Chapter 3
Charles came right up to me and, without saying a word, grabbed my wrist.
His grip was so strong it made my wrist ache.
"Lila, are you done with your drama?" Charles said.
His voice was low, but I could hear the anger barely contained beneath it.
I winced in pain, and tears started to well up in my eyes again.
"Charles, you're hurting me," I said.
"Hurting? So you know what pain is?" Charles sneered. "You threw yourself into my rival's arms in front of everyone. Did you ever think about how that made me look?"
"I didn't," I blurted out, trying to defend myself. "I just tripped, that's all."
"Accidentally?" Sophie said, folding her arms. "Well, aren't you lucky, Lila? Out of everyone in the whole ballroom, you just happened to tumble right into Mr. Sterling's arms?"
She looked me up and down, her gaze dripping with disdain.
"Or maybe you've been eyeing Mr. Sterling for a while, and decided to use this little mishap as your chance to throw yourself at him?" Sophia said.
Her words cut deep.
I was shaking with anger, my lips trembling, but I couldn't get a single word out.
"Sophie, shut up," someone said.
To my surprise, it was Lucas who spoke up.
He stubbed out his cigarette and walked over with deliberate steps, positioning himself between Charles and me.
He was half a head taller than Charles, and his aura was so commanding that it completely overshadowed him.
"Charles, control your woman," Lucas said coolly.
His tone was calm, but every word hit like a chunk of ice.
"I know exactly whether Ms. Winters did this on purpose. Instead of giving her a hard time, maybe you should ask yourself why your fiancée would rather ask a stranger for help than trust you," Lucas added.
Charles was left speechless, his face going from red to pale.
But Sophie wasn't about to let it go. She stepped forward, refusing to be intimidated.
"Lucas, this is between us. Why are you getting involved? Are you even close with her?" Sophia said.
Lucas didn't even look at her, his gaze still locked on Charles.
"Well, we are now," he said coolly.
Lucas paused, making sure every word landed.
"From now on, anything about Ms. Winters is my business," Lucas said.
His words exploded in everyone's ears, leaving the whole room stunned.
Charles's eyes burned with fury, locking his gaze on Lucas like he was ready to go for his throat.
Sophie's expression froze. She stared at Lucas in disbelief, then at me; the jealousy in her eyes was almost palpable.
And me? Stuck right at the center of it all, I was completely dumbfounded.
This wasn't how the script was supposed to play out.
I wanted to use Lucas to rile up Charles, not drag him into this whole mess.
What was Lucas even trying to do?
Was he out of his mind?
Did he have any idea what kind of storm he just started with that line?
"Lucas, say that again. I fucking dare you," Charles said. He finally snapped, roaring as he swung his fist straight at Lucas's face.
I screamed and called out, "No."
But it was too late.
Lucas stood his ground and took the punch without dodging.
Blood instantly welled up at the corner of his mouth.
The whole terrace erupted into chaos in an instant.
The dull thud of a fist hitting flesh made my heart clench.
Lucas's head was knocked to the side, a smear of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.
He didn't move, just prodded his injured cheek with his tongue, then slowly turned his head back to look at Charles, who looked almost deranged.
Lucas's eyes were icy enough to send shivers down one's spine.
"Charles, is that really the best you can do?" Lucas said.
With that, he took out a handkerchief from his suit pocket and, with deliberate ease, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
That nonchalant, almost indifferent attitude was far more humiliating than if he had hit Charles back.
Charles was shaking with rage, about to lunge at Lucas again, but a few of his friends who rushed over held him back with all their strength.
"Charles, just let it go. Don't lose your cool," one of them shouted.
"It's your big day, man; don't let this get out of hand," another added.
Sophie was freaked out; she never expected things to blow up like this.
She rushed over and grabbed Charles by the arm.
"Charles, calm down. Seriously, she's not worth it," Sophie said.
She pointed at me, shooting daggers from her eyes, full of spite.
I just stood there, my whole body numb with cold.