Chapter 44

If Jayden got any closer, Isabella would pin him to the ground and beat him. Ivana was shocked. Quickly concealing her anger, she hastily explained, "Isabella, what are you saying?" Her voice, however, was shy.

A cold smirk played on Ivana's lips. At least the spiteful Isabella knew her place. Everyone understood Ivana's meaning. Luna was shocked. Isabella had previously liked Jayden, but now she was distancing herself and refusing to play his games. Luna found it unbelievable.

Jayden's eyes narrowed. Isabella's anger was evident. Composing himself, he glanced at the crowd, sighed, and said, "Well, I'm sorry. Bella's still mad at me, so I can't exactly kiss other women."

The crowd lost interest. So, they still had something going on. It seemed like a lovers' spat. Ivana struggled to control her emotions. "What a bitch, Isabella!" she thought, furious. Isabella deliberately mentioned how much I liked Jayden in front of everyone. Isn't it obvious she's better than me? Otherwise, why wouldn't Jayden kiss me even after Bella rejected him?

Jayden picked up his drink and downed it in one gulp, as if punishing himself. Yet, his gaze at Isabella remained cold and harsh.

At that moment, a top-tier luxury car pulled up slowly outside the bustling bar. The door opened, revealing a pair of long legs. Samuel, with a cold expression and chilling demeanor, pressed his lips together and swept his icy gaze across the bar's flickering lights. The bar's blaring music pounded in time with everyone's hearts.

Slightly furrowing his sharp eyebrows, Samuel patiently headed towards the innermost private room. He was meeting friends. As he reached the entrance, the door opened before he touched the knob. He stopped.

A bright smile spread across Charles' handsome face. Seeing Samuel, joy sparkled in his eyes. Excited, Charles lunged forward, shouting, "Mr. Howerton, I've been waiting for you!" He'd been trying to arrange a meeting for ages, but had never managed to get Samuel out.

Samuel withdrew his hand, placed his fingers on Charles' forehead, pushing him away without concealing his disdain. "Stand further back," he said.

Charles, dressed in a jacket, looked cool, but before Samuel, he was surprisingly obedient. His appearance contradicted his personality. This seemingly unreliable man was one of the country's top heart surgeons, with a perpetually full appointment book.

Charles grinned but didn't step forward. He quickly turned, opened the door, bent over, nodded, and cheerfully greeted, "Mr. Howerton, welcome!" Samuel glanced at him before walking in at a measured pace.

Four men were already seated. Seeing Charles' liveliness, they teased, "Charles, your waiter skills are lacking. Where's the girl you promised?"

Charles glared, replying with righteous indignation, "I'm a doctor and a role model! What are you talking about?" His eyes instinctively flicked towards Samuel. Samuel hated this kind of bar banter, and the group was deliberately teasing Charles. No one believed him. Their laughter and playful banter filled the room.

Henry, lounging casually on the couch with a glass in hand, exuded a laid-back vibe. His captivating eyes twinkled with amusement. His high-fashion Chanel suit highlighted his elegance, like a charming gentleman from a comic book. His looks were top-tier, even by entertainment industry standards. He wasn't a star, however; he was the CEO of Radiant Film, controlling half the entertainment industry.

Samuel sat beside Henry. "What made you decide to come out today?" Henry asked. Samuel rarely accepted invitations.

"Yeah, Mr. Howerton, you're becoming a homebody," the others said. "We can't get you out! Every time we invite you, you're either at work or relaxing at home."

Samuel sat with his legs crossed, took the wine glass Charles offered, and said slowly, "I got married. My wife keeps me on a short leash."

Charles dropped the bottle, shattering it. Everyone stared in shock; even Henry's charming eyes widened.

"Did I hear that right?" Charles shrieked, quickly looking at the others. Seeing their shocked expressions, he knew he hadn't misheard. "Mr. Howerton, you're… married?" he stammered, nearly biting his tongue. It was a bombshell.

Samuel's cold gaze landed on Charles. "I can't get married?"

This shocked everyone. Charles scratched his head, stunned. "You never mentioned dating anyone, and then suddenly you're married…" Who wouldn't be curious?

His eyes fell on Samuel, a smile slowly spreading across his handsome face. "Mr. Howerton, who's the lucky lady?" he asked, dying of curiosity. Who on earth could tame Samuel?

The others remained silent, eagerly awaiting Samuel's answer. Samuel glanced at Charles briefly but said nothing. Charles rubbed his nose. Alright, it seems like I'm not getting any answers here. He resolved to visit Samuel's villa someday.

Meanwhile, Henry's charming eyes landed on Samuel. "You got married without a wedding?" he asked. Samuel's gaze was deep. "We'll talk about that later," he replied casually.

Several rounds of a game had been played in Isabella's private room. Luna clapped her hands. "Alright, let's move on to the next round." Everyone's eyes were fixed on the bottle. "Let's see who's next?" The bottle spun and landed on Kevin.

Kevin, dressed in a sharp suit, sat on the couch. His handsome face and refined features were striking. He seemed surprised. Luna crossed her arms. "Well, Kevin, truth or dare?" she asked, her smiling gaze resting on him.