Three seconds passed. Harrison still couldn’t find a hint of concern or worry on Selene’s face.
Back in the day, whenever he had so much as a headache or a cold, Selene had hovered by his side, fussing over him like an attentive shadow–always ready with a gentle word or a comforting touch.
But now, she didn’t so much as glance at the hand he was holding, blood still seeping between his fingers. It was as if he’d become a complete stranger, someone so irrelevant she couldn’t even be bothered to look his way.
Chairman Winston and Xavier invited Selene upstairs. Before heading off, Chairman Winston turned to Daniel, the hotel manager, and said coldly, “You’ve insulted our special guest. Don’t think I’ll let this slide.”
Daniel’s face drained of color. He shot a resentful glare at Felicity. This is all her fault! Now he was about to lose his job because of her!
Selene, wine glass in hand, made her way toward the staircase.
Seeing her leave, Felicity couldn’t stand it and called out stubbornly, “Chairman! My sister’s unemployed, but she gets to go upstairs–so why can’t Harrison?”
Chairman Winston’s lips curled into a chilly, dismissive smile. He didn’t even slaw his steps. “The CEO of Vaughn Enterprises isn’t qualified to enter the second floor Humiliation settled over Harrison like a heavy fog.
“Enough!” Harrison snapped at Felicity.
It was the first time Felicity had ever seen Harrison lose his temper with her “Harrison, I was only trying to help you…”
“I never should have brought you to a place like this,” he shot back.
Felicity wished she could disappear.
Harrison looked toward the far end of the staircase, at the imposing golden doors that remained firmly closed.
For anyone in business, the greatest dream was to step through those golden doors during the annual International Summit Forum. Harrison had been working toward that goal for years.
He was sure that, in five years–no, three–he’d have Vaughn Enterprises listed at the top of the market, and then the organizers would invite him to enter those golden doors.
But Selene? She’d just walked right in, as if it were nothing.
It was unfathomable. How could his ex–wife possibly have the kind of clout to be invited inside?
The golden doors began to open slowly for Selene.
“Selene, you could work for thirty years and never be my equal!”
Harrison’s words–sharp and dismissive–echoed in Selene’s mind with no warning.
Halfway up the stairs, Selene paused.
She looked back at the grand hall below, standing high enough now to gaze down on everyone. Harrison, still standing among the crowd, was looking up at her.
Selene lifted her chin and smiled, radiant and untroubled.
Harrison, there will be many more nights where you’ll be forced to look up at me
like this.
Tonight is only the beginning.
Turning away, Selene faced the majestic golden doors.
Inside, Adrian stood waiting–dressed in a black silk shirt and tailored dark trousers. He lifted his head, his eyes dark and luminous, filled with laughter like sunlight sparkling on a lake.
Their eyes met. Adrian tipped his head with a crooked smile, a dimple appearing in his cheek, impossibly charming.
Stepping aside, Adrian invited Selene inside.
She entered, and there at the head of the conference table sat Leo.
Strikingly handsome, effortlessly elegant–he exuded both warmth and quiet authority.
Leo glanced her way, almost absentmindedly. And yet, it felt as if he had been waiting for her all along.
*
Downstairs in the banquet hall, several Vaughn Enterprises shareholders had
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Chapter 160
already surrounded Harrison.
“Harrison, how did your dinner go with your ex–wife last week?”
One of them sounded especially anxious. “Did Miss Thompson agree to take the CTO position for us?”
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