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“Mr. Vanderbilt! Caitlin! Be careful behind you!”
From a distance, Tyler noticed what was happening and rushed back, but it was too late.
At that exact moment, a man in a white suit appeared and stepped forward, using his suit jacket to shield Caitlin and Sebastian from the paint.
The white suit immediately became stained with red paint, and Caitlin and Sebastian turned to see a young man standing behind them, the red paint dripping down his jacket.
Megan stood frozen, still holding an empty paint can in her hand.
Realizing her mistake, Megan instinctively tried to flee the scene, but Tyler and his team caught up with her.
“Causing trouble, take her to the police station!” Sebastian ordered.
Tyler immediately signaled for two of his subordinates to take Megan away.
“Let me go! Let me go…” Megan struggled, but was taken away.
“Are you alright, sir? Thank you for stepping in just now!” Caitlin turned to the man who had helped her and expressed her gratitude.
“No problem.”
The man looked up, and Caitlin was taken aback. His handsome features were striking. Judging by his clothes, it was clear he was of high status, with an elegant and distinguished presence.
Caitlin noticed that the man’s gaze lingered on her, and Sebastian, sensing the tension, instinctively wrapped his arm around Caitlin’s shoulder and said, “Thank you for your help. If your suit is ruined, I’ll compensate you.”
“It’s just a suit,” the man replied with a slight smile. “It’s my honor to protect Caitlin.”
He casually discarded his paint–covered jacket into a nearby trash can, showing no signs of concern for the damage to his clothing.
Caitlin was shocked by how he seemed to know her name. Did he recognize her?
“Wait, Caitlin, we’ll meet again later!”
With that, the man smiled faintly, passed them, and entered the auction house.
“Do you know him?” Sebastian asked, clearly displeased by the way the man had looked at Caitlin, and now knowing that he had called her by name.
“No, I don’t,” Caitlin replied, shaking her head. “But he acted like he knew me.”
“Let’s go inside and talk about it later.”
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Caitlin linked her arm with Sebastian’s, and they moved forward to receive their badges before heading into the auction house’s adjacent cocktail area.
As they entered, they immediately drew attention. The murmurs and gazes of the crowd filled the air as they entered the
venue .
Yasmin, noticing them, turned to Madison, saying, “Look, Caitlin really showed up!”
Madison turned around, seeing Caitlin with Sebastian, and sneered, “The shameless wornan. How dare she show her ex–husband in public like this? It’s disgusting!”
“Exactly, she’s clearly eyeing both men at once.”
up
with
Yasmin hated Caitlin. If it weren’t for her, they wouldn’t have been kicked out of the Luminary League, losing all their face in front of the public!
Today, she was going to make Caitlin pay.
“I’ve got everything arranged. She’ll be embarrassed in front of everyone!”
Yasmin had already prepared for Caitlin’s appearance at the auction and had made plans to publicly humiliate her.
Ximena and Zora had also arrived at the event. Zora saw Caitlin and Sebastian together and her resentment surged.
She had always believed that Caitlin was the reason she and Sebastian weren’t together.
“Mom, that woman is here too!”
“I see her.”
Ximena spoke calmly, already noticing Caitlin. But tonight, she would do whatever it took to get her hands on the “Yun’s
Aromatic Codex*.
Aside from Caitlin, Ximena also noticed Zeke, her gaze growing complex as she watched him.
Zeke, who had also arrived at the event, raised his glass in a gesture toward Caitlin.
Seeing her older brother, Caitlin nodded back at him but didn’t approach. She stayed close to Sebastian.
She also noticed the man in the white suit, who stood not far from Zeke and flashed a smile in her direction.
Sebastian observed the two men and a few other men in the crowd who seemed to be eyeing Caitlin. He felt a surge of discomfort, as if she were a prize to be coveted.
To prevent further interactions with the men, he asked, “Caitlin, can you check something for me? I think there’s something wrong with my ear.”
“What happened?” Caitlin asked immediately, helping him check.
To anyone watching, it looked like they were whispering sweetly to each other, further fueling speculation among those
around them.
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They were clearly a couple, but the more informed ones wondered—were they really divorced? Could they have
reconciled?
2674%1
At the cocktail reception, Caitlin’s arm was accidentally bumped by someone, spilling some of their drink onto her
“Sorry, I need to go to the restroom,” Caitlin said, stepping away.
Sebastian immediately asked, “Shall I come with you?”
“No, I’ll be right back.”
As Caitlin headed toward the restrooms, Yasmin grew excited and quietly followed her.
But Caitlin didn’t enter the restroom. She only stood by the mirror outside, attending to herself.
Just as she was about to return to the cocktail party, Yasmin blocked her path.
Yasmin, arms crossed, sarcastically commented, “Caitlin, do you think you’re so impressive now? Holding on to Sebastian while flirting with other men? Isn’t that enough?”
Caitlin coldly responded, “What right does Yasmin have to say anything? What’s your relationship with Sebastian?
Shouldn’t you mind your own business?”
“Don’t get cocky,” Yasmin sneered. “I’m just warning you to keep your tail hidden. Don’t let Sebastian catch you in the act.”
“I don’t need Yasmin to worry about me. You’d better take care of yourself.”
Caitlin walked past Yasmin and was about to leave when Yasmin stormed into one of the restroom stalls, muttering, “You
can come out now. She’s gone. The plan failed.”
But as she turned around, a man suddenly grabbed her and pulled her into the stall.
Yasmin screamed, but the man quickly covered her mouth.
“Shh… Don’t scream,” the man whispered, releasing his grip.
Yasmin glared at him, her voice low as she asked, “Vito, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Yasmin, I’m suffering… you don’t know, but I’ve always liked you…”
Vito, a servant from The Xenos Family, had always been at Yasmin’s beck and call. He had done everything she asked.
Today, Yasmin had set him up to sabotage/Caitlin, and he dutifully complied. However, the medicine Yasmin had him take
made him more desperate for the woman he secretly adored.
He had always been infatuated with Yasmin, and now, hearing her voice, he could no longer control himself.
Vito moved toward Yasmin, but she shoved him away, furious, “Vito, do you even know y you dare touch me, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
lace? You’re just a servant! If
“Even if I end up in jail, I’ll accept it!” Vito said before lunging at her again…
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