The party had already begun. But according to his assistant, his wife hadn't arrived yet."Didn't she say she would attend the party?" Migo asked his assistant beside him.He hadn't descended to the ballroom of the five-star hotel where they were celebrating the company's founding anniversary yet. But he would join them shortly."Yes, Sir. Do you want me to call her?" Jaxen answered."Find out where she's at." He turned away from him and picked up his black-silver Venetian half mask and put it on. His upper face was completely hidden, save for his eyes. While opting for a full-face mask would have better concealed his identity, the half mask was not a bad choice either.If someone didn't know him, he wouldn't be recognized at all.There was no deeper reason for his choice of anonymity. Or rather, for his decision to maintain a low-key profile.He just wanted a private life. A life away from people who would do anything to destroy him.Just like what happened seventeen years ago… He di

Lara thought the night would end without her talking to Miguel. She believed she could finally go home after dancing with Reed Villareal.But what she didn't expect was, she was given the rare chance of a surprise dance opportunity with the CEO. Above the excited whispers, jealous murmurs, and blatant judgment, Lara's heart pounded loudly when she heard her name being called.Was it just a coincidence? Her feet refused to move, and she felt a sudden chill.Miguel approached her and extended his hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked, his eyes fixed on hers like a whirlpool ready to pull her into the depths of the sea.Reluctantly, she took his hand. Her eyes widened as she felt that electric current again at the touch of his skin."Why are you so surprised? Did you think I would let this night pass without dancing with my wife?" he whispered as they stopped in the center of the dance floor.They were alone, and all eyes were on them. Lara felt her entire body tremble with nervousness

Lara arrived home late the next day. Her headache was pounding so intensely that it felt worse than a hangover.There were two reasons for that.First, her cheeks were still swollen. Wendy's slap seemed to have been delivered with the force of metal, leaving Lara's face achingly uncomfortable.The second, and more headache-inducing than the first, was waking up to find her arms wrapped around Migo. It would have been fine if he had still been asleep. However, aside from not knowing that she had slept next to him, Miguel was already wide awake and busy on his phone. He claimed he didn't move to avoid waking her, so he had endured the small screen of his phone while lying down, with her arm draped across his chest.Lara felt like she had just drunk a pail of coffee because she was wide awake at once. It was awkward enough that her face was purple from its swolleness, and her hair was like a bird's nest, but her sudden movement almost exposed her naked body beneath the robe that had loos

"Tasya, talk to Lara. She's been acting weird these past few days," Chester said as they were eating at a restaurant.She went out with her friends to get Miguel out of her mind. And since it was her treat, she didn't agree to meet at a bar."Why so?" Tasya raised her eyebrows. "Is it still because you've already seen your guardian, Lara?"She choked on her food suddenly. She did tell Tasya about it, but not to Chester. How could she forget?Oh, she was really a mess! She did go to Tasya after her first meeting with Miguel, and she mentioned the partial truth. But over the confused days that followed, with Chester being the available shoulder to cry on while concealing the truth, she had mixed up the details in her mind.And now, she might end up being boiled alive for not being fairly truthful to both her best friends."Have you seen Mr. Villareal? I thought you just talked to him?" Chester asked. "So, is he the reason for your weirdness? Your tears? Why? Has he been treating you bad

Lara's mind was a mess afterward. She couldn't understand Miguel's behavior. After he dragged her from the elevator to his extravagant and lavish unit, he suddenly let her go, took a deep breath, and apologized.He still looked angry, but not like earlier.Lara, on the other hand, was still speechless. She just stared at Miguel as if in a trance."I'm sorry," he said again. "I didn't mean to scare you like that."Scare her? She wasn't scared. She just felt a bit weird. When his face came dangerously close to hers, she had the urge to close the distance between them—with a kiss, perhaps? So she wasn't scared. She was just taken aback.The thought embarrassed her. Why would she think of kissing him?"I lost control. I didn't—""Do you live here?" she asked, clearing her throat to break the awkward atmosphere. She didn't want to hear him apologize any further. She just wanted him to know it was okay."I do.""It's beautiful. It suits someone like you," she added, her eyes scanning the sp