THE BILLIONAIRE'S VENGEFUL WIFE RETURNS
Chapter 178: A DANCE WITH CHOAS

Chapter 178: A DANCE WITH CHOAS

A/N: This Chapter is dedicated to Sissi_. Thanks for the golden ticket.

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"Hello, sweetheart."

Harlow froze, her body stiffening like a deer caught in headlights. Of all the people she expected to see at the Hamilton Gala, Andrew was the last. Harlow quickly took her hands off his, remembering Alanis’s rules. She was never allowed to go close to this man, else she would face his punishment.

One mistake in the office had already put her in hot water, she wasn’t about to add fuel to the fire.

Alanis, on the other hand, looked like a beast ready to pounce. His sharp gaze, dark with unfiltered wrath, locked onto Andrew with a silent promise of destruction. His jaw tightened, his bloodshot eyes screaming murder. This man was playing with death, and Alanis was more than willing to deliver it.

"What are you doing here?" Harlow’s voice was steady as she stared at him.

Standing in the crowd, Claudia smirked, her heart racing with excitement. Let the party begin...

"Who’s that?" Garth whispered, her gaze flickering toward the young man who had caused such a stir. She had seen him at a few social events but never paid him much attention. However, the way Harlow and Alanis reacted to him piqued her curiosity.

Claudia leaned in, her voice oozing with false innocence. "Who else? That’s Andrew, Harlow’s lover."

Garth’s eyes widened. "Harlow’s what?"

"I’ve seen them together, even when she was married to Alanis. She’s clearly cheating, and poor Alanis has no idea," Claudia said loudly, her words dripping with carefully placed malice. The people who were standing next to them all heard what she had just said and their murmurs started immediately.

A ripple of hushed gossip spread across the room like wildfire.

Cheating?

Could it be true? The tension between all three people was undeniable. Harlow did look as if she had just seen a long-lost lover.

Little did they know, it wasn’t love she felt, it was fear.

She had seen Alanis beat Andrew before. She knew what he was capable of, and she did not want history to repeat itself.

"I haven’t seen you in weeks, and this is all you have to say to me?" Andrew’s voice was soft, yet challenging. He took her hands once again, his fingers curling around hers. "Aren’t you happy to see me?" He recalled their kiss, he knew Harlow loved him, so why was she acting all different now?

Before she could respond, he pulled her closer, their bodies brushing against each other.

That was as far as he got.

Alanis ripped her away, pulling Harlow protectively against his chest. His grip was firm, possessive. His dark eyes bore into Andrew, promising nothing but pain.

The room held its breath.

"What are you doing here, Andrew?" Alanis’s voice was calm, but it carried an air of lethal authority.

Andrew smirked, unaffected by the hostility radiating from the man before him. "Why else, Mr. Hamilton? You invited me to this party."

Harlow turned sharply to Alanis.

What?

Her mind raced. Why would Alanis invite Andrew and then act surprised? What was he planning?

Andrew, still holding Harlow’s gaze, felt something shift. Was everything she had told him about Alanis that night true?

Because right now, he had something planned for the man.

Since she hated him so much, so, he would help her out of his bondage. For someone like Alanis Hamilton, the only way out of his clutches was death.

Death is the only way she can be free from him because this demon doesn’t give up. Because if he steals her away, Alanis is ready to go to the end of earth to find her.

Claudia, who had been thoroughly enjoying the chaos, suddenly frowned. Alanis’s protectiveness over Harlow didn’t sit well with her.

He should be protecting me, not her.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Alanis was supposed to be furious that she was engaged to his brother, not that Andrew had come for Harlow.

Did he love her now?

Claudia shook her head. No. Impossible. Alanis had always belonged to her. This was just a misunderstanding, a moment of misplaced emotions. She refused to believe otherwise.

Andrew chuckled, his voice tinged with mockery. "You’re no man if you pretend you didn’t invite me." He stepped closer, challenging him. "What’s the matter, Alanis? Afraid I’ll steal her away? You know she loves me, don’t you? That’s why you’re jealous."

The impact came so fast, so brutally, that Andrew barely registered the punch until his head snapped back, a sharp pain exploding across his jaw. He stumbled but caught himself before falling.

Gasps echoed across the ballroom.

"Alanis, no!" Claudia rushed between them, her hands on Alanis’s chest, pushing weakly against his iron-like stance. "Don’t hurt him!" she pleaded, her voice high and desperate. "I invited him!"

The room fell into stunned silence.

Eyes turned to Claudia, shocked.

She invited Andrew?

Claudia, realizing her slip, quickly covered her mouth, feigning distress. "I... I only did it because Harlow asked me to! I warned her this would cause problems!"

A new wave of whispers surged through the crowd.

Harlow invited her supposed lover? Did she really cheat? Poor Alanis.

Andrew turned to Harlow, expecting her to deny it, to defend herself.

But she didn’t.

She simply stared at Claudia, silent, unreadable.

"Harlow, you can’t keep deceiving Alanis," Claudia said pitifully, playing her role as the heartbroken sister. "He’s a good man. He doesn’t deserve this."

Then, Harlow did something that left the entire room stunned.

She smiled.

A slow, knowing smile that sent a chill down Claudia’s spine.

"I’m not denying anything." Everyone turned to look at her, many frowning at her words. They have never seen a cheating woman.

"You misunderstand our relationship, sister," Harlow continued, her tone eerily calm. She has learned a few lessons from her previous life, since this was the Claudia from the past, she now knew how to deal with her.

She turned to Andrew, her expression soft but unreadable. "Andrew and I are nothing but friends, and I wanted my friend to celebrate with me. I had no idea my sweetheart would misunderstand our relationship."

Harlow’s gaze flickered to Alanis, her lips curving slightly.

"I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding, sweetheart. You’re the only one I love."

The room held its breath.

Alanis who had been seconds away from tearing Andrew apart, suddenly softened. His features relaxed, his grip on her tightening in an entirely different way... Adoration.

His heart swelled.

If only she knew how much those words meant to him.

"It’s alright," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. Then, his gaze darkened as he turned to Claudia. "Claudia sent fake photos of you and Andrew, that’s why I doubted you." He said and the shock on Claudia’s face was laughable. She hadn’t expected Harlow to once again get out of her plot with ease and this time Alanis was supporting her.

Claudia’s entire world shattered in an instant. Her eyes widened in horror.

Harlow turned to her sister, her smile widening. Checkmate...

"I’m sorry for ever thinking you would betray me," Alanis said to his wife and she nodded.

And with that, the tides shifted. The crowd, once questioning Harlow, now turned their disapproving eyes toward Claudia.

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