My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace novel Chapter 25

"What are you talking about?" Matthew snapped at her fiercely. "I've been your sister's boyfriend, I am now, and I always will be. I only love Xanthea. Stop spouting nonsense and daydreaming, or don't blame me for being heartless!"

With those words, he turned and walked away, leaving Miranda alone in the cold wind, screaming uncontrollably, "Ahh—"

How could she have pinned her hopes on a man who lived off his girlfriend? Ridiculous! Now she had lost everything—her championship, her man, all stolen by Xanthea!

After shaking off Miranda, Matthew, carrying flowers, hurried towards the venue, but the event had ended, and the audience had thinned out. He saw no sign of Xanthea.

At the Rlan Hotel, Xanthea, with a camera in hand, stood at the door of room 1010 and swiped her key card.

She had bribed the hotel manager earlier, just so she could catch a cheater in the act. Scanning the room for the best hiding spot, she noticed that the wardrobe next to the master bedroom offered the best view and was least likely to give her away.

Checking the time, Xanthea deftly slipped into the wardrobe with her camera, anticipating the imminent arrival of Matthew and Miranda, given their frantic behavior earlier.

On the hotel's top floor, 'The Masked Singer' after-party buzzed with activity as directors, producers, and invited celebrities mingled in high spirits. Yet, the protagonist sat in a dim corner of the banquet hall, downing one glass of wine after another.

Cedric, noticing the two empty bottles on the table, fretted, "Mr. Lockwood, please stop drinking. Wine packs a punch; if you keep going, it might end badly!"

He couldn't fathom what had happened. Before the award ceremony, Orion had been composed, but afterwards, he seemed like a changed man, emanating a chilling aura that made people shiver. Surely, Ms. Nightshade must have said something to upset him this much.

The high alcohol content dulled Orion's senses and numbed his body, though his heart ached more intensely. Orion's eyes, bloodshot, fixated on a neatly folded silk handkerchief on the table, while echoes of nightmares resounded in his ears.

"Get away, I'd never be friends with a lunatic!"

"Why is it always you? Get lost, I hate you, I hate you the most!"

"Don't come near me anymore. I'll never like you in my life."