Chapter 164 Bar Gathering
Madison was aware that only Matthew could personally handle the situation. Still, when he spoke about the adversaries being an international crime syndicate that even the cops found hard to catch, her concerns deepened. Although the police were involved this time and he just needed to cooperate, he would be walking into the lion's den, and if something went wrong...
The thought was too much to bear, and she knew she couldn't stop him.
"So, if you're going, I want to come with you," she insisted. "Whether it's into a sea of stars or through a fiery mountain pass, as long as you go, I want to be by your side."
Matthew was taken aback; his immediate reaction was: no way.
The unknown dangers were too great; how could he possibly let her join him in such a risky venture?
"Madison, listen to me," he said earnestly. "You stay in Horizon City, take care of Quentin, Hannah, and Mr. Johnson. I promise you. I'll come back safe and sound." He was firm, unwilling to let Madison go to Italy with him.
Madison understood his worries. Knowing Matthew's character, she knew he wouldn't allow her to accompany him if he didn't agree. So, in the end, she nodded, "Okay, but you have to come back safely."
Matthew finally breathed a sigh of relief, tenderly kissed her forehead, and said, "Go wash up; it's late."
"You go ahead; I want to check on Quentin and Hannah to make sure they haven't kicked off their covers," Madison replied, getting up from Matthew's embrace to check on the kids in the next room.
Matthew found it hard to let her go. "I'll wait for you to come back so we can shower together," he said.
Madison's face flushed with embarrassment, and she turned away, declining, "No, I just want to shower alone."
"I just want to shower, too; what do you think I'm trying to do? I'll be clean and waiting for you in bed." he continued teasingly, implying that she couldn't escape him tonight.
Ignoring his playfulness, Madison got up and went to the kids' room to tuck Quentin and Hannah in. Quentin was usually good about staying covered, but Hannah's sleeping positions were all over the place, sometimes moving from one end of the bed to another. Madison often went to bed later than the children, so she routinely checked on them before turning in herself.
*
At Nightshade Bar, Willow and her two girlfriends leisurely sipped fruit juices while snacking on skewers, thoroughly enjoying themselves. After eating and drinking their fill, they watched the crowd on the dance floor, each feeling the itch to join in the fun.
Located in the bustling heart of Horizon City, the bar was hopping almost every night after 8 p.m. with a mix of hot tunes, captivating dances, and elegant piano melodies. There were people doing ballroom dancing alongside those tangoing, and even various exotic dances that set the blood racing.
Now, during the busiest time, the whole bar was ecstatic.
Since it was Mitchell's establishment, the security was tight, with over twenty bouncers on staff, and they operated with a strict membership and real-name registration system. So, if you ever spot a pop star, a film actor, or an internet celebrity, don't be surprised; encounters like these are commonplace here. The high entry threshold attracted all the social elites from Horizon City—entertainers, heirs to fortunes, and top-tier professionals.
People came here in the evenings to unwind after stressful workdays.
A jazz dancer in bright red attire was spinning and swaying on the stage, eliciting vigorous applause and cheers from the audience, their blood boiling with excitement.
The band performing was a popular internet sensation. Glancing over, many familiar faces could be seen, ones often spotted on their phones.
Daniel stood up, pulling Willow and Ophelia to their feet, "Let's go dance."
As the trio got up, a bald man followed by several slick-suited companions—and leading a few stars and minor internet celebrities—approached them. The women were dressed in scanty outfits, so skimpy that they barely covered their essential parts. Among them was an internet celebrity with millions of fans, known to all three, wearing a skirt so short her black lace underwear was visible.
These women boasted stunning figures and wore heavy makeup, their perfume overwhelming to the senses.
The bald man warmly greeted Mitchell and Liam, "Jonah, what a coincidence! Mind if we join you?"
Without waiting for an answer, the women with him immediately tried to seat themselves next to the four men. Victor and the others needed to be more familiar with them. Still, the other three certainly were, especially Liam, who was in charge of the JK Group's entertainment sector—a man whose reputation preceded him.
After all, who would choose the company of greasy older men when handsome ones were available? Each woman grabbed a guy and sat down.
Mitchell and Liam hastily pushed away the female celebrities approaching them, quickly pulling Willow to sit next to Mitchell and Ophelia next to Liam. Their actions were swift.
Victor gave the approaching minor internet celebrity a cold glare; accustomed to dealing with all sorts overseas, his piercing look caused her to retreat. Hesitating, she finally made her way over to Patrick's side.
Steven leaped up abruptly, his voice ringing out with a cautionary edge, "Hey, hey, hey, keep away from me."
The rebuffed internet celebrity pooled tears in her eyes, a picture of absolute dejection.
Standing next to Liam was a well-known actress who had previously belonged to the same management company as Ophelia. However, she was the company's top-promoted leading lady, while Ophelia was a rather obscure performer at that time. As soon as she arrived, she recognized Ophelia, who had now signed with JK Entertainment. Moreover, Ophelia had recently snatched away one of her endorsements—a mystery benefactor turned game-changer aligning with the influential Mr. Season of JK Entertainment.
She glared at Ophelia and said, "Oh, look who it is—our very own Ophelia! Young Madison, indeed."
Jealous of losing her status to her, she reached out to tug at Ophelia's arm.
Liam's gaze shot up fiercely, a commanding "Enough" cutting through the tension like an arrow. The actress shivered in fear, stopped in her tracks by his authority. They had encountered Mr. Season here before but had never seen him rebuke anyone so directly.
Mitchell interrupted with a cool tone, "Sorry, but this is a private dinner tonight. You'd best find your entertainment elsewhere."
The actress, still unconvinced, scoffed, "Did you hear that? Mr. Season is having a private dinner, so why are you still here?" Ophelia looked at Liam, utterly ignoring the crazed woman. She had never cared for her pretentious public persona or her terrible temper in private. She was such a drama queen.
Willow was ready to retort, but Daniel held her back. Seeing Liam's look, they were content to watch the fireworks. Dealing with this type of woman required Liam's poisonous tongue.
Liam wrapped his arm around Ophelia, shocking her with the statement, "How is my Madison, not family!"
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