Chapter 51
As Hailey spoke, she leaned toward Nicholas, revealing the impressive view offered by her little white dress.
“Who are you p>
Nicholas, his path blocked, lazily lifted his gaze. As his cool eyes landed on Hailey, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “What’s with the long face? Are you here for a funeral p>
He showed no sign of being captivated by Hailey, only the annoyance of being interrupted. “You’re an eyesore p>
Hailey’s expression instantly froze, her face turning pale. Being publicly rebuffed by Nicholas left her so mortified she could barely contain her emotions.
Nicholas couldn’t be bothered to spare her another glance. With a long stride, he walked right up to Serena.
Serena’s height was already considered tall and striking among women.
But Nicholas’s frame still easily dwarfed her, casting her in his shadow.
He looked down, his deep, ink-black eyes landing on the girl’s coolly beautiful face.
A faint, intriguing smile finally touched his thin lips.
He had only ever seen her from a distance before.
His impression was… her legs were long and slender, and her waist was impossibly slim.
Now, up close, the hazy lights accentuated the cold, detached look in her eyes, making her stunningly beautiful.
“Miss,” he said, his low, lazy voice whispering by her ear, laced with a hint of temptation and amusement. “Need a hand p>
The distance between them was close, yet teetered on the edge of a perfectly gentlemanly space.
Serena could smell the crisp, pine-like scent on him, mixed with a faint trace of tobacco.
She looked up, her gaze meeting his obsidian-like eyes.
His proximity created an incredibly strong sense of pressure.
And it was unfamiliar.
She wasn’t used to it.
Serena subtly took half a step back, her expression distant, calm, and cold. “Thank you, but I don’t need any help p>
Detached, but still polite.
Nicholas let out a low chuckle, the vibration in his chest producing a deep, magnetic sound that was incredibly captivating.
“Alright p>
He slowly let the single word escape his thin lips.
Then, with one hand in his pocket, he turned slightly to the side.
But his position was just right to block the
Adri
Serena
rian, completely shielding her from Adrian’s dark, chilling stare.
espace betwea and
It created an unspoken stance of confrontation and protection.
He tilted his head, still exuding that casual, roguish air, and said in a playful tone in a voice only the two of them could hear, “In that case… I look forward to your performance p>
They weren’t standing particularly close, and Serena’s attitude was distant and indifferent.
Yet the atmosphere between them had an inexplicable, perfect sense of chemistry. This scene stabbed into Adrian’s eyes.
He felt a heavy blow land on his chest, a dull ache that made it almost impossible to breathe.
Seeing Nicholas’s clearly protective stance p>
A wave of panic and jealousy he had never felt before nearly shattered his composure.
Everyone else in the room was stunned, staring at Serena with utter disbelief.
How could Serena possibly know someone like Nicholas Blackwood?
Brian was shocking enough, but now Nicholas too?
What was even harder for them to accept was… she had actually refused Nicholas’s help?
She treated even Nicholas with such cold indifference?
Anyone else in this room would be
ping, ready to kneel
and lick his shoes, just fora
chance
to say a single word to him..net>
Hailey also found the scene infuriating.
She trembled with rage, her perfectly manicured nails digging deep into her palms.
She was nearly consumed by jealousy.
First Brian, and now Nicholas!
Why wasn’t she the one catching the eye of such a god-like, perfect man?
She was, after all, a Wynn heiress.
Her status and lineage were far nobler than some gutter trash from the slums like Serena.
Why did that damn imposter Serena always have to compete with her for everything?