There I was, nestled in ude''s arms, casting a sly grin at Carl''s fuming demeanor.


    In my past life, ude had watched on as Carl and his crew bullied me, indifferent to my plight.


    All because I''d climbed into his bed and pushed away his beloved Kate. Hebeled me as a cunning and terrifying woman.


    This time around, none of those things had happened yet, so he still harbored a faint affection for me.


    Perhaps this affection stemmed from my parents saving his life.


    It was an advantage I intended to fully exploit in this life.


    "ire, you must be terrified, I''m so sorry. It''s my fault for running off to meet friends. That''s why Carl and his friends targeted you," she said, pulling me into her embrace, away from ude''s arms, trying tofort me. But I clung to ude''s sleeve, terrified. He sighed: "Kate, she''s not used to these grand events. Let her stay with me; the auction is about to start. Let''s head over together." ude nced at me, his eyes conveying something I couldn''t decipher.


    But I''d achieved my goal, making him witness Carl''s bullying, not my seduction.


    "udy, will Carl be at the auction too?" I asked, locking eyes with ude.


    He sighed deeply andforted me, "Stay by my side, and he won''t dare to mess with you."


    I nodded obediently.


    Yet, as I looked up, I spotted Max in the distance, lifting his champagne in a toast to me with a sly smile.


    When did he start standing there?


    So, he must have seen me intentionally fall into Carl''s arms earlier?


    When I looked again in his direction, he had already left.


    Given his personality, he probably wouldn''t bring it up with ude, so I decided to stop worrying about it. Just as we entered the auction venue, I noticed several staff members ushering Carl and his group out. "Sorry, the organizingmittee found that your invitations are fake. Please leave."


    Fake invitations?


    Carl, not from a noble family, but still of a wealthy household, wouldn''t likely resort to fake invitations.


    Yet the staff''s insistence on ejecting them, seemingly unafraid of offending them, was somewhat satisfying.


    "What the fuck? Call your boss here. This invitation was personally delivered to my house. How could it be fake?"


    As he spoke, his eyes caught mine. I pretended to shrink back into ude''s embrace.


    He patted my hand and whispered, "I''ll go check what''s happening."


    I knew ude was fiercely loyal, especially to his childhood friends, so much so that in my previous life, he even enabled them to bully me. This life, I was determined to sever their ties.


    "Can Ie with you, udy?"


    Unable to refuse me, ude had no choice but to take me along. When Kate attempted to follow, ude said ''Stay here, see if there''s anything suitable for ire


    "ude..." Kate hesitated but ude had already turned to address Carl''s situation. Approaching, the staff greeted him, and he responded coolly, "They''re my friends."


    The staff apologetically exined, "Mr. Hart, I''m really sorry, but these invitations are indeed fake. The real invitations are embossed with gold, and these aren''t. Plus, a member of the Hilton family is here today, we can''t afford any mistakes.


    Hearing the mention of the Hilton family, ude''s expression shifted slightly then he told Carl, "You guys


    were just here to have fun anyway. It''s not a big deal, just head back." Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    Carl, clearly annoyed, kicked a nearby chair. "Fuck! What a rotten day."


    Even as he spoke, he shot me a re.


    "This has nothing to do with ire. Don''t take it out on her, be a man," ude caught his gaze and reprimanded.