Yasmin turned around and replied softly, "No, thanks. Our studio has been busy with a collaboration lately, so I don't think I have the time to go.""Is it the collaboration with NAS Group?" Giselle asked. "Yeah," Yasmin confirmed.Blake's demeanor turned ice cold as he learned that the two had still ended up partnering together.After Yasmin left, only Giselle and Blake remained in the backyard.Giselle was wearing a sexy spaghetti-strap dress. In a calculated move, she leaned forward to hold Blake's hand, revealing her cleavage. She asked softly, "Why don't you sleep over tonight? I'll ask the maids to prepare your things."It was a blatant invitation.This wasn't the first time she was making a move, but he always pretended not to notice.His expression was stoic as usual as he replied, "I'm busy tonight."With that, he stood up and left. …At the villa gate, Yasmin received Ivan's call. "Yasmin, your Porsche has been repaired. Do you want me to bring it over to you?"
Yasmin and Ivan stood at the gate.Suddenly, Ivan asked, "Do you want to go in?""Huh?" Startled, Yasmin glanced at the lock on the gate. "But the gate is locked.""Just climb over it." Ivan removed his suit jacket and began rolling up his sleeves. "I'll prop you up so you can climb over."Really?" Yasmin really wanted to go in and steal a peek. Fortunately, she was wearing flat shoes today. Although there were still some blisters on her feet, the pain was still bearable. "Come on," Ivan said, crouching down. "Just don't be afraid.""I won't be. I used to climb over it all the time." Yasmin grinned. In the past, she would sneak out and climb over the iron gate upon her return, so she knew what to do. Propping one foot on Ivan's knee, she pushed herself over the iron gate.Ivan swiftly climbed over as well. As the two strolled into the villa, Yasmin began showing Ivan around. "It's even prettier here during the day." Yasmin slinked between trees and paused when she reached
Yasmin's breath hitched. "It's me.""I know." Blake closed his eyes. His voice was hoarse from the drinks."Did you have too much to drink?"Blake hummed in response. In the past, she would always pick him up when he drank too much. So, he waited quietly for her response.However, the voice he heard after waiting for a long time didn't belong to her–it was Ivan's. "Yasmin.""Yeah?""Wait here for a moment. I'm going to the pharmacy across the street.""Okay," Yasmin replied.On the other end of the call, Blake's expression turned hard. "You're with Ivan?""Mm-hmm." Yasmin nodded.Blake's grip tightened around the phone. It was already past 11:00 pm, so why were they still together?Were they planning to spend the night together?With a scowl, he commanded, "Come here."Not liking his sudden domineering tone, Yasmin frowned before replying, "I'm not your wife anymore, Blake. You have no right to order me around. Call a driver if you're drunk. I don't have time to pick you u
Yasmin answered, "How can that be? I checked it before sending it out, and the dress was fine.""The dress we received is damaged. You better come to Giselle's house now to fix it, or she won't have a dress to wear tonight," Roxy snapped before hanging up. She immediately sent Yasmin a photo of the damaged dress.Yasmin took a look. Parts of the lace had been torn, but it was an easy fix.Grabbing her toolbox, Yasmin was about to head out when she remembered she was going to Giselle's birthday banquet. She better dress up, or she might be unable to get in. Digging around, she found a light-colored dress she had designed and put it on. After applying some makeup, she rushed to No. 10, Newphoria Bay.However, when she arrived, she saw someone guarding the entrance.The guard didn't allow her to enter without an invitation.Yasmin bit her lip and dialed Roxy's number, but the latter never picked up.Yasmin's brows furrowed in agitation. Just then, a low voice came from behind
"Sure." Erik agreed without hesitation and turned to leave.Walking past the corridor, he glanced at Yasmin, who was downstairs. However, she didn't notice him. Instead, every man's eyes were trained on her.Feeling uncomfortable, he leaned against the railing and deliberately called out loudly. "Yasmin Starr."Yasmin lifted her head and finally noticed the people on the second floor—including Blake. The man was resting against the railing as he regarded her from above. Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn't say anything."You're here, our darling Yasmin!" Joel leaned over the railing with a glass of wine in his hand, his lips curved into a lazy grin."Don't call me that," Yasmin retorted calmly. "I'm just used to it," Joel pouted. "Why don't you invite Mr. Burke up for a drink?"Yasmin glanced at Ivan.The man replied, "Sure."However, Yasmin didn't want to go upstairs. She wasn't here for them tonight, so she whispered to Ivan, "Why don't you go, Mr. Burke? I need to fi
However, they didn't go to their usual spot. Instead, she was led to a small garden.Yasmin had just sat down when she heard some footsteps. She looked up and saw Blake slowly walking toward her, his tall figure casting a shadow over her."What do you want?" Yasmin studied him. Blake stood before her, blocking the light above her head. "Your life sure is exciting, Ms. Starr. Yesterday, it was Erik; today, it's Mr. Burke. You never fail to surprise me."Yasmin frowned.Blake never said anything nice.Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Well, it has nothing to do with you."Yasmin tried to leave, but the man grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.Infuriated, she snapped, "What are you doing, Blake? Did you call me over just so you could humiliate me?"Grabbing ahold of her chin, Blake peered down at her coldly. "Didn't you say I was your sponsor earlier? Well, in that case, shouldn't you be hoping to see me? So, why are you unhappy?""Who likes to be humiliated?" Yasmin was furio
Just then, the door swung open."I brought you your clothes, Erik." Roxy said. But then, what followed was a scream. "Erik, Yasmin, what are you two doing?"Blake had been standing a distance away, and his body froze when he heard this.He then pushed past several women and saw what was happening in the room—Yasmin was on top of Erik, while Erik wore only a towel around himself.After just one look, Blake's glare turned venomous.Yasmin was silently panicking and was about to explain when Roxy rushed over and tugged at her dress. "What are you doing here, Yasmin? Didn't I tell you that Giselle's room is at the end of the corridor? What are you doing in Erik's room? And both of you were… were…"Roxy pretended to hesitate, as though she found it hard to finish her sentence.Meanwhile, the women in the room were already wearing disdainful expressions."Look at what the daughter of the Starr family's like, trying to seduce a man at Giselle's birthday banquet!""How shameless!"
Yasmin was utterly disappointed.After all, it was difficult to change other people's perception of someone once they develop a fixed impression of the other person.Meanwhile, Blake stood outside and quietly listened to what Yasmin had to say. Things did seem too coincidental to be true. Suddenly, as Blake was about to enter the room, a group of men approached him."What are you doing here, Blake?" Joel called out and walked over to peer into the room. "What's going on? What's with the crowd?"Ivan was also among the group of men. He spotted Yasmin standing on one side of the room while the group of women stood on the other side. Immediately, he could sense that Yasmin was being isolated.His expression turned dark as he walked over to stand next to Yasmin. "What's going on?" he asked.Roxy lit up when she saw Ivan and began recounting to him an exaggerated version of what had happened. After listening to her, Ivan turned to Erik and asked, "Is that really what happene