After He Protected His Mistress, I Found a Lover

Chapter 4

Selena stared at the explicit messages, completely stunned.

She opened w******p, only to find they were from someone named Marcus Lane.

Who was Marcus Lane?

After a few seconds of thought, Selena remembered.

He was the man she had slept with during her drunken mistake a couple of nights ago.

Memories of their passionate night flashed through her mind, but they were instantly eclipsed by Julian's cold words.

Overwhelmed by a wave of irritation, she shut her phone off.

After thinking it over for a few days, Selena finally decided to drop the charges.

She wanted to stop obsessing over Julian and Gabriella's messy affair, choosing instead to throw herself into her work.

After a series of company meetings regarding the pharmaceutical R&D project, Selena decided to seek a partnership with the top research team at Ashford University.

When she went to Ashford University for a site visit, the school arranged for a dance instructor from the arts department to show her around.

"Mrs. Leeds," Selena greeted her.

Mrs. Leeds was delighted to see her. "Selena, it's been so long."

Indeed, Selena had once been a student in the arts department at Ashford University.

But a leg injury had forced her to give up dancing.

Selena followed Mrs. Leeds to the arts department first. Having not returned in years, she noticed the building looked much newer than she remembered.

Sensing her curiosity, Mrs. Leeds smiled and said, "Didn't you know? Your husband funded the renovation of the arts department three years ago."

Selena froze.

She nodded and continued the tour, but her gaze was suddenly captured by a photograph hanging on the wall.

It was a photo of a ballerina from behind. Bathed in a single spotlight, she looked divine and elegant, like a real swan.

Selena really liked the photo.

Mrs. Leeds quickly explained, "Oh, your husband took that photo himself."

Selena was taken aback.

Julian had taken this? Then who was the girl in the photo?

Selena stared at the photo for a moment before looking away.

She didn't dwell on the minor interlude and left the campus once the tour was over.

Soon, the new project team led by Selena was established. As the project lead and investor respectively, Selena and Julian hosted a gala at The Stellar Grand.

The guest list was a who's who of high society.

Dressed in a stunning gown, Selena took Julian's arm as they entered the bustling banquet hall.

The moment they stepped inside, all eyes fell upon them.

Selena had two objectives in hosting this gala.

First, to celebrate the upcoming launch of the project.

Second, to show everyone that the alliance between the Arthur and Vance families remained rock solid.

The guests, understanding the unspoken message, came forward to offer their toasts.

"Congratulations, Mr. Vance, Ms. Arthur."

"I'm sure the new project will be a massive success!"

At first, Selena handled the drinks with ease, but as the night wore on, she began to struggle.

When another glass was offered, Selena politely declined. "Mr. Keating, I really can't drink anymore."

He refused to let her off the hook. "You drank with everyone else, Ms. Arthur. Declining my toast makes it seem like you look down on me..."

Frowning, Selena was about to take the glass when a hand reached out from the side and intercepted it.

Selena turned her head and saw Julian give Mr. Keating a polite nod. "Mr. Keating, she's still recovering. I'll drink this on her behalf."

With that, he took the glass from Selena and downed it without batting an eye.

With Julian shielding her, the other guests didn't dare press her to drink any further.

Later in the evening, Selena went to the restroom, only to find Julian gone when she returned.

After asking a waiter, she headed toward the balcony to look for him.

As she approached, she heard a man's teasing voice coming from the balcony.

"Honestly, Julian, that college girl of yours hired people to beat up your wife. You're still spoiling someone so reckless? That's hardly fair to your wife, is it?"

Selena froze in her tracks.

Despite the noise of the banquet hall, Julian's deep voice drifted clearly to her ears. "Selena isn't even in the same league as her."