He Chose Her, The Desert Chose Me - Chapter 11: Chapter 11
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"Oh? What a coincidence," I mused, arching a brow with a sly smile. "I wonder where this dearly departed friend of yours is now to make you miss them so much."
Arthur stiffened for a split second before brushing it off with a hollow chuckle. "Uh… ancient history. No point dwelling on it." He swiftly changed the subject. "Speaking of the present—your Meyer Group's been making waves. I hear you're scouting partners for that northern suburban land. I'm interested. Care to discuss?"
As Arthur and Daniel dove into business, I felt a pair of eyes burning into me. I didn't need to look—Bella. She'd been stealing glances all night, her expression a toxic mix of suspicion and hostility.
During the intermission, while the men haggled, I wandered to the buffet for a bite. Before I could even lift a fork, Bella swooped in, her heels clicking like a predator's claws.
"Ms. Sheren, right?" she purred, sweetness laced with venom. "You look… familiar. Have we met before?"
I nearly laughed. Despite my new face, new name, new life—some things linger. A gesture, a habit… tiny betrayals.
Feigning surprise, I met her gaze with icy detachment. "Really? I can't recall. Where do you think you've seen me, Ms. Bella?"
Her sugary tone dissolved into a hiss. "Funny. Just now, while Arthur was clearly talking business, his eyes kept drifting to you. What kind of spell did you cast?"
I almost snorted. Fiancé? Oh, this was rich.
"Your fiancé?" I tilted my head, playing innocent. "Are you two engaged?"
Her lips curled smugly. "Obviously. You must be new here. After his last fiancée—that monster—tried to kill his parents and fled, Arthur turned to my family. We got engaged last month. The wedding's soon."
A ghost of a smile tugged at my lips. "Congratulations are in order, then, Ms. Bella," I said, voice smooth as glass.
Her mask slipped. Leaning in, she hissed, "Consider this a warning. Stay away from him—or you'll regret it."
Ah, Bella. Still the same viper.
I turned to leave—then froze as cold liquid splashed down my back. The sharp tang of red wine filled the air.
I turned slowly, dress and hair dripping crimson. Bella clutched her empty glass, fake shock plastered on her face.
"Ms. Sheren!" she gasped, crocodile tears welling. "How could you? I mention my engagement, and you—you attack me! Throwing wine out of jealousy!"
For a beat, I just stared. Then—a cold, sharp laugh cut through the murmurs.
"Ms. Bella," I said, loud enough for the gathering crowd. "You're clearly drunk. You spilled wine on yourself and blamed me? How… entertaining."
"Liar!" she shrieked. "You're jealous! Admit it—you did this out of spite!"
Calmly, I waved over a guard. "Fetch the surveillance footage. Let's settle this."
"No!" Bella's voice cracked, panic flashing in her eyes. "Just—just apologize, and we'll drop it!"
Her act was almost pitiful.
Arthur and Daniel arrived, concern etched on their faces. Arthur rushed to Bella, dabbing her dress—but his sharp gaze locked onto me, accusatory.
"Ms. Sheren," he said darkly, "what's this about? Why target Bella?"
I laughed softly.
"Mr. Arthur," I countered, unwavering. "Before pointing fingers, check the footage. See who's really the victim here."
The challenge hung in the air—daring him to uncover the truth.
Arthur stiffened for a split second before brushing it off with a hollow chuckle. "Uh… ancient history. No point dwelling on it." He swiftly changed the subject. "Speaking of the present—your Meyer Group's been making waves. I hear you're scouting partners for that northern suburban land. I'm interested. Care to discuss?"
As Arthur and Daniel dove into business, I felt a pair of eyes burning into me. I didn't need to look—Bella. She'd been stealing glances all night, her expression a toxic mix of suspicion and hostility.
During the intermission, while the men haggled, I wandered to the buffet for a bite. Before I could even lift a fork, Bella swooped in, her heels clicking like a predator's claws.
"Ms. Sheren, right?" she purred, sweetness laced with venom. "You look… familiar. Have we met before?"
I nearly laughed. Despite my new face, new name, new life—some things linger. A gesture, a habit… tiny betrayals.
Feigning surprise, I met her gaze with icy detachment. "Really? I can't recall. Where do you think you've seen me, Ms. Bella?"
Her sugary tone dissolved into a hiss. "Funny. Just now, while Arthur was clearly talking business, his eyes kept drifting to you. What kind of spell did you cast?"
I almost snorted. Fiancé? Oh, this was rich.
"Your fiancé?" I tilted my head, playing innocent. "Are you two engaged?"
Her lips curled smugly. "Obviously. You must be new here. After his last fiancée—that monster—tried to kill his parents and fled, Arthur turned to my family. We got engaged last month. The wedding's soon."
A ghost of a smile tugged at my lips. "Congratulations are in order, then, Ms. Bella," I said, voice smooth as glass.
Her mask slipped. Leaning in, she hissed, "Consider this a warning. Stay away from him—or you'll regret it."
Ah, Bella. Still the same viper.
I turned to leave—then froze as cold liquid splashed down my back. The sharp tang of red wine filled the air.
I turned slowly, dress and hair dripping crimson. Bella clutched her empty glass, fake shock plastered on her face.
"Ms. Sheren!" she gasped, crocodile tears welling. "How could you? I mention my engagement, and you—you attack me! Throwing wine out of jealousy!"
For a beat, I just stared. Then—a cold, sharp laugh cut through the murmurs.
"Ms. Bella," I said, loud enough for the gathering crowd. "You're clearly drunk. You spilled wine on yourself and blamed me? How… entertaining."
"Liar!" she shrieked. "You're jealous! Admit it—you did this out of spite!"
Calmly, I waved over a guard. "Fetch the surveillance footage. Let's settle this."
"No!" Bella's voice cracked, panic flashing in her eyes. "Just—just apologize, and we'll drop it!"
Her act was almost pitiful.
Arthur and Daniel arrived, concern etched on their faces. Arthur rushed to Bella, dabbing her dress—but his sharp gaze locked onto me, accusatory.
"Ms. Sheren," he said darkly, "what's this about? Why target Bella?"
I laughed softly.
"Mr. Arthur," I countered, unwavering. "Before pointing fingers, check the footage. See who's really the victim here."
The challenge hung in the air—daring him to uncover the truth.
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