Chapter 4
After getting out of the car, Xavion and Camryn headed straight to the designated private room.
But as soon as they opened the door, they immediately sensed the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
It was supposed to be a welcome party, but nearly everyone present was male—most of them Xavion’s friends.
As though they had something to say, they glanced at Xavion with hesitant expressions.
Before anyone could speak, Zara walked over with a bright smile. “You’re here.”
Her gaze fell on Camryn’s face, and she froze for a moment before flashing another smile. “So this is your girlfriend. She looks young. Thank you for donating blood to me last time. Honestly, you saved my life. If you ever need anything, just say the word, and I’ll be there for you.”
Camryn forced a polite smile. “You’re too kind.”
Zara chuckled, told them to make themselves comfortable, and then went off to greet other newly arrived guests.
Although Zara was mingling elsewhere, Xavion’s gaze remained fixed on her.
When he saw her laughing and chatting with other men, his face darkened.
When he noticed her eating a few more macarons, he silently instructed the waiter to bring every macaron in the venue to her table.
When the champagne tower was accidentally knocked over and nearly fell on Zara, he immediately got up and shielded her with his body.
“Watch out!”
Sharp glass shards sliced across his left hand, leaving several cuts. Everyone urged him to go to the hospital for treatment.
However, he casually wrapped his hand with a silk scarf and dismissed their concern.
“It’s just a minor injury. Don’t worry about it,” he said.
Looking at the blood-stained white scarf, Camryn, who had just taken out her car keys, quietly put them back into her bag.
The room fell silent for a few minutes before returning to its lively atmosphere.
It was soon 8:00 pm. Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, Zara picked up a microphone and announced, “Now that everyone’s here, I can finally share some important news. As you might already know, I broke up before returning to the country. Tonight, I’ve gathered everyone here in search of a new boyfriend!”
As soon as Zara said that, everyone in the room glanced nervously at Xavion.
Xavion only stared at her intently, his grip tightening on the glass in his hand until it shattered.
Blood dripped from his hand, but Zara seemed entirely unfazed. Instead, she raised her glass toward him with a smile.
“Xavion, I didn’t invite you here for nothing. I need you to help me judge who among your friends might be the best match for me.”
The entire private room fell deathly silent.
Seeing the nervous looks on the men’s faces and Xavion’s stormy expression, Camryn finally understood why the atmosphere had felt so tense when they walked in.
As everyone sat in uneasy silence, one of the guys sitting in the middle suddenly stood up.
“I—”
Before he could finish saying, “I need to use the restroom,” Xavion flipped the table in front of him and coldly glared at him.
“If you dare agree, I swear…”
The sudden outburst left the man frozen. He didn’t know whether he should sit or stand there.
Xavion, clutching his bloodied hand, stormed over to Zara. His eyes were red, his voice trembling as he hissed, “Zara, sometimes I wonder if you have a heart.”
With that, he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him, completely forgetting he’d left his girlfriend behind.
The welcome party couldn’t continue after such a dramatic scene.
Camryn chuckled bitterly to herself as she got up and headed for the restroom. Walking down the hallway, she overheard Xavion’s group of friends arguing with Zara.
“Zara, what exactly are you thinking? Why do you have to provoke Xavion and make him angry? Of all people, you should know better than anyone that he’s always wanted to date you again. Who among us would dare make a move on the person he’s obsessed with?”
“Am I supposed to agree to it just because he wants to reconcile? I don’t see his sincerity,” Zara insisted.
“Sincerity? Damn it, what more do you want? Do you even know what he’s been through all these years? Have you ever seen anyone as devoted as he is in our circle? He’s practically born with the world at his feet, but look at how he’s driven mad for you!
“When you broke up with him and left the country, he drank himself nearly to death. Whenever you posted about something you liked on social media, he’d go to any length to buy it and secretly deliver it to your doorstep overseas. Not long ago, you casually mentioned to a friend that it had been a while since you’d seen fireworks, and he immediately arranged a grand fireworks show at Ballie. Don’t tell me you had no idea about any of this…”
Camryn’s hand trembled slightly at the indignation in Xavion’s friend’s voice.
So this was the reason for Xavion’s mysterious disappearances while he was dating Camryn.
It had always been for Zara.
The argument in the hallway grew more heated, yet Zara remained indifferent.
“So what if he wanted to do those things for me? I never forced him. Besides, these are just small things. What’s the big deal? Maybe someday he’ll really prove it by giving his life for me.”
“Zara, you’re taking advantage of Xavion’s feelings for you! Just you wait. You will regret it when his patience runs out and he stops liking you one day.”
“Stop liking me?” Zara sneered and declared in a tone filled with smug certainty, “Don’t make me laugh. He couldn’t even pick a girlfriend who wasn’t a stand-in for me. How could he ever stop liking me? What happens between us is none of your business!”
She confidently turned as if she had won, only to come face-to-face and lock eyes with Camryn standing not far away.
