CHAPTER 63: LEFT ALONE

The advantage of standing next to Lucas is that as long as he is present, basically no one dares to bully her; even when anyone attempts to drink with her, they’re careful to read his expressions.

The final lucky draw activity was handled by her and Lucas together on stage, presenting the prizes to the winning employees.

Everyone’s gaze towards her was strange - holding a mix of jealousy, admiration, and fawning.

Suffice to say, almost everyone’s reaction was different.

All along, Beauty carried a light, indifferent expression.

Since today she was representing him, her countenance should match his without any forced laughter.

Facial expressions rarely stretched far on Lucas’s face.

Sometimes she really wondered if he had cosmetic surgery.

Perhaps, a smile would deform his nose, making his eyes appear drooped.

Of course, this was just her jealousy and pessimism playing out.

"Today’s anniversary celebration has come to a satisfactory conclusion.

I thank everyone for their support, anticipating more opportunities to collaborate with each of you in the future."

This was a highly formal closing note and when spoken from Lucas’s mouth, it seemed bespoke, perfectly fitting his temperament.

Beauty clutched her slightly aching stomach, her face deathly pale with no hint of color.

Only when she saw Sarah elegantly walking towards her in ten-centimeter heels, did a smile creep onto her face.

"You must be very tired today, Beauty."

"Not really.

Sarah must be more exhausted.

Indeed, with great ability comes great responsibility.

You’re truly extraordinary, Sarah, a perfect role model for us girls."

Hardly had she finished speaking when a mocking laughter rang out, the source of which was Drake, who was standing with a leggy, busty woman with a plastic look about her.

Beauty cast him a cold glance.

"You girl, you’ve started to cozy up to idols so quickly?

You should follow the example of other people!

A strong woman like Director Sarah is not suitable for you."

Drake spoke, intentionally hooking his hands lower on the surgically enhanced woman’s waist; they were practically glued together.

A smirk emerged as he peered intently at Sarah.

"Childish!"

Sarah curtly dropped these words, proudly strutting away with her head held high.

She didn’t bother to cast a glance in the direction of Drake and the woman beside him.

Beauty mockingly stuck out her tongue at him before she too left.

To her, Drake was just like that twisted uncle, they both were bad news!

Turning around, she saw Lucas and Cassandra whispering to each other, both of them wearing warm smiles on their faces.

She had rarely seen that kind of smile on Lucas’s face.

Her chest felt a bit tight, the hotel lobby was simply too suffocating, especially after the air conditioning had been turned on.

She felt like even her breathing had become sluggish.

She had drunk a bit of alcohol, and her head felt rather fuzzy.

Unconsciously, she exited the hotel.

The fresh air outside was much better!

Stretching both arms, she deeply inhaled on the steps of the hotel entrance.

Every passerby threw her a lingering look.

Be it envy or sympathy, she didn’t care.

She was used to people’s gazes from her childhood and had long learned to disregard them.

The evening breeze was refreshing.

The hotel was quite near to the river, it was cool at night and she felt considerably refreshed.

Beauty was staring blankly at the distant lighthouse when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

Turning around, she saw Lucas and Cassandra walking towards her, whispering to each other with their heads lowered.

They looked extraordinarily well-matched.

Especially the faint blush on Cassandra’s face, which made her look like a girl lost in the throes of first love.

Beauty quickly turned away.

She had no interest in his private life, regardless of who he was involved with, it had nothing to do with her.

"Beauty, Cassandra and I have some matters to attend to later, you can go back with the driver first and get some rest early tonight."

After waiting for so long, this was the unsatisfactory response she got.

What on earth was she doing, foolishly standing here, allowing for others to point fingers at her?

Her heart was filled with bitterness, but she still managed a smile and nodded politely:

"Then I’ll leave with the driver first."

No sooner had she finished speaking, Lucas and Cassandra got into a big red Maserati.

It was a woman’s car, flamboyant and showy.

The surrounding people looked at her with schadenfreude, they seemed to find joy in the fact that she was left stranded by the roadside.

"Even if the vixen has her tricks, she can’t compare to the weight Cassandra holds in Mr.Marson’s heart.

She truly overestimated herself," the women crowded.

Even though she didn’t want to hear it, their words seemed to deliberately creep into her ears and were amplified.

Vixen?

Who thought she was being a vixen?

Beauty gave a dismissive curl of her lip, resting her head comfortably against the soft back of her seat, falling asleep before they even reached home. ...

As expected, Lucas didn’t come home all night.

Upon returning to the villa, unexpectedly, she found herself lying awake all night on the huge soft mattress.

Lucas’s features were etched firmly into her mind, his presence seeming to echo from the rustle of activity outside her room.

She patiently waited for him to walk by her door, to return to his own room.

But one moment turned into hours, peaking at dawn without a hint of him.

Begrudgingly, she fell asleep, her hopes dashed.

The morning greeted her with the maids preparing a warm breakfast.

With a messy bed-head and dark circles under her eyes, she immediately inquired, "Did the boss return last night?"

"No, the boss said he wouldn’t be returning home recently."

The half-eaten poached egg stuck in her throat, neither swallowed nor spat out.

She eventually gulped down a large cup of soy milk to dislodge the discomfort, followed by a soft "Oh!"

But no further words escaped her lips.

He had always had periods where he wouldn’t be home for days, was he with that Cassandra?

She scowled at the thought, mocking herself internally.

"What does it matter?

If he wishes to reside with someone else, let him.

His absence only brings peace."

Breakfast concluded as always, with her chauffeur ready to take her to school.

As the daunting entrance examination was nearing, she was determined to get into the top university in the City.

She wanted to prove that she wasn’t fully dependent on him.

Although he had casually mentioned that regardless of her grades, he would make sure she and Laura got into the best university in the City, this time she wanted to do it by her own merit.

Perhaps due to the upcoming examinations, a palpable tension was in the air.

The anxiety permeated the school, with students even bringing study materials into the cafeteria and restrooms.

Apart from the unworried students like her, those who had other commitments or had connections like Laura, everyone else was beginning to display worrying symptoms of stress.