A Passion That Defies Fate

Chapter 5 The First Confrontation

Zoey extended her hand, letting Alan slide the beautiful ring onto her finger. Under the lights, the emerald sparkled as brightly as her eyes.

"Yes." Zoey choked out, her voice thick with tears as she pulled Alan up and embraced him, happiness radiating on her face.

To any onlooker, they were a couple madly in love, unshakeably loyal to each other.

But in reality, as they held each other, both of them might think the same thing, 'What a pair of actors we are.'

After the public proposal, Alan wasted no time in arranging their engagement ceremony. He spared no expense by hiring the most expensive and professional wedding planners in town to manage everything.

Zoey's nerves were wound tighter than a drum every day, constantly on edge for whatever plot Alan might be cooking up. Her wild guesses had her appetite down the tubes and insomnia in full swing. She couldn't help but suspect, 'What he's up to? Is he using me as a shield? He wants to sell my organs? Or maybe feeding me to the crocs?'

But none of her feared scenarios played out. Her life went on as usual.

If anything was off, it was that Alan had turned more gentle than he used to be. He stuck to Zoey like glue, as if to show off their love to the whole world.

On the day they went to pick out the dress for the engagement ceremony, Alan dropped everything to join Zoey at the boutique, earning envious praise from the staff.

"Miss, your fiancé really loves you so much. Look, he can't take his eyes off you while you're trying on dresses. You're his whole world," one clerk said as she directed Zoey to look towards the mirror. Catching Alan's gaze, Zoey received a blown kiss.

She returned the same kiss, but inside, she was utterly drained. 'Is this loving attention? It felt more like a wolf sizing up how to rip apart its prey.'

Two weeks later, their lavish engagement party was held in the grandest ballroom of a fancy hotel. The only guests Zoey could muster were her fellow dancers from the strip club, and Alan's guests made up the majority.

It dawned on Zoey that she had underestimated Alan. He was no ordinary mercenary—the well-dressed, enigmatic guests milling about were proof enough.

Zoey scanned the attendees with curious eyes, feeling the weight of various glares on her. Most weren't friendly—surprise, disdain, mockery, and alienation. Snide remarks pierced her like darts from time to time, like stripper, orphan, w***e, seducing witch...

If Zoey were truly Alan's fiancée, she'd be agonizing over how to win the approval and blessings of Alan's friends and family.

Luckily, Alan was just another prey to her. So, Zoey played the role of the ostracized, pitiful bride-to-be perfectly. She stood helplessly by the window of the hall and forced a smile, while she was mentally mapping out Alan's social connections.

Just then, a tall, handsome figure caught her eye. Francis, dressed in a sharp dark grey suit, walked into the banquet hall!

Zoey's breath hitched, and she couldn't help but widen her eyes. 'What is Francis doing here? Is he here for me? What is he planning, and isn't he afraid of rousing Alan's suspicions?'

She then turned to look for Alan, only to find his eyes already fixed on the entrance, and he clearly had spotted Francis too.

Zoey felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead. She instinctively knew she couldn't let the two men meet. She lifted her skirt and quickly moved to Alan's side, ignoring the disapproving glances from others as she latched onto his arm. "Darling, I..."

"Sweetheart, I was just looking for you," Alan said with a light smile, firmly wrapping his arm around Zoey's waist and steering her towards the entrance, straight to where Francis stood.

"Hold on, Alan." Zoey's back was slick with sweat as her mind scrambled for an excuse to divert Alan.

But it was too late! Alan had already led her to the entrance and stood face to face with Francis, their gazes clashing.

Alan spoke first, "Oh, hey, didn't expect to see you here."

Zoey was taken aback. 'By his tone, Alan knows Francis? What's their relationship? Does Alan know Francis is after the key of his lab?'

Francis nodded gracefully, his smile impeccably polite. "On such an important day, I had to come and give my blessings."

Alan cracked a smile that seemed to be menacing. "That's quite bold of you, Francis. If it were me, and I had tried to assassinate my own brother, I wouldn't have the face to show up at his engagement party."

''W-Wait! What did I just hear? Assassinate his own brother? What in the world was that about?'

Zoey's eyes widened, feeling like an old computer trying to process too much data at once. She just stared blankly at Francis' face.

"Caught your eye, has he, babe?" Alan noticed where Zoey was looking and leaned in close, his tone light but his grip on her waist tight enough to snap it.

"Is he more handsome and refined? Do you like him better, sweetheart?"

Zoey sensed the dangerous edge in Alan, and it seemed something fierce awakened within him.

"I hate him, darling." Zoey quickly nestled into Alan, soothingly stroking his chest and kissing his chin. "You said he tried to assassinate you? How could he do such a thing?"

Her soothing touch eased Alan's grip.

"You're not welcome here, Francis. Please leave!" Zoey pressed on, stepping in front of Alan with the authority of the hostess, trying to expel Francis.

Francis' eyes twitched imperceptibly and his breathing became rapid. With his smile fading, the light in his deep blue eyes dimmed.

Alan laughed heartily, clearly delighted. His deep blue eyes sparkled with pleasure as he watched Francis' discomfort. Turning to Zoey in a more relaxed manner, he said, "Darling, be nice. Today is our engagement party; everyone here is our guest."

Alan then added, "Let me introduce you properly. The gentleman in front of you, Francis, is the youngest legal advisor of the Apollo Group, a well-known elite lawyer, and my own flesh and blood older brother."