Chapter 467 The Masquerade
"Mr. Valencia! We've been waiting for you for quite a while, come on in!"
"Mr. Valencia, you're a tough man to catch, I swear. If it weren't for bumping into Ms. Jerrett today, who knows when we'd have the chance to meet up."
The speakers were all important business partners of Antonio's and had significant commercial collaborations with Valencia Inc.
Antonio paused for a second, then put on a polite smile. "What a pleasure to meet all of you here, isn't it?"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Serene, looking her over with scrutiny.
Serene sat in a corner, her face reflecting helplessness.
She pushed her wheelchair forward and gently explained to Antonio, "I invited you here, thinking it would be a safe environment for a proper discussion. I didn't anticipate encountering these executives having a gathering... They insisted on including me, and when I mentioned I was meeting you, they insisted on waiting for you to join us... I couldn't really refuse."
Antonio sighed. Her reason was quite acceptable. After all, this place was a favorite dining spot among those executives.
A middle-aged man spoke up, "Today Alan is treating us for the birth of his grandson. You've got to have a good drink with us."
Mr. Alan himself rose to greet Antonio. "That's right; it's not every day we get together. Today, we need to catch up. No escaping for you, buddy!"
Before he knew it, Antonio was seated next to Serene.
Given Alan's crucial role as a business partner at Valencia Inc., Antonio found himself unable to decline their invitation to a party they were hosting.
He raised his glass in a token gesture of participation.
The atmosphere was lively, and the drinks came one after another, all in honor of Antonio. After a few rounds, he began to feel worse for wear. Having casually discussed a couple of business deals, Antonio finally saw his chance to slip away.
Serene, feeling unwell and being a young woman, hadn't indulged much and remained fairly sober.. Antonio used the pretext of escorting her back to the hospital to make his exit.
Once he stepped out of the room and breathed in the fresh air, his head began to spin. Continuing the night in this state wouldn't bode well for the business negotiations, let alone the upcoming meeting with Sarah.
He flagged down a waiter. "I need a hangover remedy, the more effective, the better."
"Of course, Mr. Valencia. Please rest in this room for a moment, I'll be right back with it."
The waiter guided Antonio into an adjoining room to relax. Feeling dizzy, Antonio accepted the offer without hesitation. Shortly after, the waiter returned with a hangover remedy and kindly brought a glass of water to go with it. After observing Antonio taking the medication, he gently opened the door and exited.
Outside, Serene sat in her wheelchair, receiving a nod from the waiter.
"Feeling a little better after the medicine?" Serene asked.
Antonio furrowed his brows, his head still clouded, but he was clear about his reason for coming. Leaning on the chair for support, he said slowly, "Serene, you know why I'm here. Tell me what really happened between you and Brady—no more lies."
"So that’s how you see me..." Serene replied with a bitter laugh. She sighed deeply, eyes drooping sorrowfully.
Antonio locked his gaze on her, his eyes keen with scrutiny.
Serene pursed her lips.
"Alright, I admit it, I met Brady. It was a chance encounter at the hospital, and he seemed pleasant. I thought we could be friends. Then, one day, he asked to meet on the rooftop. Uncertain of his intentions, I agreed," Serene's voice cracked as tears welled up. "But I never anticipated... that day, he was so different. The moment we met, he confronted me, demanding to know the nature of my relationship with you."
Antonio's brows knitted together. "Make yourself clear."
Amidst sobs and trembling shoulders, Serene said, "He somehow discovered the rumors about us. He's holding me responsible for the problems between you and Sarah. He called me shameless and accused me of being a homewrecker. He claimed I intentionally approached him to sabotage your relationship with Sarah. He also said..."
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