Fell Deeply In Love With My Ex-Husband's Fiancé - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: The Unfaithful One: Lu Feiran has taken on Zhai Qiance’s former lover…

Lance threw his phone. The screen hit the edge of the bookshelf and shattered. A large part of the black and white image went black, making it impossible to see.

He agreed to let Lu Feiran go out alone, not check his location, and not rush him home… Was this what Lu Feiran did?

With the phone broken, he opened his computer and quickly clicked on the location tracking software.

Lance scanned all of Lu Feiran’s location history for the day: he had stayed at Luyuan the whole time.

So, Jin Zhan was also at Luyuan.

So, the Luyuan renovation was complete, but Lu Feiran hadn’t told him. Instead, he had taken Jin Zhan there.

Lu Feiran had modeled for Jin Zhan again, not only letting Jin Zhan draw him but also opening his shirt to let Jin Zhan draw the body beneath his clothes.

Lance stood up, his eyes deep and dark, like a swamp covered with deep green algae. From a distance, it looked like a peaceful meadow, but running toward it would lead to being devoured.

He hadn’t expected the marks he deliberately left on Lu Feiran would become weapons that would provoke him in return.

Lance was going mad with jealousy. Did Lu Feiran even know how tempting he looked with hickeys all over his body?

He snapped a fountain pen in half. Black ink stained Lance’s palm, flowing into the crevices of his fingernails, like the cold despair of being betrayed by Lu Feiran piercing his heart, impossible to wash away easily.

His high brow ridge cast a shadow over Lance’s eye sockets. The veins on his temples pulsed continuously. He couldn’t smile or pretend to be indifferent. Malice and cruelty inflated instantly.

Lance used every ounce of strength to restrain the urge to call and question Lu Feiran.

He couldn’t call Lu Feiran now. He knew what version of himself Lu Feiran liked. He would endure, endure until Lu Feiran was satisfied with his games… endure until… tonight.

“Hand over the prepared items. The bigger the splash, the better.”

After making a phone call with his shattered-screen phone, Lance finally managed to calm his emotions somewhat.

If it weren’t for Zhai Qiance, Lu Feiran would never have met Jin Zhan.

…

As Lu Feiran had expected, he was indeed safe. Zhai Qiance had halted the surveillance of Lu Feiran a week ago.

The car accident in the northern suburbs was a unique opportunity, but Lu Feiran was lucky and escaped.

Zhai Qiance wanted to know Lu Feiran’s status. After a crash of that magnitude, he should have been at death’s door.

Was it severe burns or a coma? There were too many places to interfere. A post-operative infection would be enough to kill Lu Feiran.

Zhai Qiance tried to extend his influence into Lu Feiran’s hospital room but found all his feelers cut off by someone unknown. Lu Feiran seemed sealed in an airtight jar. No matter how Zhai Qiance probed, he couldn’t get a single piece of information, let alone tamper with anything.

Zhai Qiance was determined to know Lu Feiran’s condition, as well as that damned lover of Lu Feiran’s. He demanded an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

He had to use his connections and hire more professional gray-market individuals, allegedly reconnaissance veterans who had served as mercenaries in North Africa.

Since his discharge, Lu Feiran had completely disappeared. When he first reappeared a few days later, Zhai Qiance’s people quickly tracked him down.

Photo after photo was transmitted in real-time. The photos received just before the surveillance was called off were of Zhou Zihua’s residence, which Zhai Qiance was familiar with and recognized immediately.

After tracking for so long without finding a single clue, the photos they finally sent only showed Lu Feiran visiting Zhou Zihua’s house.

Zhai Qiance was somewhat disappointed. The repeated waiting had exhausted his patience. Yet, the moment before he switched off his phone, he saw the latest few photos.

A familiar blonde man, exceptionally tall and graceful in every movement. He walked around the car’s hood, opened the door, and practically carried Lu Feiran out of the SUV.

Lu Feiran’s entire face was buried in a red scarf and the high collar of his coat, making his expression unreadable. However, Zhai Qiance read a sticky intimacy in their movements.

Soon after, Lu Feiran took the elevator upstairs. From the few burst shots, it wasn’t hard to see how briskly Lu Feiran walked when he left.

Zhai Qiance was dissatisfied. Lu Feiran was barely injured, yet Zhai Qiance now had a life on his hands because of it.

Forget it, it doesn’t matter. Zhai Qiance thought. There had been a similar accident at the factory a year ago. Too many people died by accident worldwide. They could only blame their bad luck.

The next few photos were of the blonde man who was close to Lu Feiran.

A ringing sensation spiraled in his head. Zhai Qiance’s fingers, flipping through the photos, began to stiffen. A name was on the tip of his tongue, causing Zhai Qiance’s thoughts to slow down.

Why? Why was it him?

Suddenly, a familiar face broke into his sight. The man looked back.

The gentle smile he had shown Lu Feiran vanished instantly. In the poorly lit underground parking lot, that expressionless face was like a ghost that appeared out of nowhere, startling anyone who saw it.

The following photos were blurry. The lens turned toward the ceiling, then dropped, taking a few meaningless pictures of a distant car’s undercarriage. No new messages were sent after that.

The first time Zhai Qiance saw a photo of Lance and Lu Feiran together was after the argument at the Lu family home.

At that time, Zhai Qiance immediately dismissed the most correct truth.

How could those two possibly be involved? One was his legal partner at the time, and the other was his future fiancé. How could they be involved?

But it had happened.

He should have guessed long ago that the relationship between Lu Feiran and “Noen” was unusual. But he never imagined this “unusual” relationship meant they had ended up in bed together.

The palpable stickiness evident in the photos could only exist between people who had shared a bed.

Zhai Qiance slammed his fist onto the office desk. A shallow dent appeared on the solid wood surface, but he still wasn’t satisfied, wishing he could tear Lu Feiran apart right then and there!

When did this start? After the quarrel at the Lu family? Or even earlier, from the first day Lu Feiran started working at the company?

A murderous rage erupted in Zhai Qiance’s narrow heart. He was certain Lu Feiran was doing this on purpose.

Lu Feiran wanted to destroy him!

That lunatic, somehow getting wind of his impending marriage alliance with the Devey family, was even resorting to seduction to ruin his plans!

The originally smooth path to success had turned into a treacherous journey fraught with danger. Zhai Qiance descended into madness. But even more terrifying than Lu Feiran’s petty schemes was the inscrutable man from the Devey family, who, despite maintaining the engagement, knew exactly who Lu Feiran was and went along with it.

What was his motive?

Zhai Qiance suddenly remembered the super factory being built and invested in South Asia, and the investment funds that had yet to arrive long after the contract was signed. Panic was visibly setting in.

It was as if the train carrying Zhai Qiance had derailed. The inevitable disastrous outcome was right before him. He thought he could swallow the half-dead elephant of Devey, but it turned out he was the shrimp being hunted.

Everything was about to be taken from him!

Sweat soaked his thin shirt. Zhai Qiance pressed his forehead, sitting down in disarray. His secretary, Wen Hui, knocked on the office door at an inconvenient time and opened it without waiting for an answer.

Zhai Qiance quickly straightened his expression, covering his distress with severity: “Did I tell you to come in? You’re so ignorant of the rules.”

Wen Hui looked troubled. She quietly closed the door and whispered: “The inspection team is here, demanding immediate cooperation with the investigation across the company. Mr. Zhai, what do you suggest…”

Zhai Qiance’s heart pounded violently. A sense of foreboding enveloped him. Besides himself, the only person who understood the company’s situation best was Devey.

He had started his move.

The overly terrifying face in the photo made it easy to overlook his handsome features. The owner of that face, still wearing the same coat from the picture, was now sitting in the public lounge, his smiling eyes watching the people passing by.

Not long ago, Lance apprehended the man Zhai Qiance had sent to follow Lu Feiran. The mercenary, who claimed he could investigate all the secrets in the world, confessed everything when faced with the police. The next step would be for the police to follow the gray-market chain and find evidence of Zhai Qiance hiring a killer.

And now, Lance had slashed open the wound of Tuowei Group, letting the inspection team catch the scent.

The charges of manipulating the market and controlling stock prices were almost certain. Zhai Qiance always had a thousand ways to cope, but the moment the inspection team left, it would be the best time for Zhai Qiance to be imprisoned on another charge.

Speaking of which, Lance thought, why hasn’t Lu Feiran handed over the evidence regarding Qiong Zhu Gallery yet? He had provided everything necessary. If he released it, no one involved, including Zhai Qiance, would escape.

Watching Zhai Qiance arrive late, Lance smiled: “The inspection team is tough to deal with. If there’s an explosion, as cautious investors, we might inevitably change our minds.”

Zhai Qiance looked at him, finding Lance’s face increasingly repulsive: “You anticipated this.”

Lance was noncommittal. He dropped the smile and watched Zhai Qiance for two seconds. In those two seconds, it was as if the ghost from the parking lot had reappeared, making Zhai Qiance unable to remain calm.

“The marriage alliance was a deal I made with your mother to prop up the failing Devey family. Are you sure you’ll be better off if you take me down?” Zhai Qiance gritted his teeth. “Lu Feiran is just an ordinary little thing. I can find you as many similar ones as you want. You don’t need to go to such extremes. He is using you.”

Lance stood up. His height, taller than Zhai Qiance’s, allowed him to easily look down.

Lu Feiran’s name was the most beautiful word in the world. He didn’t want to hear Lu Feiran’s name coming from Zhai Qiance’s disgusting mouth.

Lance spoke one word at a time, his tone as cold as the light from a sharp blade: “Zhai Qiance, don’t dream of swallowing what doesn’t belong to you.”

Then he suddenly smiled again. His aura shifted from pure coldness to something sinister, sending shivers down Zhai Qiance’s spine.

“Say Lu Feiran’s name again, and you will die.”

That’s it! That’s it! They absolutely started their affair a long time ago!

Zhai Qiance had frequented the pleasure quarters for years and never imagined he would be cuckolded one day. How did the cold and arrogant Lu Feiran manage to stoop so low as to seduce Devey? To bring about his downfall, Lu Feiran really went all out, that slut—

“Don’t think about him!” Lance saw through Zhai Qiance’s thoughts. His sharp gaze carved across Zhai Qiance’s constantly changing face. The high-and-mighty indifference cracked only when Lu Feiran was mentioned, exposing a flicker of fury.

In the past, when interacting with Devey, Zhai Qiance assumed he maintained a business-like, aloof attitude. But as soon as he returned to WeChat, separated by the phone screen, he would become comparatively enthusiastic.

Zhai Qiance didn’t care. The marriage alliance was set in stone. Maintaining their relationship through online chats occasionally was enough. He dealt with too many people daily to pay much attention.

Zhai Qiance suddenly sobered up. Could a man like this—mature, arrogant, quick, and ruthless—really pretend to be enthusiastic and even somewhat childish over WeChat?

“You are Noen?” Zhai Qiance asked.

Lance took a half-step back, introducing himself like a European gentleman, with the politeness and friendliness of a true first meeting: “I haven’t formally introduced myself. My name is Lance, Lance Devey.”

Lance…

Zhai Qiance’s pupils dilated. His body shook.

He certainly knew that name, but… this was too absurd. Had he mistaken the person?

His pride and arrogance wouldn’t allow him to admit such a ridiculous mistake. It must be the entire Devey family colluding to deceive him, playing with him like a rat!

Watching Zhai Qiance nearly collapse, Lance turned away coldly. Zhai Qiance was even more boring than he had imagined.

Yet, this man had possessed Lu Feiran for three years, monopolizing Lu Feiran’s love for three years.

Three years. Lance licked the corner of his mouth. Being loved by Lu Feiran for three years—he would be happy enough to go mad.

Soon, Lance understood why Lu Feiran was so reluctant to hand over the evidence regarding Qiong Zhu Gallery.

His lover was protecting someone else.

Jin Zhan.

Even completely crushing Zhai Qiance wouldn’t satisfy Lance.

Lu Feiran had taken on Zhai Qiance’s former lover, becoming unfaithful, just like his husband.

But the night hadn’t fallen yet, and Lance was still waiting.