Chapter 23: The Malicious Banquet

I laughed, "Ian, don't you think you regard your relationships as a trifling matter? You've only been dating for a month and you broke up with her so easily?" "She brought it up." Ian interrupted me, "I respect her choice." "So..." I got up, pressed my hands on the table, and leaned in close to him, "Do you love her?" "No." I froze. He looked up and his beautiful eyes were fixed on me with deep love, "Jacqueline, there is only one person in my heart from the beginning to the end, and that is you." I had seen a lot of scumbags, but it was the first time I had seen a scumbag with such affection as Ian. He thought he was acting in a soap opera? I sneered, "So you were going out with Nellie solely because of me?" "Yes." I choked on his words and quickly said, "Ian, I hope you're not being a smart ass. Do you know that you've caused me trouble and distress because of what you did?" Ian didn't understand. I couldn't get angry at him because of his sad and frustrated look. His intention was good, but it created a dilemma for me. I held my tongue and gave him the order to leave, "Go back to work." Ian nodded and got up to leave. As he walked to the door, he looked back at me, "Jacqueline, I can tell you once again, I would never hurt you. I had no choice but to do so back then." What did he mean? But I was too upset to care about that. I talked to Elias about the cruise ship party. Elias looked disinterested, "Can I skip it?" I didn't want you to go either! But I had no choice. "Steven invited us and if we don't go, we're not showing him respect." I had to appease him first and think of another way later. I believed that with my ability, I could protect Elias. I didn't spend all these years in the business world for nothing. Elias gave in, "Okay." The end of the month came and went as planned. I got dressed and knocked on the checkroom door, "Honey, are you ready?" "Yes." As Elias answered, the checkroom door was opened. I looked up and was stunned. Elias was wearing a silver-gray suit with a simple color scheme, which set off his powerful aura. Together with his beautiful face and slender figure, he seemed like a president with a distinguished temperament. Yes. He made me have the illusion that he was the one who was calling the shots and I was just a woman behind him. "Honey, you're so gorgeous, I can't bear to take you out in case a bunch of women pester you." He rolled his eyes at me and walked over to me, reaching out to me, "Let's go." I lifted my dress and went out with him. I had five or six cars in my garage. It was a grand night, so I purposely chose my Bentley. The driver was already waiting, and when he saw us coming out, he opened the door. "Nice car." It was the first time Elias had ever spoken up about a car. "The car is nice, and the man is even nicer." I winked at him. Elias was already used to my occasional "flirting". He sat upright and looked straight ahead. I had to say that he had a powerful aura with such a simple action. The car, to be honest, didn't match his aura at all. I joked, "Elias, you are not the son of a rich family who came down to earth to experience life, right?" He looked at me, "Down to earth?" "A metaphor, meaning you're actually not an ordinary person." He turned his head away sideways, not looking at me. After a moment, he said lightly, "You are overthinking. I am just an ordinary person." I put away the doubts in my mind and took his hand. He did not struggle and I entwined my fingers with his. "Elias, no matter what happens tonight, you have to stick to your principles and you have to trust me, too, okay?" At that, his brow furrowed slightly, "What do you mean?" "Nothing, just remember, you are my man and no one can hurt you." I promised word for word. Elias smiled and all of a sudden, the carriage was drenched in spring air. "You will protect me?" "You don't believe me?" He nodded, "Okay, then I'll see." I looked at him suspiciously and thought, "What is he planning? Strange guy." When we got to the cruise ship, Elias and I were able to get in after a lot of vetting. I've been to a few cruise parties before. Steven's cruise party was, at best, a bit larger and more extravagant, but nothing special. Elias and I went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Chelton first, as well as presenting our gifts. A necklace worth a million dollars. Steven's wife was very well maintained with a nice figure and fine skin, looking as if she was only in her early forties. She looked Elias up and down with a few probing looks in her eyes. "Mrs. Silva, Mr. Silva, have fun tonight." Mrs. Steven had other guests to attend to and didn't say much to us. I was relieved. Maybe I was overthinking it. Perhaps Steven had simply invited us and wasn't trying to take away my husband. With a glass of champagne in hand, Elias and I stood on the deck watching the fireworks. The sea was very calm, and the fireworks lit up the sky for a moment. He was looking off into the distance and I didn't know what he was thinking. Aloof from the world. I always thought of this phrase when I looked at Elias. I had an unpeaceful feeling even though he was very close to me. I was afraid that he would leave me one day when I woke up and I would never see him again. "Elias, you're not going to leave me quietly, are you?" At that, he turned his head and looked at me. Those beautiful eyes were like crystal in the night, making me calm. My uncertainty and anxiety were slowly eased. "No." "Those who lie will become long-nosed." I threatened him with a smile. He rarely reached out and patted my head, "Childish." "How can I be childish as a president? I'm just infected by you." I deliberately teased him. "I'm afraid of being infected with your bad habits." Elias said seriously, "When someone sleeps, she grinds her teeth and talks in her sleep." "Hey, hey, hey." I stood on my tiptoes and covered his mouth, "I am at least the president of TR. Please show me some respect and don't say it out loud." He allowed me to cover his mouth and looked at me with a smile. In the distance, the fireworks bloomed in the air. At that moment, I felt as if I heard the sound of flowers blooming in my heart. I, Jacqueline, seemed to have really fallen in love with this man in front of me. The cruise ship's ball was an essential part of the event, and even though I didn't like to dance, I was affected by the atmosphere of the evening and took Elias to join in the dance. Elias was a handsome man. When he showed up, he was so elegant that all women's eyes lit up when they saw him. I danced with Elias while whispering to him, "It was a bad decision to bring you out tonight." He looked around and saw the stares around him without much emotion, "You insisted on bringing me here." So, it was my fault. With that, Elias swung me away. I spun around a few times, a little dizzy, and was about to stop when I bumped into a warm embrace.