Chapter 159

• At night, I had a call from Zara asking me to have dinner with her. Upon arriving at the restaurant, however, Zara had not yet arrived. I had just sat down when I saw the familiar person at the door. My eyes fell on the woman standing next to Lyon. The woman was wearing a white strapless dress and minimal makeup with a calm smile. Her delicate features and poised demeanor made her stand out as a beauty. Even though I had never seen Rebecca, the way she gently draped Lyon's arm around herself identified her. I immediately looked away, pretending that I didn't notice them. What I didn't realize was that Lyon also made eye contact with me when I looked away. Rebecca noticed that Lyon had stopped walking and glanced up in wonder. Having seen him with his eyes fixed in a particular location, she held firmly onto his arm. There had been my photographs in the nation that Rebecca had seen prior to her departure. Sofia from the photographs had already been quite beautiful—so much so that even Rebecca, who was also a lady, had been drawn to her. Her instincts had told her that were she not to return home, Lyon would be taken over by me, and so she came back. What Rebecca had not understood was that flesh and blood me was more interesting than in photographs—pale-skinned, beautiful to the point of death, with understated features that could command attention even when sitting silently. Rebecca took a deep breath, taming her escalating jealousy, and forced a gentle smile. "Lyon, why did you depart? Nathaniel and the rest are waiting in the private room," she whispered. Lyon drew his eyes back and answered brusquely, "Let's go." In less than five minutes of their turning around, Zara came running into the restaurant. She sat down in the chair opposite me, reached out and grasped the glass of water in front of her, and took a drink from it. "The traffic was rather heavy, so I'm late. You didn't wait too long, did you?" she asked. I nodded my head. "No, I just got here." "Good," Zara said with a gasp of relief. "So, why did you plan on taking me to dinner today all of a sudden?" I inquired. Zara set down her glass and grinned. "I have some good news to share." A flash of interest crossed my eyes. "What good news?" "I got a new job!" Zara bubbled over. "Seriously? Congratulations! But don't you need more time to heal?" I questioned. "No need. The last time I went for my check-up, the doctor informed me that I'd recovered completely. Anyway, staying home all day is getting me crazy." "My mom keeps nagging me about going on blind dates. If I don't get a job and move out in a while, she'll just arrange for me to get married!" Zara complained. Her exaggeration amused me. "Okay, let's drop it, shall we.". Let's order. I'm starving," Zara said. I nodded. "Okay.
• Dinner's on me tonight to celebrate your new job." Zara laughed. "Then I won't hold back."
• After ordering, the two of us then began talking about the latest gossip. Meanwhile, when Lyon entered the private room with Rebecca, everyone in there began teasing them. "Rebecca, wow! Who would have imagined that after all these years away you'd reunite with Lyon the minute you're back? The strength of first love is truly irresistible." "Tell me about it. Everyone knows Lyon traveled to the airport to stop her from leaving and then patiently waited all these years. He's finally receiving what he wished for." "Seeing you two makes me believe love is real once more." Most in the room were part of Lyon and Nathaniel's crowd. Earlier, while they were together, Lyon had brought Rebecca to some of his parties. Slowly, she had learned to know them. Lyon's expression turned gloomy, and he was going to say something, but Rebecca comforted him softly. "Lyon, they're kidding. Don't take any notice. Anyway, three months later, you can go back to Ms. Lanka. Just hold on for three months, okay?" Lyon's eyes darkened instantly, but he remained silent. Rather, he removed his arm from Rebecca's grasp and pulled up the chair closest to her. "Sit down." Then he turned away from Rebecca and sat in the chair to her right. Rebecca's smile faltered for the barest moment but she suppressed herself again at once and sat next to him like nothing was out of the ordinary. Probably people wouldn't, but Nathaniel could sense Lyon's lack of interest in Rebecca. Their attitude suggested that they hadn't patched things up yet, but if they hadn't, Lyon likely would not have asked her along in this manner. Dismissing the strange feeling in his chest, Nathaniel smiled and said, "Alright, this is Rebecca's welcome-back party tonight. I'm happy you all managed to find the time to join us." The room buzzed with conversation, with most of the attention centered on Rebecca. For a moment, she was the same manner as when she was with Lyon—everyone's center of attention. She knew well enough that if Lyon had not taken her out tonight, they would not be so thrilled. But it did not matter. Her last purpose in returning to the country was marrying Lyon and being Mrs. Monroe. As all this admiration continued, a sarcastic voice emerged amidst all this chatter. "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Monroe was seen with Sofia Lanka recently. How come, in two weeks' time, he's now again with Ms. Austen? Is Ms. Austen then the other woman?" The room fell silent in a matter of seconds, and Rebecca's smile reached a screeching halt. Everyone's eyes were directed at Erin, many silently thanking her for her guts. After all, few in Saintornia would dare cross Lyon, let alone call his girlfriend a homewrecker to her face. Rebecca looked at Erin as if she did not comprehend. "What do you mean? I don't have any idea what you are talking about." Erin sneered. "Either you are really that dumb, or you're just pretending." Seeing the agonizing silence that pervaded the room, the girl next to Erin gently prodded her. "Erin, cut it out." If Erin had managed to offend Lyon, then she would also probably get in trouble. Initially, Nathaniel hadn't invited Erin to the party. When she learned about the party while out shopping with Erin and told her, Erin demanded that she come along. After asking Nathaniel, Erin was invited. Nathaniel's face went cold. "Rebecca, if you have nothing good to say, then shut your mouth. This is to welcome Rebecca home and not for you to make a scene." Erin smiled and turned around toward Nathaniel. "There's no point in being angry, Mr. Preston. I'm only speaking the truth. If the truth is so painful, maybe you shouldn't be doing things that are shameful to begin with." Rebecca's face went white, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Erin. "Ms. Hulle, I just met you tonight. Why are you so hostile towards me?" A man standing nearby arched an eyebrow and quipped, "Rebecca, since you've just returned, perhaps you're not in the know." "Erin also had a blind date with Lyon last night, but he didn't give her any attention. She kept pursuing him, but he rebuffed her each time.". She's bitter and that's why she's lashing out at you." Erin's eyes flashed with anger and she gritted her teeth. "Connor, keep quiet!" Disdain sparkled in Connor Bambra's eyes. "Why can you give it, but not take it?" Erin stood up, sneering. "You expect defense of Rebecca to get you a partnership with Prospectus Technology?