Rivals to Lovers

In a private club suite, there were about seven or eight men, each with one or two attractive women in revealing clothes clinging to them. The room was thick with the smell of cigars and cigarettes, and countless bottles were scattered across the tables, creating a scene of indulgent decadence. At the center was Stellan, lounging back on the sofa. He pulled a woman in a short skirt onto his lap, unapologetically running his hands along her legs as she leaned closer to him. “Stellan, shouldn’t you be comforting that fiancée of yours right about now?” one of the men sneered. The woman on Stellan lap pouted and tapped his chest, “Oh, so you’ve got a girlfriend and you’re still here fooling around? You’re so bad…” Stellan looked utterly unbothered, even pleased. Grinning, he took hold of her chin. “We broke up,” he said. The girl looked surprised, then giggled, pressing her lips against his in a kiss that quickly turned passionate. The others barely paid them any mind, long use

Lena returned home to the vast, empty mansion, once filled with warmth and life. Her family was gone, the household staff dismissed, leaving only a hollow shell of the place she used to know. The house itself was now collateral under the company’s assets, with everything inside tagged for repossession. In a few days, it would be sealed off and auctioned to repay their debts.She didn’t have the energy to pack. Instead, she went straight to her bed, lying down and staring blankly at the ceiling. She kept thinking back to last month when her parents had celebrated her twenty-sixth birthday. They had carefully planned every detail of the party: floral arrangements, balloons, creating a dreamy atmosphere. She wore a custom black satin gown with a delicate strap and 3D white feathers adorning it. One of her gifts that night was a set of jewelry with aquamarine gems, the same color as her eyes—a necklace, along with a pair of platinum earrings set with diamonds and pear-shaped aquamarine s

“Uncle Tom, how much farther do we have to go?” Lena lifted her skirt slightly as she followed Tom out of the main hall, down a long corridor that became more and more isolated with each step. Her ill-fitting heels chafed painfully against the back of her heels, turning each step into pure agony.“Just a bit further; the person I’m introducing you to is right over there,” Tom replied, his tone now vastly different from the friendly one of fifteen minutes earlier, as if afraid she’d turn and leave.They passed a few steps and arrived at a door with elaborate decorations. The doorman swung it open, and sounds seeped through the gap, eerily reminiscent of the kind she’d heard at the club a few days earlier.—“Boss, it seems Miss Carrington has left the main hall,” Alaric’s assistant whispered by his side.“Good. As long as she knows how to get home.”“It looks like she didn’t head home, though. I think she went off somewhere else with someone.”Alaric paused, frowning slightly. “Somewhe

This would be Lena’s last day at the villa. The next morning, she packed a few clothes and essentials into a suitcase, dressed herself in a formal business suit, styled her hair neatly in a half-updo, and put on a pair of comfortable white shoes. She wore no flashy jewelry, but her look was sharp and professional. "Ms. Carrington, how do you feel about everything right now?" "Your employees are facing layoffs and unpaid wages—will you take full responsibility for them?" "Why are you here alone? Where is your family?" "What are your current assets? Will your personal wealth be used to repay the company’s debts?" The reporters' questions were blunt and relentless. They had been camped outside her villa since early morning, with even more swarming outside her company building. Flashbulbs flashed continuously as financial and entertainment journalists all vied for a comment. Even some small creditors and clients

After staying at the hotel for a week, Lena rented an apartment and was checking out of the hotel. “We look forward to your next visit!” The receptionist politely handed Lena her credit card back. It was a new hotel—not perfect in terms of amenities but with excellent service. She’d had a good experience these past few days. “Wait, it’s you again? Why are you stalking me?” Lena’s smile vanished, replaced with a defensive glare. “Hey, lady, who’s got the time to stalk you?” The guy replied with a smirk, two buttons undone on his shirt, revealing a hint of muscle. “Then what are you doing here?” she asked, eyeing him with suspicion. “This hotel’s mine. Why wouldn’t I be here?” “Yours?” Lena couldn’t believe it. This hotel belonged to Alaric? He grinned proudly. “A little pre-birthday gift for next month. What do you thi