While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Chapter 71 A Powerful New Player

Xie Heng’s eyes locked onto hers.

For a moment, no one moved. The afternoon sun was hot. The sidewalk was crowded. Pedestrians streamed past, unaware of the tension crackling in the air.

Then Xie Heng smiled.

It was not a nice smile. It was the smile of a predator who had spotted prey.

"Well, well," he said. "If it isn’t my favorite troublemaker."

Veyra’s hand tightened around the gun in her bag. She did not pull it out. Not here. Not in public. Not with witnesses.

Li Wei stepped closer. His body blocked Xie Heng’s view. "Mrs. Thorne, we should go."

"Go?" Xie Heng laughed. "Where’s the fire? I just want to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about," Veyra said.

"Oh, I think we do." Xie Heng took a step toward her. The thugs behind him shifted. "You embarrassed me. In front of my men. In front of that old woman. I don’t forget things like that."

Li Wei’s hand moved toward his jacket.

Veyra touched his arm. "Not here."

Xie Heng looked around. People were staring. A small crowd had gathered. He noticed.

He raised his voice. "Nothing to see here! Move along!"

The crowd dispersed. No one wanted trouble. No one wanted to get involved.

Xie Heng turned back to Veyra. "You’re lucky we’re in public. But your luck won’t last forever."

He gestured to his men. They formed a wall, blocking the main entrance to the Etland Building.

Veyra’s heart pounded. She needed to get inside. Dr. Harrison was waiting. But Xie Heng was not going to let her pass.

She pulled Li Wei behind a large marble pillar near the building’s corner.

"Is there another entrance?" she asked.

Li Wei’s eyes scanned the building. "The east entrance. It’s around the corner. About a five-minute walk."

"Will Xie Heng know about it?"

"Probably not. He looks like he’s never been inside this building."

Veyra nodded. "Leave a few bodyguards here. Watch him. See what he does. The rest come with me."

Li Wei spoke quietly into his earpiece. Two bodyguards peeled off and melted into the crowd. The others followed Veyra.

They walked quickly around the corner.

The east entrance was smaller than the main entrance.

A glass door. A security desk. A bank of elevators. No crowds. No Xie Heng.

Veyra let out a breath.

"We need to get to the 101st floor," she said. "Bordeaux 101."

Li Wei led her to the sightseeing elevators. The doors were glass. The cables were visible. The cars rose and fell along the exterior of the building.

They stepped inside. Li Wei pressed the button for the 101st floor.

The elevator began to rise.

Veyra watched the city shrink below her. Cars became ants. People became dots. The river gleamed like a silver ribbon.

Her mind churned. What did Xie Heng want with Dr. Harrison? Why had he knelt? Why had he called him "Old Gao"?

She thought about the way Dr. Harrison had looked at Xie Heng. Cold. Disdainful. Like he was looking at something disgusting.

They knew each other. That much was clear.

But how? And why?

The elevator doors opened.

Bordeaux 101 was right outside the elevator.

The restaurant was beautiful. Crystal chandeliers. Marble floors. Tables draped in white linen. The air smelled like butter and herbs and expensive wine.

A hostess stood at a wooden podium near the entrance. She was tall. Slim. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. Her uniform was black and crisp. Her name tag read Clarisse.

Her eyes moved over Veyra.

Head to toe. Slow and deliberate.

Veyra’s clothes were clean but inexpensive. Her bag was worn. She wore no jewelry. No makeup. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail.

Clarisse’s lip curled. Just slightly.

"Good afternoon," Clarisse said. Her voice was polite but cold. "Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes," Veyra said. "Under Dr. Harrison’s name."

Clarisse tapped at her tablet. Her fingers moved slowly. Her eyes stayed on the screen.

"I don’t see a reservation under that name," she said.

Veyra’s heart sank. "He said he had a VIP card. He said reservations weren’t an issue."

Clarisse’s smile was thin. "VIP cards require advance booking. Even for VIPs. Especially for lunch service."

"But I spoke to him this morning. He said—"

"Perhaps your friend made a mistake." Clarisse set down her tablet. "Without a reservation, I cannot seat you. I’m sorry."

She did not look sorry.

Veyra pulled out her phone. She dialed Dr. Harrison’s number.

It rang. And rang. And rang.

Voicemail.

She tried again. Voicemail.

"Maybe he’s in the restroom," Veyra said. "Can we wait inside?"

Clarisse’s expression hardened. "I’m afraid not. Our waiting area is for guests with confirmed reservations."

"It’s just for a few minutes—"

"Ma’am, I have been very clear." Clarisse’s voice rose. "No reservation. No entry. Please step aside. You are blocking the entrance."

Veyra’s cheeks burned. She stepped aside.

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