When Love Is a Lie

Chapter 96 Enjoy It Well Whitney felt her wet clothes clinging to her, and the chill from the valley night breeze made her shiver. She quickened her pace.

When she thought she heard footsteps behind her, she stopped and turned. The winding stone path was empty under the warm glow of the streetlights. In the distance, the faint sounds of music and laughter drifted over.

She brushed it off as her imagination and continued back to her room.

Once inside, Whitney reached to shut the door. Suddenly, a hand blocked it.

Before she could react, a short, scruffy man squeezed into the room. Greasy strands of hair hung over his forehead, and his narrow, murky eyes held a lecherous glint as he ogled her.

b "Who are you? What do you want?" Whitney backed away quickly. Spotting a clothes hanger on the bed, she grabbed it, holding it defensively toward him: The man chuckled creepily. 'Don't put on airs, missy. What's your rate for the night?" "Rate? I'm not who you think I am! Get out now, or I'll scream!" Whitney shouted.

He wasn't deterred and stepped closer. "Go ahead and scream all you like. No one can hear you from here." The bonfire party was in full swing, with almost everyone attending. The guest accommodations in this part of the valley were reserved for VIPS, so there weren't many people around.

The man's gaze grew sinister as he eyed her figure, the damp clothes accentuating her curves. He swallowed audibly and lunged toward her.

Whitney let out a terrified gasp and dodged him, rushing toward the door as he stumbled forward. But when she yanked on the handle, it wouldn't budge.

"Save your strength, sweetheart. Or better yet, use it on bed, the man sneèred. He made another move toward her.

Outside, Rachel stood by the door, listening to the sound coming from the room with a cold smile on her lips. "Serves you right, Whitney. Let's see how you enjoy yourself after daring to meddle in my project!" Meanwhile, Damian maintained his composed demeanor, watching Noel closely. "I'm set on both the position of heir and on Whitney. Have you been hearing rumors, Noel?" "Rumors? Grandpa's word is just gossip to you now?" Noel said casually, though the bonfire's glow revealed a glint in his eyes.

"20 million dollars from the Group isn't exactly pocket change. Have you recovered it?" Recently, Damian had becclose with a businessman from Ardonia involved in the casino industry. After seeing the potential in that section, they planned to venture into this new business field.

Knowing the conservative old board members, especially his grandfather, wouldn't approve, Damian decided to act first and seek forgiveness later. Once the casino was operational in Ardonia, opposing it would be futile~ So Damian had taken matters into her own hands. He hid his moves well, funneling funds through his overseas private account with the help of a loyal finance officer, without anyone noticing. Or so he had thought.

But somehow, Grandpa had discovered it, reprimanding him harshly and nearly stripping him of his position as CEO.

In the end, Damian admitted his fault, and with his father's intervention, Grandpa let him off but required him to return the 20 million dollars.

Only he and the finance officer knew the full details, and he trusted the finance officer, whom he had. promoted personally and promised a three percent share after things worked out.

So if someone had exposed him, it was like Noel. Plus, he knew that he had almost lost his position as the heir.

Damian tried to gauge his brother's reaction, but Noel only claimed he had heard it from Grandpa himself.

It was possible and Grandpa held Noel in high regard, and in moments of frustration, might have let something slip.

"This is a company matter, and Uncle Beckham has always been impartial and avoids conflicts. So, don't ask so much about that," Damian said with a thin smile.

"20 million dollars is a lot, but I'll manage that.) Noel nodded. "Good, Howard Group is Grandpa's legacy. Let's not make him regret his decisions.” Yvette grew increasingly frustrated as Thomas continued to hover near her.

"Thomas, what's your problem? You said you didn't like me, yet here you are, followingaround. What do you want? Thomas didn't bother with his usual teasing, instead, he replied earnestly, "I don't want to break off the engagement." Yvette rolled her eyes. "You're sick!" He felt a little ridiculous himself. He had no interest in Yvette at first, but her words at his mother's birthday party had left him inexplicably unsettled.

Then, seeing her with other men only heightened his discomfort.

The thought of Yvette marrying someone else made him restless. Chapter 96 Enjoy fe 3/0 "Let's get married," he said seriously.

Yvette froze, then scoffed. "Are you m even a man? Someone elseis M pregnant with your child, and you still want to marry me?"

She thought of the pregnant woman she had seen at the hospital. How could he even think of marriage. right now? He was such a jerk. Thomas was baffled. "Pregnant? What are you talking about?" a Yvette ignored him, distracted as she noticed Whitney had been gone a while. When she tried calling, her call wouldn't go through. She tried several more times, still with no luck.

"I don't have tto explain.

Whitney's phone isn't connecting and I don't know where she went. I have to find her." As she turned to leave, someone grabbed her arm.

She turned and saw Damian. "What's going on with Whitney?"