Chapter 5 Denial
1308 Words
Killian's gaze lingered on Oriana's face for a brief moment, then shifted, becoming deep and unreadable.
Although the subtle change in their expressions was fleeting, Harlan, with his sharp eyes, noticed it and immediately asked, "Have you two met before?"
"No, this is our first meeting," Oriana quickly denied, cutting off any chance for Killian to speak.
Killian didn't expose her lie. Instead, he gave a faint, enigmatic smile and extended his hand with an unhurried, composed demeanor.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Killian."
"I'm Oriana. Pleasure to meet you, Uncle Killian."
Their hands met in a brief, light handshake, but the moment their fingers touched, they recoiled as if jolted by an electric current.
Oriana felt her heartbeat quicken uncontrollably.
It had been three years since they last met, and Killian now seemed even more mature and composed.
His deep-set eyes seemed to conceal an endless galaxy, while his high-bridged nose and sharply defined lips outlined a strikingly handsome face. The impeccably tailored suit he wore accentuated his broad shoulders and tall, well-built frame. Every gesture he made exuded a natural air of authority and elegance.
Most notably, there was something about his presence—calm, unique, and irresistibly captivating—that made it impossible to forget.
Damn it, how could it be him?
Nearby, the relatives began engaging in lively conversation.
"Uncle Killian, is it true that your company made it into the Fortune 500?"
"Uncle Killian, I heard you made a hundred million dollars on a single project last year. Could you mentor me too?"
"Uncle Killian, with how impressive you are, you must have a lot of women chasing after you. Do you have a girlfriend?"
*****
Killian handled the crowd's questions with ease, pausing only when it came to the final question. His gaze lingered on Oriana for a few seconds longer than usual. Merrick noticed this subtle detail but quickly dismissed it, thinking he was overanalyzing things.
Perhaps Killian had merely glanced at Oriana because of how striking she looked today.
Though he didn't want to admit it, even Merrick had to acknowledge that Oriana looked exceptionally captivating tonight.
"Merrick... Merrick!" Harlan's displeased voice broke through Merrick's thoughts, surprised that his grandson could be so absentminded during dinner.
"What are you thinking about? I've asked Killian to guide you. You should learn more from him about business management and strategy, instead of drifting through each day aimlessly."
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Merrick replied awkwardly, "Yes, Grandpa. I'll make sure to learn from Uncle Killian."
Nichole, who had been waiting for an opportunity to stir trouble, smirked and added mischievously, "Why not have Oriana learn from Uncle Killian too? You guys probably don't know, but after two years as a housewife, she somehow got hired as a strategic consultant by a company. Isn't that impressive?"
"I wasn't aware of this," Merrick said, frowning.
In his mind, Oriana was just an ordinary housewife, someone who couldn't possibly possess such capabilities. He suspected Nichole was making a joke—after all, her relationship with Oriana had always been strained, and she likely wanted to use this moment to embarrass her.
Killian, wearing a faintly amused expression, glanced at Oriana, clearly waiting for her reaction.
Not wanting to engage in the conversation, Oriana responded indifferently, "I'm full. I'll head to the restroom. Please enjoy the meal." With that, she stood up and left.
In the restroom, Oriana turned on the faucet, scooping up cold water and repeatedly splashing it on her flushed face.
Who would have thought that after preparing to divorce Merrick, she would run into her... ex in such an awkward setting?
And that ex happened to be her husband's uncle.
Oriana tried to calm herself, forcing her emotions back under control.
It didn't matter. She would soon divorce Merrick, and after that, she would have nothing more to do with the Bexley family.
Drying her face with a towel, she took a deep breath, composed herself, and pushed open the restroom door.
But as soon as she stepped out, a large hand suddenly reached over, pressing on her shoulder and pushing her back into the restroom before shutting the door behind them.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It was Killian.
Killian cornered her against the mirror, his hand firmly gripping her chin, tilting her head up to meet the reflection of the two of them in the glass.
"Darling, pretending not to know me?" His voice was deep, laced with a teasing undertone.
In the mirror, Killian stood behind her, encircling her in his arms. Through the thin fabric of their clothes, his body pressed against hers, his sharp jawline resting near her neck, while his warm breath brushed against her earlobe.
The posture was unmistakably intimate.
Oriana's heart raced, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
"Killian, let me go!" she hissed, keeping her voice low, terrified that someone from the Bexley family might overhear.
The last thing she wanted was for anyone in the family to find out about her past relationship with Killian—it would be impossible to explain.
She tried to break free, but Killian only chuckled softly, his voice low and chilling as it reached her ears.
"What are you so afraid of? Your dear husband doesn't know... that his wife used to be his uncle's girlfriend."
Oriana's body went rigid as she abruptly broke free from Killian's grasp, her voice low but laced with unmistakable anger.
"Killian, are you insane? This is the Bexley family's territory. Do you want the entire family to find out what you're doing?"
A sudden flash of memory brought her back to the anonymous text she had received earlier: Darling, I'm back.
So, the sender wasn't a stranger—it was Killian!
Three years ago, while Oriana was living abroad, she had rescued a gravely injured Killian in an alleyway, and they had quickly fallen in love.
Though nearly thirty at the time, Killian possessed striking good looks, a well-built physique, and a unique blend of wild charisma and gentlemanly demeanor, making him the dream partner of countless young women.
Back then, Oriana had naïvely believed she had found a man she could entrust her life to.
But three years ago, Killian had suddenly vanished without a word, disappearing without a trace.
Three whole years!
No one knew how Oriana had endured the pain of those years.
She thought she would never see Killian again, and that belief led her to marry Merrick, whose appearance bore some resemblance to Killian's.
Yet fate, with all its irony, had brought Killian back at the most inopportune time.
Killian's deep, magnetic voice broke the silence. "I'm a single man. I don't mind if they find out what we're doing."
His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and his firm chest pressed against her back, making Oriana feel an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Clenching her teeth, she spoke coldly, her tone as icy as frost. "Killian, you left without a word three years ago. Why are you back now? Let me tell you—I stopped loving you a long time ago!"
"Oh, really?"
At the mention of the words "left without a word," a flicker of complex emotion passed through Killian's eyes.
Oriana had expected him to persist, but to her surprise, Killian remained silent for a few seconds before abruptly turning and walking away.
Standing motionless, Oriana took several deep breaths, trying to steady her emotions.
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were slightly red, and her lips were tightly pursed.
Why did Killian have to return now of all times?
'Stay calm... You need to stay calm.'
Splashing cold water on her face, Oriana reapplied her makeup before pushing the door open and stepping out.
The moment she stepped outside, she came face-to-face with Merrick.
- Writer
