Fell Deeply In Love With My Ex-Husband's Fiancé - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: A Married Man – I have never forced my wife, he has always…

After the snow stopped, the temperature dropped even lower. The main road leading to Lance’s house was promptly cleared of residual snow and ice. Evergreen trees displayed deep green, bringing some vitality to the bleak winter, but unable to change the overall tone of the season.

Lu Feiran was dressed in a tailored suit, but his clothing was thin. The thought of getting out of the car made him shiver. Fortunately, a butler greeted them and guided their car through the warm underground parking garage, leading directly indoors.

Zhou Zihua’s father chuckled heartily: “How thoughtful. I’ll take you two to meet Lance later. He just returned to the country and holds Apollo Capital. How many people wish to meet him but don’t get the chance! I’m truly lucky. Hey, Xiaohua, why do you think I’m so lucky? Started my business in my twenties, and it’s been smooth sailing ever since…”

Zhou Zihua secretly looked at Lu Feiran, and seeing his expression was normal, he let out a sigh of relief and dismissed his father: “You don’t need to worry about us! But… was this dinner party held because Lance returned home?”

“Yes. Isn’t it strange? Their entire family is in China, yet they left a teenager alone overseas. I suspect his sister didn’t want him to affect her son’s right of inheritance. There are so many secrets in these wealthy families.”

“But didn’t we hear before that Lance had a mental illness…”

“Don’t talk nonsense! I’ve met him. If he’s sick, then you must be terminally ill.” Zhou Zihua’s father unexpectedly scolded his son, leaving Zhou Zihua speechless for a moment. “It’s probably rumors spread during their internal family strife. Don’t you dare mention it later! Watch your mouth!”

Lu Feiran silently followed the Zhou father and son inside. The bright light fell on him, illuminating his face. He had cut his hair; the short style was refreshing, sweeping away his previous gloom. He was trying his best to remain calm, but a sharp demeanor still leaked out from beneath his seemingly delicate exterior.

Facing the light, Lu Feiran carefully examined every corner, ready to engage in battle at any moment.

Where is Lance? Come out now!

Finally, he caught sight of him. Lance took a glass of champagne from a waiter, walked into the crowd, and immediately became the focal point of all the guests.

His height was prominent; even standing in a crowd, Lu Feiran could spot his expression instantly. He was smiling, dealing with everyone graciously and thoughtfully. Amidst the clinking of glasses, every face was beaming with satisfaction.

Using money, power, and a gentle, polite facade, he had them all revolving around him, yet secretly despised them like ants.

But only Lu Feiran knew his true nature. A surging desire to expose him crashed around, keeping Lu Feiran’s anger constantly above the surface. He stared fixedly at Lance, yet Lance, with all his composure, never looked in his direction for a second.

A waiter approached with a tray. Lu Feiran casually took a glass of champagne, holding it. Seeing Zhou Zihua run off to eat dessert, he quietly approached the attention-grabbing center by himself.

Surprisingly, they weren’t discussing business matters. At first listen, it was just casual talk.

A certain rich businessman said: “Back then, my wife accompanied me to start a business, traveling all over the place. After giving birth to our daughter, her health was never good. Her greatest wish was for our daughter to be successful.”

As he spoke, he gently guided the girl next to him forward.

Lance’s smile didn’t change at all. He shook hands with the girl and asked her name, making her acquaintance.

Lance then changed the subject, his smile becoming even brighter: “I understand, Mr. Li. I also have a wife, and my greatest wish is to fulfill all of his wishes.”

He moved his wrist, and the simple, plain band ring glowed as if it had only just been discovered.

The surroundings fell silent for a moment. The rich businessman’s expression froze slightly, and many people around showed surprised looks. They hadn’t heard he was married?

Hearing this, Lu Feiran’s hand trembled. A bit of the golden champagne spilled, running down his pale white hand.

The veins on Lu Feiran’s hand bulged. He frowned and glared, yet still couldn’t find any flaw on Lance’s face.

What nonsense was he spouting again? Where did he get a wife? And with a wife, he still… Wait, Lu Feiran thought of the inscriptions in the ring box and the violin case.

“The Wife’s Ring,” “The Wife’s Treasured Possession.” The answer to the ‘wife’ pointed to one person.

Lu Feiran’s face flushed alternately green and pale. He felt as if he were being publicly ridiculed. Although no one, including Lance, was looking at him, his face felt burning hot, and he desperately wanted to leave the public eye immediately.

The rich businessman secretly thought, Good thing I didn’t speak too directly. Saved myself some face. He immediately chuckled, following Lance’s lead: “What a coincidence. If your wife were here today, I must pay my respects. Next time I have the chance, I will bring my wife and daughter to visit.”

Lance shook his head, looking a little regretful: “No need. He doesn’t acknowledge me now. He refused to come with me.”

“How could that be!” The rich businessman was surprised.

“Because I did something wrong, and I’m trying to seek my wife’s forgiveness,” Lance looked sorrowful. “Mr. Li, do you have any good suggestions?”

The people around immediately showed sympathetic expressions, offering effusive praise for Lance, saying how rare it was to find a devoted, dedicated man like Lance who would do anything for his wife. They suggested his wife should truly look back at Lance’s sincerity and stop being upset with him.

Lu Feiran cried out in his heart that it was absurd, feeling ridiculous, like a monkey being played for laughs.

Although he knew those people were just being sycophantic, flattering Lance to follow his lead, he was still furious.

A bunch of fools, what do they know to talk such nonsense? What sincerity does Lance have? He’s completely fake from head to toe, an absolute liar, still committing fraud today!

He couldn’t drink the champagne at all. Lu Feiran handed the glass to a passing waiter and turned to leave. He couldn’t stay here any longer.

“Mr. Lu, what do you think?” Lance’s voice drifted over, gentle and calm, just a casual inquiry.

But it hit the pause button for Lu Feiran. Feeling numerous eyes turn towards him, his body stiffened. His lips trembled, and he mumbled, “Mr. Lance, your line of thinking might be mistaken. Since your wife left you, the problem is likely greater on your side. Instead of letting people here criticize your wife on your behalf, why don’t you spend some time on self-reflection?”

His words were sharp, his attitude arrogant, untamed, and haughty, stunning everyone present. They didn’t recognize Lu Feiran and wondered, What grievance does this person have with Lance? Who is he to so publicly humiliate Lance at the Deville family dinner?

Lance chuckled, genuinely accepting the criticism: “Mr. Lu, you misunderstand. I had no intention of letting everyone criticize my wife. Everything he does is right; the problem is with me. You are correct. I am simply out of ideas. Forgive my lack of wits, but I couldn’t think of a way to win my wife back, which is why I sought everyone’s collective wisdom.”

Seeing that Lance was not angered, the tense atmosphere immediately eased, and laughter flowed again.

“I’m just worried that Mr. Lance may be humble on the surface but thinking otherwise privately. Are you perhaps considering using some coercive means to force your wife to return?” Lu Feiran pressed further, relentless and cruel.

Lance chose to ask him in public, after all.

Mr. Li pressed his chest, looking at Lu Feiran in confusion, thinking, What is wrong with this person? Can he please stop talking?

Lance answered truthfully: “I have never forced my wife. He has always misunderstood me. I haven’t done it before, and I won’t do it in the future. I will only love him.”

Lu Feiran turned his head and rolled his eyes. Did he think this place was deserted?

Lance smiled gently, then suddenly changed the topic: “Allow me to introduce everyone. This is Lu Feiran, the future Chairman of Topway.”

Mr. Li sighed in relief. Finally, this deadly topic could end. He even started the applause.

Sparse applause followed Mr. Li’s lead. Lu Feiran was confused. Chairman of what?

Some people had a sudden realization. They had heard Lu Feiran’s name—the one from the Lu family who was… rumored to have been a swapped child. But later, they heard it was a rumor and Lu Feiran was the Lu family’s biological son; the truth was unclear.

Everyone knew Apollo Capital had invested in Topway, and Zhai Qiance had recently run into trouble. Although they didn’t know Lu Feiran’s relationship with Zhai Qiance, taking over Topway at this critical juncture must mean his relationship with Lance was significant. They would inevitably deal with him in the future.

They all came forward to toast him. Lu Feiran, despite his surprise, handled the situation competently. He casually grabbed a champagne flute from a waiter’s tray. Took a sip… Wait, it tasted like sparkling pear juice?

When he looked up again, Lance was no longer there. Old Mr. Deville had come out to take charge of the situation.

Lu Feiran after dealing with everyone, moved around, trying to find Lance’s whereabouts, but he couldn’t see him anywhere.

Clenching his fist, Lu Feiran decided to ask someone.

“You came?” Noen appeared in front of Lu Feiran.

He was dressed in a plain grey hoodie, standing out sharply from the crowd in suits. Lu Feiran looked at him in confusion. Noen provided an explanation: “I didn’t expect you to come today. Did you two make up? You’re here to congratulate him, that’s great. Grandpa will announce Lance as the heir soon. That’s fantastic. I can finally be free.”

“Is that so…”

He kept talking about how much he loved his wife, yet he didn’t even invite his wife to such an important occasion? If he hadn’t used Zhou Zihua to tag along with an invitation, he wouldn’t even have the right to walk through this door!

“Where is Lance?” Lu Feiran asked coldly.

Noen pointed behind him: “You can go upstairs from here. He should be in a room on the second floor.”

“Thank you.” Lu Feiran brushed past and started up the stairs. As he stepped onto the landing, he hesitated briefly. Upstairs was private domain. As a guest who had only tagged along with an invitation, would it be rude to go up uninvited?

But Lance already spread rumors that he was his wife. If he can lie, I can go up.

The upstairs was very quiet. The soundproofing was excellent; barely any noise from downstairs could be heard. Lu Feiran walked further in and saw Lance sitting on the terrace, gazing at the empty swimming pool below. A blue ribbon-wrapped cigarette was burning next to an ashtray on a small table.

Lu Feiran clenched the small silver band in his pocket. He walked closer, picked up the cigarette, and aggressively extinguished it in the ashtray. In no time, the scent of mint vanished.

“Mr. Lu, wouldn’t doing this be a bit presumptuous?” Lance asked, tilting his head.

“Is it?” Lu Feiran’s hand, still twisting the cigarette butt, shook slightly. The fleeting silver gleam was as bright as daylight.

“My apologies. I see it’s my wife.” Lance’s hand reached out and grasped his.