Chapter 186

Whether they’d regret it later was none of Calliope’s concern. She was sure she wouldn’t be.

Calliope and Portia settled into a booth at the dimly lit bar, sipping their cocktails and scoping out the attractive men scattered throughout the room.

There were quite a few lookers under the soft glow of the bar lights. The two of them began to playfully rate the men around them.

“That one over there is hot, and oh boy, that one is a total catch!” Portia’s eyes sparkled as she spotted a man in the corner. “Wow, he’s got such a presence!”

Following Portia’s gaze, Calliope’s face fell.

It was him!

“Portia, he’s not that handsome. He looks dangerous. Trust me. Stay away from him!”

“But he’s exactly my type! I’ve got a bit of a thing for him already!” Portia got intrigued by the man in the corner. He wore a blue silk shirt, with a lock of hair artfully falling over one eye, adding an air of mystery and uniqueness. A dangerous aura seemed to envelop him.

Calliope rubbed her temples.

In another life, Portia had suffered a lot because of this man.

She hadn’t expected to run into him here.

“Aren’t you into the sunshine kind of guy? This one’s more gloomy and brooding,” Calliope said sternly, “And isn’t there still a chance you might patch things up with your current boyfriend?”

“Oh please, with someone better around, who would go back?” Portia said enthusiastically, “Callie, hold my drink. I’ll go get his number!”

With that, Portia walked toward the mysterious man.

Calliope sighed. She watched as Portia sat down beside the man, who barely acknowledged her, while Portia chatted away with her usual cheerful demeanor.

Calliope thought back to some events from her past life, when Portia’s life had taken a nosedive.

But that was because her family had run into trouble, giving this man leverage over her. If nothing was wrong with the Suttons now, things should be different.

Portia had only fallen for this man because of what happened to her family. But with everything fine at home, this was probably just a fleeting crush.

Thinking this, Calliope felt a bit more at ease.

She turned away, only to be startled by a commotion nearby.

A woman was suddenly shoved before her by a man, knocking over Calliope’s drink onto the floor.

Calliope frowned, taking in the situation.

The woman looked desperate. “Please, help me!”

The woman clung to Calliope, her neck marked with bruises, her body covered in injuries, looking utterly miserable.

Calliope didn’t say anything at first. She just frowned and looked up.

The man who had pushed the woman had a cruel, sneering face. He looked familiar to Calliope somehow.

“Mind your own business, young lady! She’s my wife, and I’m just dealing with family matters. Stay out of it!” The man held a beer bottle menacingly, his voice dripping with venom.

“Didn’t I tell you not to work? Are you trying to find some other guy? And you have the nerve to come to a bar? Is this the place for you?”

“I–I just wanted to earn some money… Please, don’t hit me anymore. I’m sorry!”

“Miss, please help me. I don’t want to die. He’ll kill me!” The woman clung desperately to Calliope, hiding behind her as if her life depended on it.