Trouble in Paradise

As my words fell, the expressions of the people in the private room varied.

After growing up, my social circle no longer overlapped with Pete's, and most of the people in the room were unfamiliar to me.

However, their keen interest in the situation was unmistakable. Perhaps they knew me from Pete's social circle and were aware of the animosity between us.

Before he could speak, a young-looking woman stood up. She was seated next to him, and they were. quite close. Even when she stood up, his shoulder was still nearly touching her thigh. Curious about his taste, I couldn't help but look at the type of woman who had caught his eye.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

She had a strikingly glamorous face with sharp features, even with light makeup. Her nails were painted a vivid pink, adding to her bold appearance.

She followed his actions and smashed her glass at my feet.

Unlike Pete, who controlled his movements well, she seemed either unable to control her force or she

done it deliberately. The broken glass landed on my instep.

Fortunately, I had worn sports shoes to match my casual outfit, so the impact wasn't severe. I stood still, and she might have thought I was intimidated, as a smirk of triumph spread across her red lips. "People don't just turn up and leave after having a drink at Pete's gathering," she said sharply, her eyes fixed on me..

The two men in my peripheral vision remained seated, unmoved and indifferent. Pete even poured Nicholas a drink. The two, who had been at odds just days before, now appeared to be the best of friends.

I even saw a hint of indulgence in the corners of Nicholas' lips as if he were tolerating Pete's antics like a brother who would still care for his sibling as long as he showed repentance.

Though all of that seemed insincere, the saying that there were no permanent enemies in the business world was fairly true.

The woman's voice was loud, but the two men ignored her, not even casting a glance in our direction. This was a sign of their indulgence and tacit approval for her to trouble me. She circled me with a triumphant air, her eyes filled with a mix of jealousy and calculation. But given that I didn't even regard the two men as significant, how could she matter?

I smiled at her and, without further ado, pushed past her and headed for the door. The onlookers, who had been eagerly watching, gasped as if they had seen something horrifying. Someone behind me shouted, "She's Pete's girlfriend! How dare you treat her like that?"

The shout piqued my curiosity. Throughout Pete's life, there had been countless women by his side. He had always been surrounded by the campus belles in school, with admirers pursuing him with great fervor. Yet, there had never been a clear acknowledgment of any woman as his girlfriend. However, it was no surprise, given his personality, that he would be paired with such a flamboyant woman.

While I hesitated, the woman had already blocked my path. I raised an eyebrow and complimented her nonchalantly.

"You two make a great couple."

Pete stood up behind the woman.

"Let me introduce you. This is Gabriela Lambert, a rising star from my film company. I'm using all my resources to make her popular," he said.

Gabriela showed her first hint of girlish shyness at the mention of her name. She smiled, but I noticed that Pete hadn't even looked at her while speaking. "Aren't you giving her a formal acknowledgment?" I asked, accustomed to challenging him and not caring if Gabriela felt awkward.

While I hesitated, the woman had already blocked my path. I raised an eyebrow and complimented her nonchalantly.

"You two make a great couple."

Pete stood up behind the woman.

"Let me introduce you. This is Gabriela Lambert, a rising star from my film company. I'm using all my resources to make her popular," he said.

Gabriela showed her first hint of girlish shyness at the mention of her name. She smiled, but I noticed that Pete hadn't even looked at her while speaking. "Aren't you giving her a formal acknowledgment?" I asked, accustomed to challenging him and not caring if Gabriela felt awkward.