Chapter 6

Lina's POV

Outside the club entrance, everyone's attention was captured by a silver-gray supercar slowly approaching.

The windows were tinted dark, impossible to see inside.

The car came to a smooth stop at the entrance.

The door automatically opened.

I turned to look at the slack-jawed crowd, my gaze finally landing on Ethan's rigid face.

"The car's here."

"Mr. Rivers, enjoy yourself."

With that, I walked straight over, bent down, and slid into the passenger seat.

The door closed. The car let out a low rumble and sped away into the distance, leaving a group of people stunned behind us.

"Oh my God! Is that a rental car?"

"Rental? There are only a few of that model in the whole country! You couldn't rent one even if you had money!"

"Who is that guy? When did Lina get to know someone that powerful?"

"The streetlight was too dim. Couldn't see his face."

Ethan's expression was dark enough to drip water.

He stared at the direction where the taillights had disappeared, crushing the cigarette in his hand to shreds.

Lucas beside him quickly tried to smooth things over. "Ethan, don't take it seriously. She probably rented some old man's car to save face! Lina really went all out to upset you!"

Ethan's expression relaxed. He threw away the ruined cigarette, lit a new one, and sneered. "To piss me off, she really will try anything."

He turned to look at his assistant. "Release the engagement announcement. Next Friday. Make it a big production."

Chloe looked up in delight. "Really, Ethan?"

Ethan exhaled a puff of smoke casually. "Of course it's real. Make a big splash-best if everyone knows about it."

...

The car turned onto a quiet coastal road and came to a smooth stop at a scenic overlook by the roadside.

Engine off.

Adrian unbuckled his seatbelt, turned toward me, eyes unreadable in the darkness.

"Using me?"

His voice was low as his finger lifted a strand of my hair, winding it around his fingertip.

"Just said you missed me in front of all those people. Pretty bold."

I didn't dodge, meeting his gaze with a smile. "Didn't you play along perfectly?"

"And I won."

"Won?"

Adrian scoffed, suddenly gripping the back of my head and kissing me.

"That's because Ethan's an idiot."

"Using me as a weapon means you owe me payment."

This kiss was fierce and urgent, carrying punishing force.

The temperature in the cramped car cabin rapidly climbed.

Just then, the car display lit up.

"Ethan."

Adrian's movement paused. He glanced at the screen but showed no intention of stopping, casually pressing answer and putting it on speaker.

Ethan's voice came through, laced with mockery and disdain.

"To piss me off, Lina really went all out-found herself some old man to upset me."

Adrian kept one hand on my waist, voice steady. "Is that so."

I bit my lip, my body tensing from his movements.

Ethan sneered.

"I knew she was putting on an act. Since she wants to play big, I'll humor her."

"Next Friday I'm holding an engagement party. Send her the invitation. Her expression is going to be priceless."

Adrian's fingers moved with deliberate cruelty.

I shuddered, nearly crying out, and could only bite down on his shoulder.

"Engagement party?"

Adrian said flatly into the phone, "You sure about this?"

"I'm sure."

Ethan's tone was confident. "She likes to act all high and mighty, doesn't she? When she finds out I'm marrying someone else, let's see how she keeps up the act. I bet before that day even comes, she'll be crying and begging me to cancel."

He paused, tone casual.

"Oh, and you have to come. This is my first big event since coming back. I need you there for peace of mind."

Adrian kissed away the physiological tears at the corner of my eye, voice low.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely be there."

"Such a spectacular show-how could I miss it?"

"Great, then it's settled."

Ethan hung up.

The car interior fell back into dead silence, only the sound of our tangled breathing.

Adrian released me, looking at my reddened eyes, his fingertip gently brushing my lips.

"Did you hear?"

"He said to make you come crying and begging him to cancel."

I steadied my breathing, a cold glint in my eyes. "Then let's see who ends up crying."

Adrian laughed.

He restarted the car. The engine roar echoed through the night.

"Let's go. Time to go back and finish paying the rest of that compensation you owe me."