CHAPTER 392: THAT’S HER?

"Derek, are you okay?" Celestine touched her nephew’s shoulder, studying his face with concern. "Hmm?"

Derek forced a smile and nodded.

But Celestine knew he was barely holding it together. Still, she didn’t press further; she knew that anything she said wouldn’t change what had already happened.

"Try to enjoy tonight’s event," she said softly. "There are a lot of people you can meet here. Try to talk to them — who knows?"

She patted his shoulder and gave Justin a knowing look. "I’ll go ahead and greet some familiar faces. Don’t sulk in the corner."

"Don’t worry, Auntie. Sulking in the corner isn’t our thing."

"I’ll see you both later, then."

As Celestine walked away, Justin turned to Derek.

"Derek, do you see what I see?"

"Huh?"

Justin grinned and jerked his chin toward the crowd. "Isn’t that one of the hottest models right now? She’s probably not even modeling tonight — but wow, those legs."

"Tss..." Derek hissed, glancing in the woman’s direction with mild disinterest. "Shut up, Justin. She’s too tall for you, and she’s not even wearing heels yet."

"Goodness—" Justin winced, watching his cousin walk away. He shot the model one last look and muttered under his breath, "She really is too tall."

Reluctantly, he jogged after Derek. Even then, Justin didn’t miss the chance to greet a few ladies along the way, while Derek ignored everyone completely.

When they reached one of the high-top tables, a server brought over drinks. Derek immediately downed a shot — then another.

"Whoa, hey," Justin said, freezing mid-sip. "Don’t get drunk."

"I’m not getting drunk," Derek huffed, slamming the shot glass down and loosening his tie. He could feel the stares — people whispering, pretending not to when he turned his head. He wasn’t surprised. They’d all seen what happened outside.

Ruffling his hair in frustration, he muttered, "Damn it. Why did she even have to show up tonight?"

"I knew it," Justin sighed, leaning against the table. "It’s still about her."

"I want her out of my sight, out of my life. And yet, how am I supposed to forget her when she keeps showing up wherever I go?"

"Well, she got kicked out," Justin shrugged, giving his cousin a reassuring look. "After tonight, I doubt you’ll ever see her again in places like this. She won’t even dare try — and if she does, it’ll only end badly for her."

Unless Melissa had truly lost her mind, Justin knew the chances of her and Derek crossing paths again were slim.

"Just stay away from the places she might go," he added. "Stick to where you belong. Her world and yours... it’s only a matter of time before she loses everything."

For some reason, Derek’s chest tightened at those words. He stared at Justin, who looked oddly sincere about Melissa’s downfall. Derek brushed it off, assuming it was just his cousin’s anger toward the Young family.

Even so, a flicker of pity surfaced in his heart. As much as he resented Melissa, he had loved her once. After years together, there were still remnants of that affection — fragments that refused to die completely.

"Like Aunt Celestine said, just try to enjoy the night," Justin told him, nodding. "You don’t have to meet anyone new. Just... try to relax, okay?"

Derek didn’t answer. He merely clicked his tongue and signaled the server for another round.

"And don’t drink too much," Justin warned. "Don’t embarrass Aunt Celestine. Tonight’s important for her, too."

"I know, I know," Derek grumbled irritably. "Stop nagging."

Justin smiled faintly. "Just saying."

He wasn’t too worried. Derek had never caused trouble before — not even while drinking. So, Justin dismissed the thought.

Time passed, and soon Justin found himself mingling again, building connections with familiar faces and potential allies. In their world, connections were everything, and Justin never missed an opportunity to network.

Derek, meanwhile, kept drinking. Though the alcohol was mild enough that it barely affected him. When the show finally began, everyone took their seats along the runway.

Model after model walked down the catwalk, showing off one elaborate outfit after another.

How do people even enjoy this? Derek thought, watching with half-lidded eyes. These dresses all look the same.

He’d attended a few fashion shows before — mostly because Melissa had wanted to or because Celestine had asked him to escort her. But tonight? It felt painfully dull.

This is getting more and more boring...

He looked around. Justin was laughing with someone nearby, and Celestine was chatting quietly with another society matron beside her.

"Aunt Celeste," he said quietly. "I’ll just take a quick break — bathroom."

Celestine barely even glanced at him. She gave a small nod, focused on the show.

Taking the cue, Derek slipped away as quietly as possible.

The venue was suffocating. Even though no one mentioned the broken engagement directly, he could feel their unspoken pity, their empty words of encouragement, their quiet judgment.

He needed air.

He shouldn’t have come. He would’ve rather been at home or buried in work. Anything would’ve been better than sitting here, pretending to enjoy the night.

As he reached the corner outside the main hall, near where the afterparty was being set up, Derek grabbed a glass of something stronger and drank quietly.

But as he lifted the second glass, he caught sight of someone out of the corner of his eye.

He turned and froze.

"That woman..." he murmured.

His mind instantly replayed the first time he’d seen her — at the airport months ago. Then again, at the hotel. And once more at a restaurant.

The same woman. The one who had caught his attention without even trying — something Melissa never could.

She stood at a distance, looking around as if lost or searching for someone. Derek’s heart skipped, and before he knew it, his feet were already moving toward her.

But just as he was about to reach her, a voice called out—

"Lola!"

He stopped in his tracks, brows furrowing as he scanned for the voice.

And then he saw her — Aileen — jogging toward the woman, throwing her arms around her in a warm hug.

"Lola, you made it!"

Deep lines appeared between Derek’s brows as he stood frozen in place, watching the two women embrace.

"Lo...la?" he muttered under his breath. "That’s... her?"