I Became the Billionaire's Fake Lover to Get My Revenge
Chapter 67: A Blur

Chapter 67: A Blur

"Excuse me, Miss?"

An unfamiliar male voice pulled Anna from her thoughts, prompting her to turn with another warm, practiced smile—the kind expected from the hostess of such an event.

"Yes?" she responded politely, taking a moment to assess the man who had approached her.

He appeared to be in his early fifties, tall and impeccably composed. A full head of silver-streaked hair crowned his head, and his neatly trimmed beard framed a face that had aged with striking grace. Despite the years, his features remained sharp and undeniably charismatic.

He wore a tailored ensemble consisting of fitted black trousers, a sleek black shirt, and a matching vest fastened with gilded buttons. His broad shoulders and confident stance made it clear—this was a man who had never stopped taking care of himself.

"I hope I’m not intruding," he said, his voice smooth yet slightly hesitant as he noticed the intensity of Anna’s gaze. "But are you Miss Chloe Dumas—the owner of this vineyard?"

Anna nodded and extended her hand graciously. "Yes, that’s right. And you are..? I apologize—it’s been difficult trying to remember everyone all at once."

"That’s quite alright," the man chuckled, shaking her hand with a firm but polite grip. "My name is Constantine Greenfield. I’m a friend of Mrs. Bennett’s."

"Oh! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Greenfield. Yes, Amelie mentioned you the last time we met."

"Only good things, I hope," he said with a lighthearted laugh.

Anna returned the laugh and nodded reassuringly, confirming that nothing negative had ever been said about him.

And it was true. In fact, she had been somewhat looking forward to meeting him.

Constantine Greenfield was not only a successful businessman—his fortune built through clever trading ventures—but also a respected art collector. He had been among the elite guests at the silent auction where Susanne Hyde had been utterly humiliated.

"I’ve been hoping for a chance to meet you," the man said with a chuckle, though this time it carried a hint of awkwardness. "But it seems you’re not much of a socialite."

Anna returned his smile with a slight nod. "Yes, well... hence the party tonight—I figured it was time I made a few more friends in this country."

"In that case," Constantine said, offering her his arm with gentlemanly flair, "would you care to join me at the wine-tasting area? I hear your rosé is quite the sensation."

"Absolutely," Anna replied, placing her hand gently on his arm as she took the lead. "Allow me to show you the way."

The wine-tasting area was a charming covered terrace, its open sides revealing views of the vineyard bathed in warm evening light.

A dozen or more round tables, each a different size, were artfully scattered across the space. Softly cushioned chairs invited guests to rest and sip their drinks at leisure beneath trailing vines and fairy lights, creating a relaxed, elegant ambiance.

Anna led Constantine to the VIP table, reserved especially for her and close friends. Shortly after they were seated, a waiter arrived carrying the vineyard’s already-celebrated rosé. He then uncorked the bottle and poured the wine into their waiting glasses.

As the delicate blush liquid swirled gently in the crystal, Constantine raised his glass slightly and smiled. "You’re probably wondering why a complete stranger is suddenly being so friendly."

Anna mirrored his smile, lifting her glass to her lips and taking a slow, appreciative sip."I assume you wanted to talk about what happened at the silent auction," she said evenly. "It’s been a while now... but the memory of that night still lingers like a bitter aftertaste."

The man nodded, his friendly smile widening into a full grin.

"You’re absolutely right. But I’m not here to scold you for ’ruining’ such a prestigious event." He paused to take a sip of his wine before continuing. "I’m here to thank you—for saving me from losing a substantial amount of money."

"Excuse me?" Anna’s eyebrows lifted in genuine surprise. "What role did I play in that?"

"A rather significant one," Constantine admitted with a chuckle. "You see, my presence at the silent auction wasn’t purely out of charitable interest. I attended with the intention of acquiring a unique piece of art—something undiscovered, something I could display in my private gallery. My goal was to help launch the artist into fame, and in doing so, increase the value of my collection."

His expression turned more animated as he leaned in slightly. "I had my sights set on the Pomegranate Necklace. But Mr. Stark outbid me—as one would expect from a man with bottomless pockets. Still, I was so captivated by the piece that I was ready to offer him twice what he paid. I even considered enlisting Mrs. Bennett’s help in persuading him."

He laughed again, though there was a faint flush of embarrassment on his face now. "In fact, I was prepared to take the artist under my patronage—fund his future exhibitions, buy up every piece he made, provided they were even half as breathtaking."

Anna’s cheeks warmed as she listened. It was strange—almost surreal—to hear someone speak so passionately about her work, not knowing it was hers. She wasn’t used to praise, and this kind of admiration made her feel both flattered and a little uncomfortable.

"So, as you can see," Constantine said, now more composed, "you spared me from making a very expensive mistake—and perhaps from becoming the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons."

"Well..." Anna shifted slightly in her seat, her voice soft with modesty. "I’m glad I could be of help."

"Say, do you happen to know the original artist behind that painting? Such talent shouldn’t go unnoticed. Their name deserves to be known."

Heat crept up Anna’s neck and bloomed in her cheeks. To mask her flustered reaction, she quickly brought the wine glass to her lips and took a generous sip, nearly draining half of it."Unfortunately, I don’t," she lied smoothly. "It’s a shame, really."

"Indeed," Constantine sighed, topping off his glass with a resigned smile. "Well, here’s to luck in discovering rising stars."

Their glasses clinked gently, the sound crisp and delicate in the warm evening air. Anna smiled and echoed his toast, letting the wine settle her nerves.

But just as she lowered her glass, something—or someone—familiar flickered in the corner of her vision.

Her breath caught. A blur, a silhouette, a presence she hadn’t expected to feel so viscerally. Her body tensed as a surge of emotion threatened to spill over.

She turned her head sharply, eyes scanning the crowd with purpose. And then—there. Her gaze locked onto the figure, her heart pounding as realization sank in.

She turned to Constantine, offering him a quick, apologetic smile."I’m so sorry, Mr. Greenfield, but I’ve just spotted someone I’ve been hoping to see all evening."

"Of course, Miss Dumas. Thank you for sharing your time with me," he said kindly, though his curiosity visibly piqued.

With that, Anna stepped away, her pace quickening into a near-dash as she weaved through the guests. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, nearly drowning out the hum of music and chatter around her.

She’s here.It has to be her.