Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 69: Chapter 69

Meanwhile, Peterson stepped away to discuss bidding details with a colleague, leaving Hallie standing alone for a moment.
Hallie had just picked up a petit four from the buffet, hoping to keep her energy up, when a sugary-sweet voice rang out behind her.
"Well, well... who would've thought my dear sister, just a lowly doctor, would show up at such an exclusive gala? Don't tell me that loser husband of yours managed to sneak you in?" the person said.
The voice was all honey on the surface, but the words dripped with poison and envy.
Hallie turned her head slightly and spotted Natalie approaching her, daintily lifting the hem of her enormous, princess-style pink gown. The dress looked so heavy that with every step, Natalie resembled a waddling cotton candy puff.
Miles was the key player in this bidding, and Hallie had fully expected him to show up with Natalie. She just thought their real confrontation would happen during the bidding itself.
She hadn't expected Natalie to be so impatient, giving her the perfect chance to fish for information in advance.
Hallie raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Don't you usually cling to Miles like glue? What's the matter? Did he ditch you for someone else? Looks like no one's here to help with your dress today. That's tragic."
Then, without missing a beat, Hallie leisurely speared a bite of her cake with a dainty silver fork, slipped it into her mouth, and closed her eyes as if savoring the most divine dessert on earth.
Hallie looked completely at ease, lounging there as if Natalie didn't even exist. That calm, superior air only riled Natalie up even more.
Natalie retorted, "Miles is determined to secure that piece of land in South Callopston tonight, so he's chatting with the government officials as we speak. As his girlfriend, of course I support his career. After all, I'm the kind of girlfriend who always has his back."
With that one line, she managed to elevate herself from a clingy accessory to the picture of a devoted, indispensable partner.
Hallie's gaze flickered as she caught the key detail in Natalie's words—Miles had been meeting with government officials.
Hallie thought, 'Of course, the government's attitude has always been the bellwether. Even if there aren't any under-the-table deals, it's still important to build connections and gauge their stance. That way, we can tailor our proposal to better align with their preferences.'
Hallie tried to fish for more information, but Natalie, though adept at charming men, clearly didn't have much of a clue about actual business strategy.
The scraps she offered were shallow at best, and they were useless to Hallie. Hallie had come for one thing only—to win the bid for that piece of land in South Callopston.
She'd already wasted more than enough time listening to Natalie's self-important chatter. With an easy smile, she turned to leave without another word.
But just as Hallie started to walk away, Natalie frantically grabbed her arm, her eyes burning with jealousy as she demanded, "Since when did you cozy up to Peterson?"
Before Hallie could reply, Natalie pressed on urgently, unable to hide her impatience. "Is Peterson your secret husband you've been hiding?"
One sentence was all it took to reveal Natalie's true motive. Hallie was about to deny it, but seeing the jealousy and frustration on Natalie's face, she decided to toy with her just a little longer.
With a sly, knowing smile, Hallie said, "Take a guess." Then, she shook off Natalie's hand and strode away without another glance backward.
Natalie stood rooted to her spot, stamping her foot in frustration. She tried to chase after Hallie, but her ridiculously puffy gown made it completely impossible for her to do so.
In the end, all she could do was watch helplessly as Hallie's graceful figure receded into the distance, leaving her seething with resentment as she stalked off.
After wandering through half the venue without spotting Peterson, Hallie finally pulled out her phone and sent him a text. [Where are you?]
After a moment, Peterson finally texted back in a hurry. [Something came up. Go to Nelson first.]
Reading those words, Hallie felt a faint ripple of tension under the seemingly casual text. She held her phone, staring at the message on the screen as she pondered for a moment.
Right now, Nelson was probably still with Regina. Hallie wasn't afraid of that woman—but she was tired of her endless clinging and petty games.
Besides, the real battle tonight was the bidding war. The outcome would decide the future of Berry Bay and the entire Levine Group. That was what actually mattered.
Honestly, the last thing she wanted was to waste her energy on petty catfights with Regina.
"Done playing around?" A cold, impatient voice sliced right into her thoughts from behind.
Recognizing Nelson's voice, she composed herself before slowly turning around. She'd expected to see Regina there too, standing beside Nelson with her usual fake-innocent look, but to her surprise, he was alone.
"Where's everyone else?" Hallie asked instinctively, glancing at the empty spot beside Nelson.
However, Nelson misunderstood her words. Glancing briefly at the chat window that was still displayed on Hallie's phone screen, he narrowed his eyes. "Not that thrilled to see me?"
Being used to Nelson's usual sharp-tongued way of speaking, Hallie didn't notice anything unusual in his tone.
Seeing that Regina wasn't around, her mood instantly lifted. A rare, genuine smile appeared on her face as she tilted her head and looked up at him. "Not at all. I'm actually really happy to see you."
She thought, 'Happy is an understatement. I feel downright liberated. After all, who wouldn't be thrilled to finally shake off someone who'd been sniping at them nonstop?'
Under the soft, scattered lights of the outdoor party, Hallie seemed to glow. Her brilliant smile lit up her whole face, making her look effortlessly dazzling. For a split second, Nelson was caught completely off guard. She shone so brightly, he couldn't tear his eyes away.
For a moment, he felt as if something slammed right into his chest. While Nelson was shaken to the core, Hallie remained completely unfazed. Once her smile faded, she snapped right back to business.
She asked, "Peterson mentioned there's a new development. What is it?"
This bidding war wasn't just a showdown between Nelson and Miles. It carried all of Hallie's hopes as well. The future of Berry Bay and the entire Levine Group hinged on this one crucial deal.
Hallie had been so consumed by the bidding these days that she could hardly sleep at all. As she walked beside Nelson, she lowered her voice so he could hear clearly.
Without even realizing it, she leaned closer and their arms nearly brushed against each other, separated only by the thin fabric of their clothes.
When Nelson lowered his head to answer her, she happened to tilt hers up at the same time. For one charged second, their breaths mingled together. Nelson froze, momentarily caught off guard.
Hallie met his deep gaze and immediately realized how close they were standing.
Before the thought could even form in her mind, her body reacted first—she stepped sharply to the side, putting space between them again.
Instincts would not lie. They revealed what someone truly felt deep down. After Hallie stepped back, her expression remained perfectly composed.
Nelson caught her movement and her expression, and for a split second, something sharp and irritable flickered across his eyes. He wondered, 'Did she hate standing next to me so much?'
His mind involuntarily drifted back to that earlier scene, where Hallie was walking side by side with Peterson, talking and laughing carefreely.
She smiled genuinely, which was completely different from those forced, performative displays she put on whenever they had to act like a couple for Nelson's grandfather. Those times, her every move had been calculated, and even her smile looked like a mask, hollow and insincere.
Nelson found himself spiraling into those thoughts before suddenly realizing how far he'd let his mind wander. This wasn't him. This wasn't the kind of thing he usually cared about.
He looked at Hallie again, his gaze deep and complicated, where an unreadable mix of emotions was swirling beneath the surface.