Chapter 84: Unable to Look Away
In the end, Mia decided not to ask Chloe for her opinion and simply ordered her a cocktail. It was a low–alcohol drink since she knew Chloe disliked strong beverages.
Chloe sat there, feeling somewhat helpless but also accepting the situation. “If you get drunk tonight, I’m definitely not taking you back to your room, and I really don’t like drinking,” she remarked, looking at the beautifully crafted cocktail before her.
The bartender, overhearing her, smiled and said, “Ladies, don’t worry! If you both drink too much, we have staff to escort you back to your suite. Our employees are well–trained and won’t cause you any trouble.”
“Exactly! I chose a very reliable hotel this time; I know the service is excellent here. So, enjoy ourselves! We’re here to have fun, and if we end up a bit tipsy, it’s no big deal,” Mia replied, her excitement visibly increasing.
let’s
Seeing Mia so happy, Chloe felt it was best not to dampen her spirits. They were chatting and drinking without noticing a gaze fixated on them
Julian had been searching for Chloe since he arrived. When he finally spotted her in a mask, he recognized her instantly. Sometimes, he found it strange that despite deciding to cut ties, he couldn’t help but recognize Chloe the moment she appeared.
He gazed at her greedily, aware that many people were present and wearing masks, allowing him to observe her unnoticed. Even if Chloe sensed something, she wouldn’t be able to find
him.
www
In that moment, seeing Chloe filled him with excitement, and he yearned to approach her. Yet,
he knew better; talking to her wouldn’t yield anything good since Chloe clearly didn’t want him around. This rare opportunity to gaze at her without worrying about her anger was precious.
Julian wore a Phantom of the Opera mask and was dressed accordingly, his striking looks and height drawing attention even from a corner.
Leila entered wearing a cute bunny mask, immediately appearing youthful and adorable. After scanning the crowd, she quickly spotted Julian and made her way over.
As she approached, Julian had been watching Chloe for quite a while. Realizing he couldn’t just stand there, he prepared to move when he suddenly heard someone call his name, accompanied by a gentle grip on his wrist.
“Darling, you made it!” Leila exclaimed, having changed into her outfit and eager to find Julian.
She was thrilled that he had invited her to the ball, believing it showed he cared about her.
Unable to Look Away
“I thought I was downstairs and almost went the wrong way! If a kind stranger hadn’t told me, I probably wouldn’t have found you. What do you think of my outfit? I chose this cute mask. It seems to match my personality, but I worried you might not like it. Also, I heard there’s a grand prize drawing tonight, and I brought you a ticket. I wonder if we’ll be lucky!”
Leila had put a lot of thought into her outfit and the event, and her enthusiasm finally snapped Julian back to reality.
Looking at Leila, he initially wanted to say something but, seeing her adorable expression, he held back. “Let’s check out the drawing process.”
When he looked up again, Chloe had vanished; he no longer saw her where she had been. Deciding to search for her while casually entertaining Leila, he moved on, while Leila excitedly followed, sharing stories about her day.
Meanwhile, Chloe and Mia had relocated to another seating area. Having had their drinks, Chloe was uncomfortable at the bar and noticed how many eyes were on them.
Mia realized Chloe was struggling with the attention, prompting her to suggest a change of
scenery.
As they settled into their new seats, Mia’s gaze landed on a handsome guy who fit her type perfectly, her eyes lighting up. Chloe chuckled, thinking, well, I guess I’ll be sitting here alone for a while. But sitting alone didn’t feel boring; if it took too long, she could always head back since she wasn’t fond of staying out.
“Dear…” Mia turned to speak to Chloe but saw her smiling and waving a hand.
“Go on, go on. If you take too long, don’t bother telling me. Just bring me breakfast in the morning,” Chloe preemptively said, knowing exactly what Mia was about to say. “Love you!” Mia exclaimed as she dashed off.
