Chapter 94: Wild party at the bar
It took Elias hours to coax Elena into eating and finally settle back to sleep. Even then, her fingers remained wrapped around his hand. Only after she had drifted off did her grip gradually loosen.
Elias didn’t leave her side. He sat beside her, watching her sleeping face.
Even in her sleep, her brows were slightly furrowed.
The sight made his heart tighten. He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
Buzz...
His phone vibrated.
Owen.
Elias picked up the phone and swiped the screen to answer the call. He silently pressed the phone against his ear.
"Sir, they confessed," Owen said grimly. "Miss Vivian paid them."
Elias’s shoulders stiffened. Rage burned in his eyes like wildfire.
"According to their statements, she wanted Madam ruined," Owen continued. "She instructed them to record everything and spread it across the dark web."
The hand holding the phone tightened. The veins on the back of Elias’s hand bulged visibly.
Elias looked ready to erupt, like a volcano before an explosion.
"She said Madam stole her man."
Her man?
The words sounded absurd.
Elias had never promised anything to her. He had never given her any hope, never said he liked her, or would marry her.
Every time she had approached him, he had pushed her away, warned her not to fantasize about him, and told her that he had someone he liked.
But she had ignored all that and kept following him.
He had thought she would forget him and eventually found someone who loved her. But he was wrong.
Vivian’s obsession with him only deepened with time.
For the first time in years, Elias regretted not cutting ties with the Sterling family sooner.
But what could he do? He had his reasons for keeping them close. He had to be patient.
However, that patience was wearing thin.
His expression remained calm, but a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
"She dared to target my wife," Elias muttered. "She tried to destroy her. She should know what actual fear feels like."
He paused for a moment before saying, "Pick her up. Recreate the scene. Let her face the men she hired to ruin Elena. I want to see her scream in fear. Make sure she understands exactly what would have happened if I had arrived even one minute later."
"Understood, sir."
The call ended.
Silence returned to the room.
Elias sat there motionless. The vein in his temples pulsed as he struggled to contain his rage.
Every instinct screamed at him for revenge. Every part of him wanted to destroy the whole Sterling family. But he forced himself to stay calm because he had a bigger goal to achieve.
"This is not the time," he reminded himself.
The punishment would come. And when it did, it would be devastating.
"A little more patience."
~~~~~~~~
Vivian enjoyed the whole evening at a bar with her friends. She was in an exceptionally good mood.
By now, Elena’s life should have been falling apart. The thought alone made her want to celebrate.
"Come on, everyone. Drink as much as you want. Tonight is on me."
Cheers erupted around the table.
"You are the best, Vivian," a woman shouted.
"Thank you for the drinks," another one said. "You’ve become my favorite person tonight."
"By the way, what’s the occasion?" a red-haired woman asked curiously. "It’s not your birthday. Did something good happen?"
Everyone looked at her eagerly.
Vivian gushed. She imagined Elena being humiliated in front of the entire city.
The Rowan family would never accept a disgraced woman. Once the scandal broke, Elias would abandon Elena without hesitation. He wouldn’t even want to look at her.
The thought sent a thrill through her.
"Something special happened indeed," Vivian said mysteriously. "But I’ll tell you when the time comes. For now, just enjoy yourselves."
Nobody pressed for details. All they cared about were the free drinks they were enjoying.
The bar was packed with people. Laughter, shouting, and drunken singing filled the air.
Vivian’s table was among the loudest. Her friends were already tipsy, laughing at everything and teasing one another mercilessly.
The atmosphere was wild and carefree.
"Wow, look at that man," the red-haired woman said, pointing at the dance floor. "He is so handsome. His dance move is quite impressive."
Vivian was tipsy. Her vision swam. But she was eager to know who caught her friend’s attention. She followed her friend’s gaze.
The moment she saw him, she froze.
That man was undeniably attractive. Tall and broad-shouldered, he moved effortlessly with the rhythm of the music. His black shirt hugged his athletic frame, the powerful lines of his body visible beneath the fabric.
A lock of dark hair had fallen over his forehead, giving him a rugged charm. Strong features, sharp eyes, and his confidence made him stand out from everyone around him.
Several women were already stealing glances at him.
Vivian’s eyes narrowed at him. She wanted him. She wanted all his attention focused on her. Before she could make a move, the red-haired woman rushed over to the dance floor and started dancing right beside the man.
The scene ignited a fire of anger inside Vivian. It reminded her of the sore point of her life.
Elena had taken the man Vivian had wanted most. And now, her friend was getting close to the man she found attractive.
No one took what she wanted.
Vivian grabbed her drink and finished it in one gulp. Then she slammed the glass onto the table.
Without another word, she marched toward the dance floor.
She didn’t dance. Instead, she grabbed the man’s arm and turned him toward her.
"What are you doing?" the red-haired woman exclaimed, visibly irritated.
"Hey, easy, beautiful." The man could barely finish his sentence when Vivian pressed her lips against his.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Her friends stared in shock.
The man stiffened at first. But he grinned against her lips. He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss.
"Hey, Vivian," the red-haired woman protested. "This is not fair. I was dancing with him."
Vivian pulled back and looked at her friend with a smug look on her face. "He is mine tonight." She slipped her arm through his. "And I am taking him with me."
With that, she pulled the man away with her.
The man smirked. He followed Vivian out of the bar without hesitation.