Chapter 148
At Venus Matchmaking Company, Sanya was working overtime again. It was already past eight in the evening, but she didn’t feel like clocking out. The weight of guilt and shame hung over her. Days had passed, but she still couldn’t bring herself to face Rain. The thought of confronting her was terrifying for her.
Sanya was tough on the outside, but inside she was fragile, full of self-doubt and insecurity. Admitting she was wrong was too painful for her fragile ego, so instead of owning up to her mistakes, she did what she always did—ran away.
Rain had always been there for her, supporting her. And now she couldn’t even bring herself to apologize.
“Are you coming with us?” one of her colleagues asked. Sanya had been working late with three other female coworkers, and they had just finished for the day.
“We’re going to a disco bar to have some fun. My treat! It’s my birthday today, and I’m taking you all to one of the elite spots,” her colleague boasted. “We spend our days matchmaking rich single men and women—why not find someone for ourselves p>
Then she flashed an exclusive membership card.
“No way! How did you get one of those?” one of their coworkers gasped, eyes wide with surprise.
Sanya hesitated, but the thought of escaping her worries, even for just a few hours, was tempting. Maybe a night out would help her forget her guilt, at least for a little while.
“One of my clients is so happy with my work that she’s letting me use her membership card to this exclusive disco bar!” Sanya’s colleague said, grinning with excitement. “Come on, let’s take this chance to meet some rich people! I even brought clothes for us to change into p>
Before Sanya could protest, her colleague grabbed her arm and playfully tugged her along. “You have to make us all look beautiful and rich!” she teased.
Sanya chuckled, though her mind was far from lighthearted. It was true—she had a knack for makeup. She could transform someone’s appearance entirely, a skill she honed after attending makeup and contouring seminars.
In fact, she had put that talent to use in her own life, notably when she impersonated her friend Rain to register a marriage certificate in a meeting that never should have happened.
Her thoughts darkened. “That bastard,” she muttered under her breath. Yes, she had been an imposter, but it didn’t erase the fact that William Lancaster—Alexander’s brother—had deceived her just as she had deceived him.
After seeing the real Alexander in person, it was easy for Sanya to piece together the truth. The man she had registered the marriage wasn’t Alexander at all. It was his younger brother, William, who bore a striking resemblance to him.
’Just like I tricked him, he tricked me,’ she thought bitterly, realizing they had both been playing a dangerous game of deception.
Sanya and her colleagues changed into their party outfits and made their way to the disco bar. It had been ages since Sanya had been out like this, and she was ready to let loose. She ordered a few drinks and hit the dance floor, feeling the music pulse through her veins.
What she didn’t realize was that she was under the watchful gaze of not just one, but two pairs of eyes. One of those eyes belonged to Dina, who glared at Sanya from across the room.
Sanya was too lost in the rhythm of the music, her body moving carelessly as the alcohol buzzed through her veins. Men began circling her, drawn in by her magnetic presence.
She wasn’t as strikingly beautiful as Rain, but Sanya possessed an undeniable charm. Her brown skin glowed under the club’s lights, and her curves, enhanced by the figure-hugging dress she wore, caught the eyes of nearly every man in the room.
Her bob-cut mocha-brown hair swayed as she danced, unaware of the attention she was attracting—until she felt someone too close against her back. A man leaned into her, his breath hot against her ear. “Hi,” he whispered.
Uncomfortable, Sanya stepped forward, trying to put distance between them. “Get away from me!” she hissed, her words slurred from the alcohol. The man, undeterred, muttered a curse under his breath and reached out to grab her.
Before his hand could make contact, another firm grip enclosed around her wrist. “That’s enough,” came a voice, stern and familiar. “You’re coming with me now p>
Sanya turned to see the owner of the voice, her blurry vision sharpening just enough to recognize him. “You she mumbled, surprised.
“Yes, it’s me,” he growled, tightening his hold on her wrist. “And it’s about time we settle the score between us p>
He shot a threatening glance at the man harassing her. “Back off, unless you want me to break you into pieces p>
The man, who seemed to recognise him, quickly backed off, leaving them alone.
“Now, you’re coming with me,” he commanded, pulling Sanya even closer, his grip firm but not painful.
She stumbled slightly, her body pressed against his. For a moment, she felt his warmth and something unfamiliar washed over her—security. It was the first time a man had held her so protectively as if silently declaring that no one else could come near her but him.
Sanya gulped, her pulse quickening. The haze of alcohol was wearing off just enough for her to notice the way his strong arm wrapped around her, keeping her steady. She wasn’t used to this—being cared for, even if the concern was masked in frustration.
She glanced up at him, her voice soft and unsure. “Why are you doing this p>
“Because we have unfinished business, and I’m not letting you slip away again,” he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Dina clenched her jaw, deciding whether to approach or just ignore Sanya. It irritated Dina to no end that Rain, despite everything, had managed to find companionship in a “beggar,” as she often labelled Sanya in her mind. For Dina, it was better if Rain remained isolated—easier to control, easier to overshadow.
As Dina watched Sanya sway on the dance floor, laughing without a care in the world, the irritation within her grew. “Who does she think she is?” Dina muttered under her breath. “This parasite has the nerve to be here p>
Just as Dina was about to approach Sanya, she paused, noticing a man pulling Sanya away from the dance floor. Frowning, Dina squinted at him. “Is that Rain’s husband?” she muttered to herself. He looked just like Alexander, but something was off—he wasn’t wearing spectacles, and there was a different energy about him.