CHAPTER 2: What He Let Her Believe

Lydia closed her eyes, trying to force the memories back.

Nothing came.

Louis gave a quiet scoff. “I suppose the heartache was too much for you to handle.”

“Who told you that?”

“You drowned yourself in alcohol and nearly got harassed outside the hotel.”

Her eyes widened.

Louis walked towards the chair where his clothes had been laid out. “My assistant recognized you.”

Lydia released a breath. "Thank you, but why am I here?"

She tightened her grip on the robe. “You could have sent me somewhere else.”

His gaze settled on her. “Yet you ended up here?”

Lydia's stomach twisted. “My clothes?

Louis gave her a long look. “You really don't remember, or are you pretending?”

She shook her head.

He said nothing, and the quiet did the work for him. Heat crawled up her neck.

Louis buttoned his shirt. “You were rather determined to cling onto me throughout the night.”

Lydia froze. “I… what?”

Louis's mouth curved faintly. “You want to forget your ex that badly?”

Her breath caught.

She stared at him. “You're saying I…”

Louis watched the realization spread across her face.

“Oh my God.” Lydia covered her mouth. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to behave like that.”

“Same here.”

His tone was almost amused. She couldn't tell whether he was mocking her.

“My name is Louis Vale.”

The name struck her like cold water.

Louis Vale. The billionaire who had recently returned to Port Aster. The next CEO of Vale Group. The very company her father worked for.

“Your father is Richard Hayes.”

Lydia nodded slowly.

“If the board learns that Richard Hayes's daughter spent the night in my suite, what do you think that says about his position and ambition within Vale Group?”

She broke out in cold sweat

This wasn't only about her anymore. If her father lost his job because of this, Victoria would use it to taunt her mother endlessly.

Lydia swallowed. “Please.”

Louis waited.

“What can I do?"

His expression shifted. He knew nothing had happened. But the board's deadline was approaching. And Lydia was unlike the women who had tried to get close to him. But it's just one year. A practical arrangement, and she would be compensated. Neither of them would expect anything more.

His expression settled again. “My assistant will contact you.”

Lydia stared. “Contact me?”

But Louis had already turned away.

When Lydia finally returned home, she barely had the strength to deal with another confrontation.

Vanessa was the first person she saw. She looked Lydia up and down.

“Where did you spend the night?”

Victoria glanced up from the sofa. “I suppose she found somewhere more interesting to be after her wedding got called off.”

Lydia said nothing. She had spent years apologizing whenever Victoria accused her or Vanessa provoked her.

Grace came downstairs when she heard the voices. Her face changed immediately.

“Lydia.” She hurried towards her daughter. “Where have you been? I've been worried sick.”

Vanessa folded her arms. “She's fine. She just didn't come home last night.”

Victoria's lips curled. “Perhaps she was with the man she plans to ruin next.”

Lydia looked at her.

Victoria continued. “Just like her mother ruined my marriage.”

Grace's face tightened. “Victoria…”

“What?” Victoria said. “Am I wrong?”

Vanessa smiled. “She should tell us where she was.”

Lydia looked at her. Suddenly she remembered what she overheard Ryan say at the hotel about proposing marriage to her just to sleep with her and everything that had happened since yesterday. Something inside her finally snapped.

“You’ve been having an affair with my fiance for six months.”

Vanessa's smile disappeared.

Richard had just entered the room. “What?"

“Is that true?”

Vanessa lifted her chin. “So what if it is?”

Grace covered her mouth.

Victoria stepped forward. “Don't look at my daughter like that. Ryan clearly chose her.”

Lydia laughed softly.

Victoria frowned. “What's funny?”

Lydia's voice remained calm. “All these years, you blamed my mother for destroying your marriage even when he lied to her about being married. Yet your daughter knowingly slept with another woman's fiance.”

Vanessa's face flushed. “Watch your mouth.”

Lydia pulled the engagement ring from her pocket and dropped it into Vanessa's hand. “This will suit you better.”

Vanessa stared at the ring.

Grace reached for Lydia’s hand, wearing a proud smile.

She held it, then retired upstairs.

Morning light filled Lydia's room.

She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone. Then it vibrated.

2:00 P.M. Aurelius Executive Centre, 14 Seaview Boulevard.

She had no idea what waited for her there. But somehow, she knew her life was about to become even more complicated.