Chapter 169
Blood streamed down Raymon’s forehead He touched the blood on his face, then glanced at Neil in astonishment. His emotions quickly shifted from shock to agitation, a fire in his eyes, itching to retaliate.
But in his drunken and injured state, Raymon had no strength to fight back. He soon slumped onto the chair, unsure whether he collapsed due to the alcohol or the blow
I was taken aback by it all. Just like Raymon, I never expected Neil to step up for me.
Trene, this…” Oscar was dumbfounded, looking at the motionless Raymon on the chair, lost for words.
“I punched him. You don’t have to worry about it.” Neil said calmly, grabbing some napkins to clean the alcohol off his hands. His voice had regained its composure, devoid of anger or panic.
Cooper went out immediately to call the staff to manage the situation in the room.
Before long, Raymon was helped out, seemingly on his way to the hospital.
“Thank you, and if Raymon needs medical expenses, I’ll take care of it,” I told Neil before leaving
“Are you with him?” Neil asked coldly, his gaze fixed on me and Oscar.
Oscar turned to look at me, his expression somewhat complicated.
I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to delve into matters of relationships with Neil.
“Oscar, let’s go, I told Oscar
He nodded and followed me out of the hotel.
Once in the car, guilt was all over him. “Irene, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have faced this today”
impatience. I thought that since I’ve come back and met you again,
continue working well in the current company, and if I work hard enough, maybe I can settle down in
success is inevitable. Keep it up!”
Oscar off at his place, I headed
was cooking in the kitchen. He suddenly said, “Rena, there’s an art exhibition in a couple of days. Can you go for me? An old friend
why don’t you go yourself?”
have a business trip, my dad sounded regretful. “Otherwise, I’d love to have a coffee with
for him, an inkwell He really likes it. Can
had plenty of free time, so visiting the art exhibition seemed like a good
9 a.m. the day after tomorrow, at the Mystic Luna Gallery in Rosemont,
the exhibition, I dressed in a simple white top and a black skirt, carrying my dad’s
Although I didn’t understand oil paintings, I could sense
in what
valuable. Some rare pieces are nearly impossible to acquire. If I can find a piece that suits my mom today,
a painting named “Harmony in Nature” when I
Kate and another woman,
noticed me, they
She looked at me as if
woman beside her, whom I barely recognized, was Bonnie Tueley.
eyebrows slightly, not as hostile as Kate,
years had changed her. Although it was clear that she was the
framed by large curls, was heavily made up, exuding a more impactful allure. Coupled with her eye–catching designer clothes and
bracelet on her wrist, and in my mind’s eye, I saw Zora, whom I’d met at the party when I first returned to the country. She wore an identical
spoke first, clearly feeling good
greeting someone like her? She’s not
ignoring them both, and continued
was probably the same person as Zora. I just didn’t know how she was related to Abner or how she recognized him as
extravagant appearance, it was clear she
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!