suddenly made me noble,


    elegant, and worth talking to It was the first time I truly felt the meaning of the statement that money


    gives power. At that moment, I felt powerful.


    “Aren!” I heard a male voice calling as we walked into the ballroom.


    When we turned around, we saw a tall, brown-haired man wearing fancy red-rimmed sses waving at


    us. Once Aren nodded at him, he and a beautiful brte holding his arm walked toward us.


    “Wow… Now, this is the sight to see!” the man chuckled as he stopped in front of us. “You actually look


    happy, my friend!” He spread my arms wide to hug Aren.


    Aren halted him with his stretched hand, but his mouth curved in a smile “Good to see you too,” he said,


    before possessively sliding his hand around my waist. “This is my wife, Cora”


    The man in front of me bowed down to me with a huge grin on his lips,


    Aren rolled his eyes at him and turned my way. “This is Alistair Cromwell, the founder of Cromwell


    Robotics, and the lovelydy next to himn is his wife, Olivia.”


    “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said, giving them both a polite smile,


    “The pleasure is all mine.” Alistair giggled while his wife stood silently by his side, making me wonder if


    she was mute or didn’t understand English


    “I heard you got a contract with the army. Congrattions, Alistair,” Aren said, giving him an


    appreciative nod.


    “Thank you, man. It gives us a great chance to grow as apany. We can finally work on our eco-


    military project,” he announced proudly. I raised my eyebrows at him. “Eco-military project?”


    “Yes!” he eximed happily. “We are creating green bullets—the bullets that can dpose within three


    weeks after shooting, causing no harm to the environment!”


    I tilted my head to the side, wondering if he was joking. “So, you are looking for a way for people to shoot


    themselves without leaving metal scales and used bullets?” “Yes. If they want to shoot themselves, then


    go ahead. Just don’t litter the Earth anymore,” he imed, sounding absolutely confident about his idea.


    “I bet that forensics are going to love that idea…” I muttered, my lips curving into a mocking smirk.


    He frowned. “Why is that?” I chuckled nervously, ming my big mouth, but my rationality couldn’t let me


    stay silent.” Well, imagine that the bullet is the only proof that can solve the crime and bring the victim’s


    family justice. But if the bullet dposes itself after three weeks, then some of the crimes could never


    be unsolved.”


    Suddenly, silence filled our corner of the ballroom. I smiled at Alistair, wondering if my words had


    offended him. Then I heard a soft chuckleing out of Olivia’s mouth. I nced at her, startled. A


    secondter, Alistair burst intoughter and pointed at me. “You are amazing! Great argument! Can I hug


    you?”


    “No,” Aren interjected, pulling me slightly behind him. “Oh,e on, man! Just when did you be so


    possessive?” Alistair teased, grinning at my husband


    “When I met her,” he said without a moment of hesitation.


    I smiled at him, climbed onto my toes, and kissed him on the cheek.


    Alistair sighed dreamily. “Ah… the love of the newlyweds.”


    I chuckled and looked at Aren, but it seemed like the word “love” strangely took away the smile from his


    face. He released me from his embrace as if he had suddenly turned on his business mode. A cold chill


    ran down my spine as if something ominous had entered the ballroom. I felt an unexinable need to


    leave this ce. I fisted my hands and forced myself


    to smile.


    “I… I need to go to thedies’ room for a moment.” I smiled nervously, excusing myself with a brief nod.


    I walked across the ballroom, suddenly realizing that I had no idea where I should look for toilets. I


    entered the nearest corridor and walked, looking at every door and hoping to find the toilets’ sign. One of


    the doors I passed was slightly open, and I noticed there was someone inside. I thought that I would ask


    for a way, but then I heard someone yelling…


    “I told you to take care of it, and you can’t even guarantee that it will work?! Remind me what I paid you


    for?!”


    I froze, and then my whole body started to tremble. It wasn’t about the words I heard, but the voice- it


    was the voice of the man that had kidnapped me.