Chapter 242
Natalie was starting to worry.
She pulled out her phone and quietly sent Arianna a message, but it was like tossing a stone into a lake no reply at all.
“I’m going to check on Arianna.” Natalie couldn’t sit still anymore. She had to go to the restroom and see if Arianna was there.
“If you need anything, just call me,” Samuel said.
Natalie nodded, said goodbye, and headed toward the bathrooms. But Arianna was nowhere to be found. Not in the restroom, not in the hallway, not even in the main dining area.
Where could she have gone?
Natalie’s heart raced. Then her phone buzzed. It was a voice message from Arianna.
“Natalie, I just can’t face Samuel right now. I left. Don’t worry, I’m okay. I just need some time alone,” Arianna’s voice trembled, sounding like she was on the verge of tears.
Natalie’s chest tightened with worry and guilt. She quickly replied, “Arianna, no matter what, if you’re feeling upset, please tell me. I’m always here for you p>
But after she sent the message, Arianna didn’t respond.
Natalie couldn’t relax. She paid the bill and headed straight for Arianna’s apartment. Meanwhile, Arianna wandered the city streets with no destination in mind. She didn’t want to go back to that cold, empty apartment. Being alone would only make her replay the moment Samuel gently turned her down, again and again. Arianna knew she and Samuel came from completely different worlds. She knew it would never work, but love wasn’t something you could just reason away.
On nights like this, when everything felt so lonely, her feelings only grew stronger. She just couldn’t handle it.
A taxi rolled up to the curb. Arianna raised her hand.
“BlueNight, please,” she told the driver.
Twenty minutes later, she was inside BlueNight Bar, the place glowing with a swirl of neon lights.
She found a spot in the corner, ordered a drink, and hoped the alcohol would numb everything for a while. The music thumped through the room, people were laughing and shouting, and Arianna just stared off. lost in her thoughts. Then, out of nowhere, she glanced up?
Across the room, in a circle of guys and girls, she spotted Steven Wright. He was sitting with Isabella Ward.
Arianna had pictured the kind of woman Steven might be secretly seeing. She’d imagined all sorts of possibilities, but not once did she ever think it would be isabella Looking back, it all made sense. The designer suits Steven wore, the flashy red sports car. Arianna let out a bitter laugh. Only someone like Isabella could afford that kind of life.
They were playing some kind of party game. Isabella had Steven pouring drinks for her girlfriends, and he had this fake, eager smile on his face. When he finished, he
peeled off, his shirt, leaving bi
bare. Arianna realized it was one of those games where you had to take off an article of clothing if you lost.
Steven looked completely out of place, standing there half-naked.
But Isabella wasn’t finished. Someone whispered something to her, and she grabbed a glass of wine, pouring it right over Steven’s head. The wine ran down his face and chest. Steven didn’t even look mad. He just kept smiling, almost like he was used to it.
Then he looked up and saw Arianna. Thıs content belongs to
Their eyes met. For a split second, Steven’s face filled with shock and embarrassment. He fumbled for anything to cover himself.
Isabella, chatting with a friend, noticed Steven acting weird. She followed his gaze and saw Arianna. She recognized her-Natalie’s best friend.
Isabella’s eyes flicked back and forth between Steven and Arianna. Something seemed to click for her. A cold, mocking smile crept onto her lips.
She stood up and strolled over to Arianna, giving her a slow, obvious once-over. That smirk never left her face.
“Ms. Mitchell, all by yourself tonight? Where’s your bestie?” Isabella paused, then shot a pointed look at Steven. “Or are you here looking for someone p>