Chapter 29

“Nerve you saying that!” A voice rang out. A beautiful, fashionable woman in a brown coat approached them. She laughed coldly upon noticing Evelyn. “I was wondering who you are, but I remember you now. You’re that murderer’s sister.”

Evelyn’s expression soured. She recognized the woman as Lily, Sean’s fiancée.

Lily approached with a disdainful gaze. “I remember you’re a B-list actress. So, you’ve come to see Sean and persuade him to give you a leading role? Have you no dignity?”

Evelyn was mortified. People were passing in the corridor, watching them like a play.

Evelyn silently cursed Grace. “If she hadn’t killed someone while driving, I’d be a popular celebrity, not suffering this.”

Evelyn forgot that her early roles were due to Grace’s connections.

“What? Still not leaving?” Lily asked, displeased.

Evelyn smiled at Sean. “If I left now, wouldn’t I have wasted a trip?”

“You have wasted a trip. Leave. Your sister and I are finished,” Sean said.

“But…” Evelyn protested.

Lily huffed. “Leave, or I’ll call security!”

Evelyn bit her lip. She left, planning to find future opportunities.

Lily turned to Sean. “You’re still thinking about Grace? Evelyn was just gossiping. Aren’t you worried Jason will hear? Don’t forget your sister almost married him.”

The statement was a warning.

Sean’s gaze darkened. “How could I forget? ‘Jason’ is a sword hanging over the Stevens family. We haven’t had peace for three years.”

“Exactly! Grace ruined everything, including our carefully planned meeting with Jason.”

“Grace only served three years. She got off lightly.”

“Don’t get me started.” Sean pushed his plate away, losing his appetite.

“Be careful, future husband,” Lily warned.

“I get it. I won’t pay attention to Evelyn. I told her Grace and I are finished!” Sean pulled Lily close and kissed her hard. “When Grace was harassed by Gregory Anders, did I help? No.”

Lily shrugged. “That was quite a spectacle.”

(The narrator’s internal commentary): Grace had almost been raped in front of a roomful of people. ‘Spectacle’ was an understatement. That whole Gregory debacle… the man was a Grade-A asshole, but seeing him humiliated in his own club… it left an uneasy feeling in Sean’s stomach.

“Come,” Lily said. “Our friends are waiting.”

She offered a practiced smile.

Sean nodded.

Lily’s mood improved. She led Sean to a private room where their friends waited. He’d eaten alone, but now faced several courses and countless drinks. He braced himself for a long night.

“This is for us,” Lily reminded him. “A pre-engagement party.” She nudged his shoulder. “Try to smile.”

Sean grinned, adopting his social persona. These people were in his social circle; some were from tech companies. He knew how to play the game. Any of these men could be future chairmen of billion-dollar industries.

He made small talk, ensuring each guest felt included.

Suddenly, someone mentioned the ninety-nine three-dimensional projection ads Sean had commissioned throughout the city.

Lily basked in the attention. Men teased him for setting the bar too high, while Lily accepted the praise as her due.

“Hey,” Annabelle Sanchez said, drawing attention. “We’re here!”

Sean was confused. The young actress clapped and ran to the windows.

Chapter…

“Come!” she exclaimed, snapping her fingers at waiting waiters. “Open these curtains! The art gallery opposite has a massive billboard 3-D projector… We can see the ad right here.” She raised her glass. “Cheers!”

“Here! Here!”

Glasses clinked as the curtains opened. Lily beamed. “Oh, you guys…”

However, moments passed, and the ad was absent. Only ordinary lights illuminated the opposite wall.

“What happened? Is the projection ad broken?” Annabelle asked, astonished.