Chapter 18: Does Mr. Foley Not Feel Slapped in the Face?

Kelvin, a business tycoon who always concealed his emotions, appeared indifferent. Even during intimacy with her, he showed no outward expression. Why his anger toward Abbie? Men, it turned out, treated loved ones and unloved ones differently.

“Please let go of me, Mr. Foley. We’re over. It’s unwise for you to be alone with me.”

Kelvin’s eyes blazed with rage. She used tricks to seduce me, and now pretends nothing happened? Does she think that man can protect her? She’s just a plaything to him!

Despite his hatred, he couldn't bear the thought of her smiling in another man's arms. He squeezed her wrist tightly, making Cheyenne wince. Tears welled in her eyes, yet stubbornness remained.

“Don’t be delusional. I have no interest in women like you, Cheyenne. Tell me how much money it will take for you to give up that herb.”

“Aren’t you interested in women like me? Don’t you feel slapped in the face saying that?”

Their lovemaking was always brutal, leaving her exhausted.

The next day, he left quietly. This is so frustrating!

He recalled their passionate nights, the cold, smooth touch of her skin awakening memories he'd suppressed. Yes, he detested her, yet his body betrayed him. She held a powerful allure, repeatedly shattering his self-control.

He deceived himself, blaming her for tempting him. Reflexively, he flung off her wrist, his forehead veins throbbing with rage. With slow, elegant movements, he wiped his fingers on a handkerchief, as if her touch soiled him. This deliberate act pierced Cheyenne’s heart. How dare he call me dirty? He's the one who's dirty!

“I don’t want to argue, Cheyenne. Why are you forcing this? You know Abbie’s illness can’t wait.”

In his eyes, she was jealous, selfish, malicious, fickle, and despicable. She would firmly refute this accusation.

She smiled, a peerless beauty. Gently rubbing the bruised area, she spoke sweetly, “Mr. Foley understands me. I deliberately prevented that woman from getting the herb.”

The coldness intensified, but Cheyenne didn't yield. “So what? I obtained it without stealing or spending a penny. I used my own abilities!”

Her beauty clashed with her proud and ostentatious personality, making her difficult for him to accept. The atmosphere grew frigid. He looked down at her with disdain, his gaze sharp, as if he wanted to tear her apart.

“I’ll offer fifty million to buy it!”

“Not for sale!”

He wanted to kill her. What did she want?

“How much? Name your price!”

He never treated me that generously when we were together.

Cheyenne narrowed her eyes. “Believe it or not, I took this herb to save a life! I won’t sell it, no matter the price!”

She walked out, her red skirt swaying like a rose in the night.

Omari, waiting anxiously, saw her tears and self-mockery.

“Are you okay?” he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m fine; he just wanted my herb,” she replied, her touch cold.

“Are you cold?” He removed his jacket and helped her into it.

As they left, Kelvin watched, noticing the ill-fitting jacket. He punched the wall, leaving a bloody mark.

“Damn it!” he cursed.

In the car, a silence hung between them.

“You still can’t let him go, Cheyenne…,” Omari said.

“No, I’m just thinking. Take me to Contine Estate. I don’t want to go back to Lawrence Villa,” she replied quietly.

Contine Estate housed Akloit’s wealthiest residents in opulent European-style buildings.

The car stopped before one such building. Cheyenne removed the jacket and handed it back. “Thanks for the ride. We’ll catch up soon.”

Omari was disappointed by her cold dismissal. “We’ve come this far, and you won’t even invite me for tea?”

“It’s late, and you don’t drink tea. Go home. Bye.”

“What a heartless little woman…” Omari muttered.

Cheyenne entered her building and heard piano music – “Wedding in Dreams.” A young man, Benson, sat at the piano, his eyes hollow. (The following section appears to be a separate scene or a flashback, and is slightly disjointed. It needs more contextual integration within the chapter.)

(Benson's story): [The passage describing Benson and Cheyenne's interaction is included, but it needs better integration into the narrative flow. It feels like a separate scene or chapter that needs to be more smoothly connected to the main plotline.]

(The End of the main story): The passage about Benson's birthday and the opera is separate and needs to be more logically integrated into the flow of the chapter, possibly as a new scene or a later chapter.

The final paragraphs about the opera are included but also need stronger integration with the main narrative flow. The scene shifts abruptly and requires better transitions to enhance the reading experience. The writing also contains stylistic inconsistencies. (For instance, the repeated use of parenthetical remarks within the text needs to be revised for better flow and stylistic consistency.)