"I forgot to mention, this cottage belongs to my friend. It hasn't started serving officially yet. But, you
can stay here tonight and be the first guests. I believe it will be an exotic experience."
Amanda snapped her fingers. A steward approached her and bowed.
"Miss Ke, is there anything I can help you with?"
His politeness was impeccable. He clearly seemed trained very well for this job.
"Ready the best room for Mr. Tang and Miss Luo. They are going to spend the night here post dinner."
It seemed like Amanda knew this place and the staff very well.
"Okay, Miss Ke."
The steward bowed again before he exited the dining room. Amanda finished the last piece of steak on
her plate and stood up, saying, "The atmosphere here is quite soothing. Though it may not be as good
as the most famous shore cities, it has a feeling of its own. If you still want any more food, feel free to
ask the steward to prepare it for you. I will excuse myself, now. Good night. It was nice meeting you,
Mr. Tang."
She shook hands with both Ivy and Lionel, then waved them goodbye, walking out.
As she stepped outside the place, Amanda turned back to glance at the cottage. Her smiling eyes
turned to squinting.
'Ivy, don't blame me for being too cruel. This is how the real world works—the more powerful ones prey
on the weaker ones. Unfortunately, you are too weak to be a predator, so take this chance and be my
prey, ' she thought smugly.
Lionel and Ivy still sat at the table. It had been forever since they had dinner together. They gazed at
each other in awe in the flickering glow of the candle light, feeling the unprecedented charm of the
other.
Ivy's alluring red lips were slightly parted. Her eyes seemed to twinkle like stars.
"Lionel, you might be getting really tired these days. I noticed you don't even sleep in late like you used
to."
Just like the dinner, it had been long since Ivy said anything caring or empathetic to Lionel. He felt
some warmth emanating from her voice.
"Yeah...the tension between Tang Group and Dawn Star Group has heightened to another level. I
cannot afford to relax."
As soon as he mentioned business, he recalled Horace's disappointed face whenever he looked at
him. Almost immediately, the elation was replaced by depression.
"Lionel, I want to work with you in the future. I don't like to see you so exhausted everyday."
Ivy slid her hand toward his, clutching it tightly.
Her fingers were slender, with nails painted rose-red. Looking at her hand, Lionel suddenly recalled
something.
He looked up at her innocent face, and instantly fell into musings of the past.
He recalled the time when they had first started their relationship. He stood on the ground near her
dorm, waiting for her to finish showering. When she came out, her long hair, still mildly wet, rested
down on her shoulders and her back casually. He could smell the lovely fragrance of the shampoo as
he drew closer to her.
Ivy seemed to dwell in her own reveries too. Both found the world around them fading, turning into the
lovely past they had shared with each other.
The atmosphere was so cozy, they might as well have felt a fire warming their hearts. They kept staring
straight into each other's eyes.
Breaking their trance, the steward walked into the restaurant and reported in a respectful tone, "Mr.
Tang, Miss Luo, the room is ready for you."
It was the moment Ivy had been waiting for. They got up, and still holding hands, followed the steward
into the room.
The entire room was decorated in a Mediterranean style. It was quite spacious and very carefully
designed. The interior was genuinely tasteful and captivating.
The steward politely asked for his leave and closed the door behind him as he walked away.
It seemed like they had entered a small world of their own. They continued to gaze at each other
lovingly.
Outside, the torrents hit the shore, as if they were telling some old stories.
Next morning, Ivy woke up with a heavy head. She could barely make her eyes open.
She could still hear the sounds of torrents, which kept beating the reef.
A small smile crept up her lips, her cheeks turning pink. The night she had spent with Lionel played like
a film in front of her eyes.
Slowly, she managed to open her eyes. A man lay next to her with his sturdy and stout back facing her.
He stirred in his sleep, slowly waking up. His mumbling voice sounded unfamiliar. Finally, he turned on
his back and looked at Ivy in confusion.
Ivy's pupils dilated in shock! The man wasn't Lionel!
"Ah!"
she screamed, utterly terrified.
The strange man recovered from his daze and started to smile slyly.
"Excuse me? I paid for you. What is that reaction supposed to mean?"
He had a neat face, but his smile was cunning and playful.
"Who are you? How did you get here?"
Ivy's head started to spin. It felt like the entire world was collapsing around her.
"Excuse me, beautiful? We slept together and then dozed off about 2 hours ago. Have you already
forgotten my face?"
The man frowned. His cocky smile remained which only annoyed Ivy more.
"Stop it! I spent the night with my boyfriend! Who the hell are you!"
Ivy was horrified.
'Where is Lionel? How did he turn into this stranger?' she kept asking herself.
Before she could say anything further, someone knocked on the door heavily. It was Amanda.
"Ivy! What's happening? I am coming in now!"
She made herself talk in urgency but her face looked otherwise. There was a joyful smile on it. She
was curious to know how Ivy would react.
Ivy was losing her mind. She wished for all of it to be a nightmare.
But why would she even have such a bizarre dream?
"What the fuck! What's this! Are you trying to blackmail me?" the man grumbled, getting up.
He picked up his scattered clothes from around the room and started dressing himself.
"Well, let me tell you. I am not afraid of your tricks. Worst case scenario, I'll settle things with you in the
police station. Then show me what you have to say about this!
I mean, come on! Is this how prostitutes are supposed to behave?"
The man looked furious as if he really was wronged.
Ivy completely blanked out.
'Can someone tell me what's going on here?' she screamed inwardly. The shock made her forget how
to utter words.
Amanda, who was waiting outside the room, seemed to have heard the commotion. She asked the
steward to open the room with the spare key.
As the key turned into the lock, Ivy slid back on the bed, leaning against the wall, trembling in fear. She
didn't know what to expect anymore.
Within the next few seconds, Amanda pushed the door open. She looked completely astonished as her
eyes landed upon the man.
"Who are you?"
Amanda asked aloud. She then turned to Ivy, who sat wrapped in a blanket, sweating and shivering.
Her eyes darted from the man to Ivy, as if waiting for either of them to give her an explanation.
"Let me tell you, girl. I know you are providing elite level of services from some highly organized group,
but that isn't enough to intimidate me. I swear you can't cheat me, bitch!"
The man put up an unbridled face, pointing his finger right at Amanda's nose as he spoke angrily.
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