Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Leo was driving when he received the photo.
He glanced at it while waiting at the traffic lights. Because of that frivolous statement, he picked up his
phone.
Then, he could not look away.
Surrounded by neon lights, the vintage sign exuded a sense of a bygone era. A woman in a modified
flapper dress stood amidst the light and shadows in high heels, exuding endless charm. A black suit
jacket was draped over her shoulders. Her slender and flawless arm was linked with the arm of the
man beside her. It was a scene that resembled a movie poster epitomizing the Great Gatsby era.
Even if the photo was taken at a distance away and Leo could only vaguely see half of the exquisite
face, with one glance, Leo knew who that woman was.
Even more so, Leo knew the man whom the woman linked arms with. It was Joe, the CEO of XR
Entertainment, whom he had recently beaten.
Leo thought, ‘He took Madison to that kind of place!”
Leo stared fixedly at the photo, not moving even when the green light lit up.
The h onking from the cars behind sounded as the drivers prompted Leo to move with great urgency.
There was a person who could not wait any longer and got out of his car to knock on Leo’s window.
Leo ignored everything around him, and as if he did not hear the h onking, he immediately dialed
Cullen Wilkinson back. His face was ashen as he spun the steering wheel and sped off toward another
direction.
“She’s at Opal Heights Bar?” Leo said.
Right after the call was connected, his angry voice came through.
Cullen walked into the bar at that moment, his gaze fixed on that graceful figure ahead. It was as if he
could not see the crowd swaying with the lights and music around him.
He ordered a drink and frivolously hummed. “You are blind and can’t even recognize the place you
usually frequent, huh?” he said.
He thought, ‘Opal Heights Bar has such a big sign. It’s not like he has never been here before’
Leo recognized it, of course. It was just that he had the last bit of fantasy, thinking that
09.28
Joe had some conscience in him and did not bring Madison in.
Now that he heard the deafening noise from the other end of the call, he pressed down on the
accelerator pedal.
“Look after her,” he said.
“Don’t worry,” Cullen said. “I know I have to look after her without you telling me.”
Cullen swirled his alcohol glass, as if he suddenly remembered something.
“Leo, why are you showing concern for her suddenly?” he said. “Haven’t you always found her
annoying? You called me to help you check on her matters when she was abroad after you got a
divorce. And now you want me to keep an eye on her. Do you have some serious illness or
something?”
Leo could not be bothered to argue with him. His voice was cold, and he went straight to the main
point. “We aren’t divorced yet. Legally speaking, she’s still my wife.
Cullen said sincerely, “Leo, you can’t play the field. In any case, you’re going to marry Sally. Why don’t
you divorce her immediately? I will have a chance to pursue…”
Before Cullen finished talking, the call was disconnected.
Cullen clicked his tongue lightly. As he raised his eyes, the graceful figure near the bar had
disappeared.
The colorful and dazzling lights on the dance floor caused people to have blurred. vision, while the
noisy music caused people to sway along with it.
Madison followed Joe, weaving through the crowd until they stopped at a booth. “That person probably
won’t be able to find me,” she said. “He was still on the phone.”
She ordered a drink and glanced in the direction where Cullen was.
Having been followed numerous times when she was abroad, Madison had grown particularly sensitive
to gazes. She had sensed someone staring at her when she was secretly photographed at the
entrance.
With a cold expression, Joe took away her drink and placed it back onto the tray the waiter held. “Get
her a glass of milk,” he said.
The waiter was stunned for a moment. He then nodded and turned away, taking the tray with him.
The people nearby who were close enough heard the request. One after another, they turned their
heads to look.
91%#
Madison blushed under their stares. She could not help but have the urge to kick Joe. She kicked his
shin and said, “Joe, did you bring me to a bar to drink milk?”
Joe gave her a sideways glance and said, “You want to drink alcohol, huh?”
Madison shrunk her neck and looked toward the dance floor as she said, “I… I still want to dance.”
Joe paid no attention to her and chuckled lightly. Then, he picked up a glass of drink and sat down.
He thought, “The bar is filled with disco music. No matter how much Jessica acts up, there’s no way
she would wear a flapper dress and go to the dance floor to shake her head. That’d be very
embarrassing.
But unfortunately, there was no way to guard against it.
Madison was indeed a person who was mindful of a situation and would act. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
accordingly. If she had worn a different outfit, she might be part of the dance crowd by now. However,
her outfit today did not fit the current atmosphere, so she became an eye candy.
She thought, ‘Hmm… and an eye candy that holds a glass of milk at that.”
Just then, the deafening music on the dance floor suddenly stopped.
The crowd was momentarily stunned. After a while, a familiar classic song, “Careless Whisper,” started
playing.
The melodious sound of the saxophone created a romantic and elegant atmosphere without disturbing
the swaying crowd. It seemed to add a bit more charm.
Cullen appeared at some point, stopping in front of Madison, and gentlemanly extended his hand
toward her.
“Long time no see, Miss Hale,” Cullen said. “I wonder if I could have the honor of inviting you for a
dance.”
Madison did not move, letting the man in front of her maintain his bowing posture.
“It has indeed been a long time since we last saw each other, Madison said. “I remember that you
seem to have stayed abroad all this while, Mr. Wilkinson. When did you
return?”
She remembered Cullen, who was Leo’s childhood friend.
Before Sally returned, she often participated in gatherings among the circle of socialites and scions.
She was considered acquainted with Cullen then.
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However, this kind of social life eventually excluded her. She happened to be in her teenage years, and
it was the period to form one’s circle of friends and shape one’s life values. Madison naturally became
unfamiliar with them after being excluded.
“It’s only been less than two days since I returned to the country,” Cullen said. “I came out to have fun,
and I bumped into you by chance.”
Despite being slighted like this, Cullen was not angry. He maintained his frivolous smile, displaying the
demeanor of a second-generation wealthy individual.
“It’s been so many years since we last met,” Cullen said. “Let’s catch up a bit. Jessica, you won’t refuse
my request, won’t you?”
Right after Cullen finished talking, Joe, who was beside Madison, lifted his gaze and looked at him
coldly before she showed any reaction.
He thought, ‘He calls my sister as Jessica!”
Cullen followed the piercing gaze on him and looked over.
But before making eye contact with Joe, his view was blocked by Madison, who got up.
“It’s very kind of you to remember the nickname you gave me over 10 years ago,” Madison said. “It just
wouldn’t be right if I were to refuse to dance with you.”
She raised her hand and placed it on Cullen’s broad palm.
The cket on her shoulder slipped off. Madison picked it up with her other hand and threw it toward Joe.
With a charming smile, she adorably and playfully used a form of address that could lead to a
misunderstanding. “Brother, I’ll catch up with an old friend for a while and will be back in a bit.”
With that said, she ignored Joe’s unpleasant expression and followed Cullen toward the center of the
dance floor.
The handsome man and the beautiful woman caused a commotion among the crowd.
Cullen had been abroad after graduating from high school. He had returned to the country a few times.
The girlfriends he slept with in recent years were all attractive foreign girls. Their outgoing personalities
were unlike the reserved demeanor of the classical beauty before him. His large palm hung loosely on
Madison’s slender waist, afraid to use strength. Even his dance steps lagged half a beat.
“Mr. Wilkinson, you seem a bit unfamiliar,” Madison said.
She suddenly lifted her gaze.
Cullen felt his palms grow warm. He lowered his eyes to stare at her black hair and cleared his throat
lightly. “Indeed, it has been a while since I last danced,” he said.
Madison smiled and said, “It’s okay. The same thing applies to me as well. Besides classes, I worked
part-time when I was abroad. I didn’t have time for dance practice. Plus, it’s not necessary.”
She did not know if Cullen had checked on her. All the records abroad were created by her brother,
Wesley Daves. Other people might not find out anything, but Cullen might.
She thought, ‘He had returned to the country, so he likely followed Leo to…”
Her gaze passed over his shoulder coldly. From afar, she spotted a familiar figure. walking toward
them.
Her steps suddenly missed a beat. Her high heels twisted unexpectedly, and her petite. body tumbled
straight into Cullen’s arms.
And those warm palms, similarly out of control, slid down her waist…
From below the dance floor, Leo’s black pupils contracted uncontrollably.