LOGINHellena held her breath instantly. Her heart pounded so violently that it sent pain through her chest. She glanced toward the right corner near the pillar, where Mrs. Hansel's spy usually stood, but the area was now empty. Kael's mother's trusted attendant had apparently left several minutes earlier after confirming that Kael had defended Hellena. Realizing that the area was now free from his mother's surveillance, Kael took a deep breath. The protective aura he had displayed while saving Hellena only moments ago suddenly vanished without a trace, replaced by the cold gaze he usually wore in the company's meeting room. Kael let out a quiet scoff before a faint laugh tinged with contempt escaped his lips. "You're quite something, Mr. Kusuma," Kael replied flatly, his voice sounding relaxed yet piercing. Mr. Kusuma frowned. "So?" "Of course I was only joking earlier," Kael replied, deliberately raising his voice so that several staff members and colleagues nearby could hear him.
The lingering tension from the incident involving Herry and Jessica being dragged away still hung heavily in the air. Kael led Hellena toward a quieter corner near the drinks bar. His long strides forced Hellena to half-run just to keep up with the CEO's steady pace. Once he felt they were far enough from the hearing range of the other guests, Hellena immediately tugged her arm away with a slight jerk, breaking the link between their hands."Mr. Kael, wait a moment," Hellena called in a low hiss, her voice filled with a demand for an explanation.Kael stopped walking and turned halfway toward her. He calmly straightened the folds of his black tuxedo before looking at Hellena with his thick brows faintly drawn together. "What is it now, Hellena?""Why did you do that just now?" Hellena asked directly, her eyes wide as she demanded an answer. Both of her hands gripped her small evening purse tightly in front of her. "Wasn't our original agreement to keep this marriage a secret from the
Hellena had already closed her eyes, bracing herself for the hard impact of the marble floor against her back. However, a strong and very familiar arm suddenly wrapped firmly around her waist, catching her solidly before she could hit the ground.Thud.Hellena opened her eyes with hurried breaths and found herself in Kael's embrace. The man looked at her with black eyes glinting with anger, yet his grip around her waist was unmistakably protective."Are you alright?" Kael asked, his voice extremely low and heavy near Hellena's ear.Hellena blinked through her tears, her heart pounding uncontrollably. "Sir... Sir Kael."Kael slowly helped Hellena stand upright, but his hand remained firmly around her waist, pulling her close against his side. He then turned and cast an icy, deadly stare directly at Herry and Jessica, whose faces had instantly turned pale."Who gave the two of you the right to lay your hands on my wife?" Kael asked, every word leaving his lips like an icy storm ready to
Hellena's footsteps felt incredibly heavy as she passed through the grand glass doors into the banquet hall. She walked two steps behind Kael, staring at the man's broad back with the lingering resentment still buried deep in her heart. However, the moment they crossed the threshold and hundreds of crystal lights welcomed them, Kael suddenly stopped.The man turned halfway around and extended his right hand toward Hellena. "Come closer," Kael whispered, his voice almost inaudible beneath the soft strains of classical music, yet his sharp gaze carried an unmistakable command.Hellena frowned and looked at the large outstretched hand with hesitation. "Sir?""Put on your smile, Hellena. At the corner by the pillar, my mother's spy is watching us," Kael whispered again, his jaw stiff as he forced a faint smile onto his face. "Take my hand now."Hellena drew a short breath before slowly placing her fingers over Kael's arm. The moment their hands met, Kael clasped hers firmly and led her in
A suffocating silence instantly enveloped the car cabin as the luxurious vehicle began gliding through the night streets. Inside the cramped space moving across the capital's asphalt roads, Hellena chose to press her curvy body against the left window, staring at the blurred streetlights while her chest still churned with lingering distress. Meanwhile, on the right side, Kael sat upright with his gaze fixed ahead. The cold aura radiating from him was so intense that it seemed capable of freezing the air around them.The man cleared his throat softly, breaking the silence with a voice so low yet heavy with emphasis. "Listen carefully, Hellena," Kael said without sparing the woman beside him a single glance.Hellena did not respond. She maintained her position, staring out the window, although her ears were now keenly attuned to every word he said."I'm going to make this clear to you one more time," Kael continued, his jaw subtly tightening as he restrained the emotions still raging in
The clock on the master bedroom wall already pointed to six in the evening. The atmosphere inside the room was silent, leaving only an invisible tension that had been hanging around since their return from the office. Hellena stood in front of the large mirror, staring at her own reflection. She was already wearing a semi-formal lilac evening gown with a modern minimalist cut. The gown wrapped her voluptuous body perfectly, but there was one big obstacle that had been making her panic for the last five minutes.Hellena's hands moved anxiously behind her back, trying to reach the zipper of her gown that was stuck halfway. She stood on her tiptoes, swaying her body left and right, but her fingers still could not reach the metal zipper pull.Kael, who had just stepped out of the walk-in closet in his black tuxedo, instantly stopped in his tracks. He stood frozen near the edge of the bed, watching how the woman struggled, her breath starting to grow ragged."Sir… I am sorry," Hellena sque







