Chapter 103

I stood there, frozen, unsure of what to feel, staring blankly at Royce.

"What are you doing? Royce, what are you doing?"

My voice came out hoarse, but he stayed silent, his eyes locked on me as he moved closer.

Finally, he reached out a hand towards my face, and I instinctively closed my eyes.

I felt his cool fingers touch my forehead, gently brushing something aside. Then I heard his soft chuckle by my ear.

"What are you thinking? I was just moving your hair."

I opened my eyes to see Royce looking at me with a teasing expression, his eyes holding an emotion I couldn't decipher.

I quickly slapped his hand away. "I can do it myself."

I reached up to push back the strands of hair that had stuck to my forehead with sweat from my nervousness.

But just then, Royce moved in swiftly, startling me.

Before I could react, he leaned in and kissed the corner of my lips.

The cool, moist sensation left me stunned. I looked at Royce in disbelief.

He just smiled lightly and leaned in again.

His breath was warm on my face, making my heart race.

"I-I-I... you-you-you..." I stammered, unable to form a sentence.

His voice was hoarse too. "What?"

Just as he was about to kiss me again, there was a noise from the door behind us.

"Ms. Sharp, I'm here to pick you up. Are you inside?" Savannah called from outside.

The intimate atmosphere shattered instantly. I saw a flicker of frustration and annoyance in Royce's eyes.

He was about to say something, but I cut him off, shouting, "Yes, yes, I'm coming out right now."

Afraid that Royce might continue his actions, I quickly opened the door and rushed out, not even glancing back at his reaction or expression.

Savannah looked at me curiously. "Ms. Sharp, who were you with? Why is your face so red?"

Feeling guilty, I shook my head. "No one, no one."

I told Savannah about the close call.

She frowned. "Ms. Sharp, if something like this happens again, you must call me. It's too dangerous. What if they had found you and I wasn't there?"

I nodded, thinking how similar Savannah and Royce were in their scolding.

"I know I was wrong. Luckily, no one was around, so I hid inside for a bit and wasn't discovered. Don't worry."

Savannah nodded. "Let's go back quickly before they come back and find us."

We returned to the hotel lobby, where the last few guests from the banquet were slowly leaving, chatting in the lobby.

Kathy was still there, waiting for me.

Joanna and Isadora had already left due to other commitments. Kathy stood by the front desk, watching the scene unfold.

I walked over and followed her gaze. "What are you looking at?"

Kathy pointed ahead. "Watching the mistress."

I then noticed Maeve, chatting animatedly with a few businessmen, laughing flirtatiously.

Kathy sneered. "Her reputation here is already ruined. Those men are probably just toying with her because she's still attractive."

Curious, I asked, "What did Maeve do to become so well-known?"

Kathy recounted the story in detail.

"Maeve was a small-time dancer who slept with the troupe leader to become the lead. After achieving her goal, she dumped him to meet more wealthy men."

Kathy continued with a mysterious smile. "She then hooked up with a rich old man, but his money was actually his wife's."

"The old man had lived quietly by his wife's side all his life, but he ruined it by getting involved with Maeve. His wife found out and publicly humiliated him."

"She then divorced him, and he lived miserably afterward, unable to adjust to a life without wealth, crying at his ex-wife's door every day."

I nodded in surprise, glancing at Maeve, who was still laughing and chatting.

"Honestly, if that happened to me, I'd never show my face in public again. It's too humiliating," I said, feeling a bit sorry for her.

Kathy scoffed. "That's because you have morals. Maeve doesn't."

Just then, Brandon emerged from inside, followed by a man in a suit, likely the hotel manager.

He didn't see me and walked towards Maeve.

Maeve stood beside Brandon, chatting openly, occasionally touching his shoulder.

Kathy crossed her arms. "He really isn't picky, is he? Any woman will do."

"Who knows? Maybe he's decided to take revenge on society after catching something nasty."

Kathy and I exchanged a knowing look and laughed.

Brandon didn't talk to Maeve for long before he had to leave.

Maeve noticed us and, to my surprise, walked over, lifting her dress slightly.

She wore a silver sequined mermaid gown, looking quite glamorous.

Compared to my simple white dress, she seemed more like the hostess of the evening.