Fated Love Tribulation

Chapter8

The city lights once again blurred into the moonlit sky, as the night unfolded with its unique rhythm.

People, who had been cooped up in the concrete jungle all day, began wandering the streets, shedding the last remnants of daytime energy.

Midnight in the city—when things get wild.

Inside the bar, the heavy metal music pounded through the air, drilling into the fragile nerves of everyone there. This was the city in its nocturnal glory.

In a shadowed corner of the bar, Serena sat draped in a black slip dress, blending into the darkness.

No one could quite make out her expression, but her eyes—bright as stars—glimmered faintly in the dim light.

The glowing tip of her cigarette was barely visible, as a thin trail of smoke swirled lazily above the bar.

A woman smoking always had a certain allure, and right now, she embodied that perfectly.

She took a deep drag, exhaling slowly, her half-lidded eyes and slightly parted lips oozing a seductive yet effortless charm.

Someone once said that loneliness is a one-person party, while a crowd's celebration is just a collective loneliness.

As Serena watched the raucous crowd, she shook her head slightly. How many lonely souls were hiding in this frenzy?

She let out a bitter chuckle—after all, wasn't she one of them?

In another dark corner, on a wide sofa, four people—two men and two women—sat together.

Hidden by the shadows, they had shed any pretense of civility.

Now, they were nothing more than animals driven by their desires.

"Ah! That feels so good... come on, faster," one of the women moaned softly.

Her voice was nearly drowned out by the music, but it still managed to reach the ears of the man beside her.

His thin lips curled into a satisfied smirk, his hand unapologetically sliding beneath her dress, while his mouth claimed hers in a wild kiss.

In moments, the small space was filled with her breathy gasps, a symphony of lust. On the other side, another couple was just as eager.

The woman's sheer dress had already slipped off, leaving her in nothing but her underwear. But judging by the man's practiced hands, even that wouldn't stay on for long.

In the night, the city granted its own indulgence to the men and women who sought release.

Here, there was no love—only a desperate need to feel something.

After about half an hour, the two men exchanged a glance. Without a word, the women stood up.

But they didn't leave—instead, they merely swapped places, and the sounds of passion resumed as if orchestrated.

Time passed, and eventually the women rose again. This time, after collecting their thick wads of cash, they left for good.

"Lex, something on your mind?" Julien asked, his voice dripping with satisfaction after the release.

"No, " Alexander muttered, downing the drink in front of him. His expression, however, was still dark and brooding.

"Don't tell me those two girls didn't do the trick for you? Want me to call for more?" Julien teased, watching him with a mischievous grin.

"Shut up, " Alexander snapped, pushing back his chair. "I'm going to the bathroom." He staggered as he stood, heading toward the back.

With Alexander gone, Julien turned his attention to the stage, where the midnight show had begun.

A man and woman were performing a provocative dance, each movement more explicit than the last, drawing whistles and cheers from the crowd.

Serena sat at the bar, nursing her drink, entirely unfazed by the surrounding noise.

When Alexander emerged from the bathroom, still a bit unsteady, he was about to call for Julien when something caught his eye.

A familiar silhouette, bathed in shadow. Instantly, it was like someone had injected him with pure adrenaline.

His body trembled with a strange excitement as he stared at the woman in the corner.

Even in the dim lighting, he could see the sadness etched on her face.

Quietly, he moved to a spot close enough to watch her, yet far enough not to be noticed.

He ordered a glass of ice water and sat, observing in silence.

One by one, men approached her, and each time, Serena greeted them with the same sultry smile.

As Alexander watched, his hand began to tremble, gripping his glass tighter and tighter.

This damn woman. Did she really crave attention that much? His eyes narrowed as he clenched the glass harder, until it finally shattered in his hand.

Shards of glass pierced his skin, blood quickly dripping down onto the carpet below.

But he didn't care—his gaze remained locked on her, as she flirted and smiled.

The blood kept flowing, pooling beneath his chair, but Alexander seemed oblivious to the pain.

It was as if the blood wasn't his, as if the wound wasn't real.

All that mattered was the icy fury seething within him.

"Waiter, " Serena called, her voice smooth and effortless as she snapped her fingers.

"Yes, miss?" The waiter arrived promptly, his professional smile faltering for just a moment as he glanced at her.

"Another Long Island Iced Tea, " she said, her smile soft but radiant enough to momentarily stun the waiter.

"Of course, right away." Embarrassed by his reaction, the waiter hurried off, his face flushed.

Not long after, the drink arrived, but so did another man, taking a seat beside her.

"Miss, here's your Long Island, " the waiter said, placing the glass on the table.

His eyes couldn't help but linger on her, silently wondering—was she really like all the other lonely women who came to bars like this?

"Thank you, " Serena replied, giving a small nod.

She reached into her LV bag, pulling out a stack of cash. "Here's your tip, " she said, flashing a seductive smile.

"Get lost, " the man beside her growled, glaring at the waiter.

The moment he saw that smile, something dark snapped inside him.

"You're rude. I don't like rude men, " Serena said calmly, turning her head slightly, her lips curling into a wicked smile.

"Is this how you seduce men?" the man asked coldly, his hand gripping her chin tightly.

Her jaw was so delicate, he half-expected it to break under his touch.

"You're forgetting something. This has always been a game of mutual consent. There's no such thing as seduction if we're both in on it, " Serena replied coolly, taking his hand and gently placing it back on the bar.

She shot him a sidelong glance, her eyes daring him. What right did he have to be angry? Did he really think he had a claim to her?

"In that case, let's get out of here. I'll give you what you want, " he said, pressing his lips hard against hers in a fierce, domineering kiss.