Chapter 10: Chapter 10

<Third Person>

"Hello! I finally meet you!" He extended his hand, and Azaria was about to shake it when her husband intervened and shook hands with his friend instead. Noah just grinned at his friend's reaction.

"Take care of my friend, okay? You're in trouble with me if you make her cry," Nick playfully threatened.

Nick looked at his friend after his wife was warned like that.

"Just kidding," Noah quickly added with a laugh.

"Man, I've been waiting for you since earlier. My grandpa is already here, and you said you'd help me with my proposal to him," Noah said, putting his arm around him. Nick put his arm around his wife's waist and stood quietly.

The three of them entered the venue, with Nick's hand still on his wife's waist.

There were many people around, and it seemed like everyone present was wealthy.

"Oh, I just came back from a trip abroad. I went on vacation and did a lot of shopping. I've amassed a huge Louis Vuitton collection."

"I went shopping yesterday, and I'll shop again tomorrow."

"This necklace I'm wearing costs a million dollars. It was a gift from my husband on our wedding anniversary."

Azaria looked at the three elderly ladies who were bragging about their possessions.

"The youngest grandson. Finally, I meet you in person," an old man greeted Noah.

"Thank you for coming to my day, Mr. Ho," Noah shook hands with him.

“"By the way, this is my friend Lanvin and his wife Azaria," Noah introduced them.

"Lanvin? Are you the CEO of Sunrise Pacific Corporation?" the elderly man asked him.

"Yes, that's him! My friend here is intelligent! He's excellent in business!" Noah proudly replied, putting his arm around Lanvin.

"Nice to meet you! I've heard a lot about your company, and I'm looking forward to being one of your business partners!" the older man said happily to Nick.

"Why don't we discuss that matter with my grandfather?!" Noah suggested.

The older man agreed.

"I'm glad to meet you, but I'm with my wife. Maybe we can talk about partnerships some other time," Nick replied. He didn't want to leave his wife's side, especially since she looked so attractive in her outfit. He wanted to avoid any potential misunderstandings.

Noah looked at his friend as he declined the offer.

"Excuse us," Nick politely excused themselves.

"Mr. Ho, I'll just meet the other guests," Noah said and followed his friend.

"Noah! Lanvin!" A woman approached them, smiling broadly as she kissed Noah on the cheek. She was about to kiss Nick when he spoke.

"I'm married," he said coldly to the woman. She smiled widely at him.

"Wow! Since when? You guys always keep your marriage a secret! Noah, you baldie, you might be married and not even telling me. If I find out you're married and you didn't invite me, I'll be really mad at you!"

"Dria, I'm single, you dimwit. Chandria, where's Keran?" Noah asked the woman, who pouted in response. They weren't used to not seeing the two of them together.

"Hmph! She's not coming. But her brothers, Kienzo and Enzo, are here," Chandria replied.

"Where are the troublemaker twins? I thought they weren't going to attend," Noah asked his cousin.

"They're at the end, you can find them there. Hello," Chandria greeted Azaria with a smile.

"Your hair is so beautiful, the curls are perfect. Is it natural?" Chandria asked, reaching out to touch Azaria's hair.

Azaria felt awkward. Why was this girl acting so familiar? And who was she? They weren't close enough for her to touch her hair like that.

"Lanvin, oh! So that's why I haven't seen you with any other girls, you're married now!" Chandria exclaimed, turning her attention back to Nick. "Your wife is so beautiful, hihi."

"She is," Lanvin answered.

"Lan, come on, let's go find the troublemaker twins," Noah invited his friend. "Hey, leave your wife with Chandria, let them get close!"

"No! My wife will come with me!" Nick protested, not wanting to let his wife out of his sight.

"Oh well, I wish Keran would be like that with me, not always leaving me behind. You two go ahead. I'll take care of your wife, Lanvin," Chandria said to him.

“I will be fine," Azaria assured her husband, though she really didn't want him to leave.

"Call me when someone disrespects you, huh?" Nick instructed his wife and quickly kissed her on the lips. She widened her eyes, feeling shocked that he would steal a kiss from her in front of his friend. How dare this man! He had been stealing kisses from her since earlier!

"Chandria, look after my wife. Don't let any man talk to her," he instructed. Did he want his saliva to dry up or something? And why didn't he want any other man to talk to her? She was boiling with anger!

Chandria smiled widely while Noah just shook his head.

"Alright, you guys can go now," Chandria shooed the two men away.

"How many years have you been in a relationship with my brother Lanvin?" Chandria asked her as they were left alone. "And why didn't I know he had a girlfriend? I never saw Lanvin with any other girl for five years, where were you?"

Azaria wanted to glare at the girl.

"And by the way, you're beautiful! Lanvin won't trade you for anyone else! You're so lucky to have him!" Chandria said with glee, playfully pinching her. Were they close? Hailey was her only friend.

"I don't love him, and we've never been in a relationship. Our marriage is arranged because of our grandfather's will. Lanvin is my grandpa's adopted son, and I don't know what possessed him to decide to marry us," Azaria explained angrily.

"You're so scary. You're lucky to have him! Lanvin is so kind, and he's incredibly sweet! He's also excellent in business! Oh well, he would do anything for you. And by the way, he's adopted? Why didn't I know about that?" Chandria gushed.

Kind? Sweet? He did everything against her will. She will forever hate that man! Azaria thought, bitterness filling her heart.

"How did you meet Lanvin? It seems like you know him very well," Azaria couldn't help but be sarcastic, "and please, stop touching my hair," she snapped at the girl. The girl seemed scared and quickly apologized.

"He's my cousin, Noah's best friend, who is also the brother of my ex-boyfriend, Keran. My mom is friends with Keran's mom, so I got close to them," she explained, "and Lanvin and Noah have been best friends for a long time, hehe."

Azaria took a glass of wine when a waiter approached them.

"Come on, let me introduce you to some of my acquaintances," Chandria invited her.

"Oh, there they are!" Chandria pointed to Lanvin, who was with two other women.

Azaria's eyes narrowed when she saw her husband chatting happily with the other women.

"Let's not bother them, they'll just tease us. Come over here," Chandria pulled her away.

It hadn't even been a month since they got married, and yet he was already cheating on her! How audacious of him! He was acting like a single asshole behind her back!

"Hey! Where are you going?!" Chandria shouted in question as Azaria suddenly left. Why were they not allowed to bother them? They weren't allowed to approach them because they were with other women, probably flirting.

"Oh, sorry! Sorry!" Azaria apologized as she accidentally bumped into a man.

She tried to wipe the white coat of the man that got stained by the spilled wine.

"I'm really sorry," the man replied. He looked at her and took the handkerchief, wiping his coat.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry, it's just that you weren't looking where you were going," she blamed the man, trying to divert her embarrassment.

The man chuckled, "Is it really my fault? I tried to avoid you, but you're the one not looking where you're going,"

"Well, you're stupid if that's the case."

The man laughed, "It's not okay, but it's okay. I have an extra coat in my car, so I'll just change later. By the way, what's your name, miss?"

She was good at flirting, so why not use it? Her skills might get rusty if she didn't use them. She bit her lower lip in a seductive way and extended her hand to the man.

"I'm Azaria, but you can call me Ria," she said in a sultry tone, giving him a flirtatious smile. She noticed that he smelled good, and she had a weakness for well-groomed men.

"Are you alone? I was brought here by a friend, but he left me as well. I hope you don't mind accompanying me," she made her first move.

The man's eyes sparkled at her words.

"Oh, girl! You're like a vampire, you move so fast," Chandria commented, panting from trying to keep up with Azaria.

She glared at her, annoyed by the woman's wrong timing.

"I guess your friend is here?" the man asked.