6. Why She Seems Different

"Next time, never lie to me about your condition again," Daren warned, after sitting beside Camelia, who looked serious as she stared at her phone.

"I know … but, you like it, right? That way, we can always be together like this," Camelia leaned her body against Daren's broad chest.

At that moment, Daren could clearly see Camelia’s post on her social media. For some reason, his heart suddenly felt uneasy. "Honey, did you post the flowers earlier?"

"Yes, why? You don’t like it?" Camelia looked up slightly.

"It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that later Liora will realize our relationship," Daren answered honestly.

Camelia straightened her body, glaring at her boyfriend. "Daren, remember, Liora is just a replacement for me. Sooner or later, you’ll divorce her too, right?"

Daren rubbed his face roughly. "I know, just don’t rush. I don’t want my plan to fail, that’s all!" Daren asserted, then moved away from Camelia.

Seeing Daren angry, Camelia tried to persuade him by hugging him from behind.

"Honey, don’t be mad. I just want to express my happiness when I’m with you, I also want everyone to know that I already have a boyfriend like you. Although, I haven’t publicly shown you clearly," Camelia looked sad.

Daren slowly turned around, wrapping both his arms around Camelia’s waist. "Wait a little longer, okay."

"Yes … I’ll wait for that day to come. As compensation, tonight you’ll stay here. How about it? You want to, right? I still want to be with you, honey," Camelia coaxed, sounding spoiled.

Camelia’s touch, Daren could not refuse. "Hm, alright. But I’ll contact Liora first. Besides, it’s already night; she’s probably waiting for me to come home," Daren released Camelia’s hands and stepped back.

"Don’t take too long."

"Okay."

Daren walked toward the balcony. Shortly after, he opened his phone and searched for his wife’s contact. No sweet nickname, only the name Liora appeared on his screen.

"Hopefully she hasn’t slept yet," Daren waited for the call to connect.

However, almost five minutes passed and the call still hadn’t connected. "How unusual, Liora ignoring my call, where is she? Did she really go to sleep? But it’s only eight in the evening," Daren murmured, feeling something was strange.

Daren called Liora’s number again, and this time the call connected.

"Hello," said Liora on the other end, coldly. Not like usual.

"Honey, I can’t come home tonight. I still have work to finish, don’t wait for me," Daren lied.

"Oh, okay," Liora replied coldly again.

Degh!

Daren felt his wife’s behavior was cold, and not like usual.

"Why is Liora cold to me now, does she know I’m with Camelia?" Daren monologued. "Ah, seems impossible she knows. If Liora knew, she would definitely be angry and come straight to Camelia’s apartment. She hasn’t, which means I’m still safe," Daren thought about his forbidden relationship with Camelia.

Daren’s daydream was interrupted when Liora spoke again. "Do you still have something to say? If not, I’ll hang up now!" Liora said firmly, each word cold.

Daren realized, just as he was about to end the call. He heard loud music and was sure the sound was not from home.

"Oh, nothing else. I just talked like that, I’ll hang up first. Don’t forget to rest, okay."

"Hm."

"Hey, wait. Where are you now, why is there music? It’s loud, tell me, Liora, where are you now?!" Daren asked with an expression of fear, thinking Liora might be with another man.

"The music sound isn’t from home. But that DJ music sounds like it’s inside a club. Is Liora there now? Why, she never goes to places like that?" he thought.

Liora didn’t immediately answer, which made Daren more worried. "Liora, why are you silent? Answer my question earlier!" Daren pressed.

"I’m in my room, intentionally turning on the television! Satisfied!" Liora replied curtly.

"Oh, I thought you were at a nightclub. Alright then, don’t do that at night. I’ll hang up now."

"Hm."

The call was quickly ended by Liora. Daren could only stare at his phone with a confused look.

"Why does she seem different? I doubt whether what she said about being in her room watching TV is true," Daren seemed to not trust Liora’s words.

Finally, Daren intended to call his mother, but suddenly Camelia came, inviting him inside.

"Better I call Mom first, that way I’ll know where Liora is now. Whether what she said is true or not, I’ll find out from Mom’s answer," Daren murmured.

Camelia approached Daren. "Honey, why are you just standing there spacing out? Come on, let’s go inside."

"Wait, I want to call Mom first. Five minutes, honey."

"No, I want us to go inside now. If you’re still busy with your phone, I won’t treat you well in bed later," Camelia threatened.

Daren immediately put his phone in his pocket. "Alright, let’s go."

Daren and Camelia returned to the room, lips touching. They kissed deeply and passionately, guiding each other.

Meanwhile, in a different place, at Sky Club, Liora sat on a chair accompanied by Nadine, who was none other than Liora’s friend.

"Liora, enough. You’re almost drunk, this is the tenth glass you’ve had," Nadine scolded, holding Liora’s hand.

"Nadine, don’t stop me. This way, I can ease my heartache. Let me get drunk, please, just tonight," Liora tried to push Nadine’s hand away.

Hearing Liora’s words and seeing her friend’s sad face, Nadine could only let her friend continue drinking the intoxicating drink.

"Liora, why do you want to drink? Tell me, do you have a problem?" Nadine asked, curious, sipping her own drink.

Liora looked at Nadine for a moment, then slightly leaned her face toward her friend.

"Later, let’s dance now," Liora stood up, then pulled Nadine’s hand.

The two were now on the dance floor. Liora and Nadine started moving to the music. While they enjoyed their dance, some men nearby joined in.

"It feels so good, I feel free," murmured Liora, continuing to dance.

"Liora, are you happy?" Nadine shouted in front of her.

"Yes … of course, I’m very happy."

Both enjoyed their dance. Suddenly, someone joined them. "May we join you two?" one man said.

"Sure," Nadine replied briefly, then continued dancing.

Meanwhile, Liora didn’t notice the two men nearby, she was only focused on dancing to release all her mental burdens.

Unknown to Liora or Nadine, from the moment Liora entered the club, Ethan had been closely watching her, every move of hers never escaping his observation.

Brak!

"Shitt!"

"How dare that man touch her!" Ethan was angry, his hands clenched.

Unable to bear Liora dancing wildly with an unknown man, Ethan got up and quickly walked to the dance floor. Jack, his personal assistant, looked surprised seeing his boss suddenly walk toward the crowd.

"Sir, where are you going?"

"Quiet, Jack! I have to settle things with that woman!"

Jack was shocked, wondering who the woman his boss was talking about was.

"What? What did Sir Ethan just say, wants to settle things with a woman, who?" Jack monologued.

While Jack was lost in thought, his boss had already reached the dance floor and appeared to grab the collar of the man touching Liora’s slim waist.

Bruk!

"Stay away from her!" Ethan warned coldly, his gaze sharp like a hawk ready to attack its prey.

Meanwhile, his left hand grabbed Liora’s waist tightly, pulling her into his embrace.

The man who fell to the dance floor groaned as his backside hurt. "Hey, who are you? How dare you stop me, huh?!" the man got up and approached Ethan.

Ethan didn’t respond, instead he looked at Liora, who closed her eyes while dancing in his embrace. "You’re quite naughty, yesterday you teased me. Now, you want to find another victim, hm. I won’t allow that, Liora," whispered Ethan, as he gently touched Liora’s lips.

Meanwhile, in front of Ethan, Nadine watched without blinking at Ethan’s actions, who seemed close to Liora.

"Who is that man, why does he seem possessive of Liora?" Nadine wondered.