Chapter 11
“What’s going on? Why did Alex leave with that woman?”
Caden shot a look at Harper, then back at Alex and Emily in the distance, his face full of meaning.
“At a party like this, bringing his side chick is a straight–up slap in the face to you, Harper. He doesn’t give a damn about you.”
Harper felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Everyone could see her situation now.
And it was all thanks to her husband.
Travis’s face turned icy, “Caden, zip it!”
Harper was already feeling terrible. Instead of comforting her, he was just making it worse with his harsh words. Frank also shot Caden a glare, signaling him to shut up.
Caden shrugged with a careless and nonchalant attitude. He downed his drink in one go and set the glass on a waiter’s tray.
He glanced around the room, tutting insincerely in admiration. “How impressive the Lavien family is. They truly know how to throw a party. Mrs. Lavien, how about giving me a tour?”
Harper lowered her gaze, not responding.
Caden snorted but kept up his teasing tone, “Alex is showing his lover around the Lavien Mansion. As his wife and the hostess of the Lavien family, is there any problem for you to show your lover around?.”
Even though Caden’s words were full of mischief, neither Travis nor Frank argued with him.
He had a point; Alex did something inappropriate and Harper had the right to regain her own dignity.
Seeing Harper stay silent, Caden kept teasing, “Come on, don’t be so stingy. I gave Mr. Holden Lavien a big gift. It’s not too much to ask for a little hospitality from you, right? If it’s a problem, you can return the gift. I never do business at a loss.”
Harper couldn’t help but smile at his words, feeling a bit better, knowing he was doing it on purpose. As the CEO of the Elikin Group, Caden wouldn’t care about a gift.
“Please.” Caden bowed slightly and extended his hand, very gentlemanly.
Harper smiled slightly and stepped forward.
They walked side by side, looking intimate but actually talking business.
“You’ve been handling the clean energy project at the Lavien Group, right?” Caden asked.
Harper nodded. The clean energy project was crucial for the Lavien Group’s future development, and she had been personally responsible for it.
Caden got serious, his previous flippant expression gone. “Clean energy has a bright future. Honestly, our company is also planning to get into this field. But as you know, clean energy needs a lot of investment, and we need an expert to lead the project.”
He stopped walking and looked at her sincerely with his brown eyes.
“Harper, if you join our company, I’m willing to offer you the position of Vice President.”
Harper was a shining star, making everyone else look dull in comparison. Alex didn’t see her true worth, but Caden, always observant, was ready to snatch this talent for his own company.
After all, with her divorce from Alex looming, staying at the Lavien Group didn’t make sense. It would be better for her to leave this place of heartbreak as soon as possible.
Harper thought for a moment and raised her eyebrows at him. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t have any plans to switch companies right now.”
Caden was a bit taken aback.
I don’t get it. Why are you still sticking with the Lavien Group? You’re divorcing Alex, and you no longer have any responsibility to work for him. Does it really matter where you work? Plus, I’m offering you a higher position. What has Alex given you? Just an assistant role.”
1/3
Chapter
An assistant and a VP were worlds apart in status.
“I can give you more resources, let you really shine.” His eyes darkened. “Or are you still hung up on Alex and want to stick around him?”
What other reason could she have for staying at The Lavien Group if not for love?
Harper’s gaze was steady, her tone calm, “I’m not staying at the Lavien Group to mess with their relationship; I have important things to do.”
“And what’s so important that you’d turn down a VP position?”
Harper’s tone grew colder, putting up a wall. “That’s none of your business.”
It was a memory she kept buried deep. She could recall it vividly now. When she was kidnapped, it was in the Lavien family’s underground warehouse.
For years, every nightmare would wake her up, screaming from the terror.
When she and that boy escaped together, she asked, “How can I find you?”
His answer always echoed in her ears, ‘I’ll wait for you here.”
“Is that your husband and his lover?” Caden’s teasing voice snapped her back to reality.
In the distance, shadows of trees overlapped.
Alex and Emily were very close, seemingly kissing.
“Already can’t keep their hands off each other? Caden exaggeratedly whistled, and Harper’s heart felt like it was being stabbed, throbbing with a deep ache.
It made sense. Their relationship was so close that kissing was perfectly normal.
But why did her heart still hurt so much?
Her face remained cold, but her eyes were moist.
Since he already had Emily, why did he force her into having sex that day?
What did she mean to Alex? Just a tool for him to vent his desires?
“Harper, the view over there is nice too. Let’s go check it out. Caden’s voice was deliberately louder.
His right arm wrapped around, gently holding Harper’s shoulder, ready to lead her away.
Hearing the sound, Alex turned around and met Caden’s provocative gaze.
Two men with equally strong auras, their cold stares clashed, neither backing down.
“Alex, where should we go for our honeymoon after we get married?” Emily was still talking with her head down, not noticing Alex’s distraction.
“Alex!” Emily looked up and called him.
But he seemed not to hear, his eyes dark and silent.
Following his gaze, Emily saw Caden holding Harper as they walked away.
Emily pouted and sighed deeply. “Harper and Mr. Elikin seem to be getting along well. Harper has always been strategic, probably already having a plan. But Alex, you haven’t finalized your divorce yet, right? Isn’t she being a bit too eager?”
She looked at Alex with a disappointed expression, “This is your grandfather’s birthday party. What will he think if he sees this? Doesn’t Harper care about the Lavien family’s reputation at all?”
Alex’s face grew darker, his eyes cold.
Emily gently took Alex’s hand, squeezing it tightly. ‘Alex, don’t worry. I will never betray you.”
Her words seemed to imply that Harper had already betrayed Alex.
She shook Alex’s arm back and forth, like a little girl acting spoiled. ‘In that case, Alex, you should divorce Harper quickly. Harper clinging to you on one side and being entangled with Mr. Elikin on the other, what’s that about? It will also affect the Lavien family’s reputation if word gets out.”
2/3
Hearing this, Alex’s eyes filled with hostility, sharp as ice. “I won’t give her another chance.”
