Seeing Crystal Hayes making such a scene, Zoe Lancaster frowned. She pushed through the crowd, walked right up to the edge of the stage, and patted Crystal’s calf. "Crystal! Stop messing around and get down here!"
Zoe couldn’t believe she was trying to find a husband in a place like this. Had she completely lost her mind?
The men and women in the crowd were cheering and whistling non-stop. Crystal’s high-profile stunt had completely fired up the club.
Hearing the familiar voice, the slightly tipsy Crystal looked down. As soon as she saw Zoe, her face lit up with a smile. "Baby, what took you so long?"
With a sudden frown, she hopped off the stage and shoved away the men crowding around Zoe. "Back off, back off! Don’t touch her! My baby is carrying a baby!"
Terrified that the careless crowd might bump into Zoe, she shielded her all the way out of the throng.
They walked over to a booth and sat down. Zoe’s brow furrowed at the open bottles on the table; Crystal had already drunk a lot by herself. "Stop drinking, or you’ll feel awful tomorrow."
Crystal propped her chin on her hand and smiled, looking a bit more docile now. "Okay."
Looking at her like this, Zoe’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. "Do you... really love Caleb Ford?"
Why else would Crystal act like this right before his engagement?
Crystal looked dazed for a moment before blinking. "That’s water under the bridge. We’ve made a completely clean break now. He’s about to have a happy family, and I’m moving on to my next romance. We’re adults, right? We can only look forward."
Her initial reason for approaching Caleb had been calculating. She was after his status as the country’s top gold-medal lawyer, his undefeated record, and the possibility that he could save her father from ruin. But once he got married, all of that had to stop.
A fleeting romance built only on intense nights tangled between the sheets wasn’t love. It was just being friends with benefits.
"Even if he wasn’t getting engaged to someone else, he still wouldn’t marry me in the future. The Ford Family is out of my league." Crystal smiled. Though her eyes looked clouded with intoxication, her words were soberingly clear.
A bitter taste rose in Zoe’s mouth. As Crystal’s best friend, how could she not see that Crystal had developed genuine feelings for Caleb?
"But you still shouldn’t do something so impulsive. Are you really planning to just grab some random guy and marry him?" Zoe wondered if Crystal was only doing this to get back at Caleb.
Crystal’s shoulders shook with laughter. Suddenly, she raised her glass and yelled, "Is there really no one who wants to give it a try with me?"
Zoe couldn’t even stop her in time. This was simply absurd!
A tall figure approached from the shadows. The man clinked his glass against Crystal’s with a crisp clink, instantly sobering her up a bit. She squinted and turned her head to look.
The man, dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, stood in the dim light with one hand tucked into his pocket. Heavy metal music vibrated against their eardrums, but his deep, cold voice cut through all the noise. "How do you want to try?"
The voice was familiar.
The smile on Crystal’s lips faded slightly. Zoe peered closer, taken aback.
It was actually Caleb Ford. From the looks of it, he had been here all along, doing nothing to stop Crystal’s scene. He had just quietly watched her act wild, waiting until now to step forward and clink glasses.
Crystal instantly slammed her glass down on the table. "Sorry, I don’t do sloppy seconds."
She turned and grabbed Zoe’s hand, intending to drag her away.
Caleb was faster. With one stride of his long legs, he effortlessly hoisted the woman over his shoulder. The pressure on Crystal’s stomach made her want to throw up, and her face changed color. "Caleb Ford! I’m calling the cops! Stop acting like a creep!"
Caleb ignored her completely. He carried her out the door right in front of everyone’s eyes.
Rubbing her aching temples, Zoe grabbed Crystal’s bag and hurried after them.
No wonder no one had dared to hit on Crystal or take advantage of her despite her wild behavior. With Caleb keeping watch, who would dare step out of line?
Caleb’s car was parked on the side of the street. Crystal was shoved into the passenger seat.
SLAM!
The car doors locked.
Zoe caught her breath as she ran up to the vehicle. "Leo Ford, you’re about to get engaged. This is highly inappropriate. Let Crystal go, and I’ll take her home."
Caleb turned to look at Zoe, his gaze calm and detached. "Miss Lancaster, I’m sorry, but we have some personal relationship matters to resolve. We will handle this ourselves, alright?"
Zoe’s brow furrowed slightly. She tilted her head and glanced at the woman aggressively pounding on the car window.
To be honest, she knew Caleb was a decent person. He had helped her resolve her aunt’s problem back then, and given his prestigious status, he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Crystal.
"But Crystal isn’t willing."
"She’s just throwing a tantrum. We’ll talk it out properly, so don’t worry. Luke Quincy, take Miss Lancaster home." Caleb waved his hand, gesturing for his accompanying assistant to step out.
Zoe pressed her lips together. The two of them clearly hadn’t fully resolved their issues. When it came to matters of the heart, no matter how close she was to Crystal, she was still an outsider who couldn’t interfere. It had to be handled by the people involved.
Seeing that Caleb wasn’t going to let her out, Crystal could only compromise. "Don’t worry. We’re just going to talk."
Zoe glanced at Caleb. He was a lawyer, after all; he shouldn’t do anything out of line. Only then did she finally relax.
The assistant escorted Zoe away. Caleb got into the car, started the engine, and headed straight for his villa.
The car rolled to a stop at the entrance. He unbuckled his seatbelt and lit a cigarette, in no rush to go inside.
Crystal turned her head to look out the window. It was this familiar place again. He hadn’t taken her back to her small, run-down rented apartment. She let out a muffled scoff from the back of her throat, then turned, took a cigarette from his pack, and placed it between her lips. Leaning over, she casually lit her cigarette off the glowing tip of his, her features striking, seductive, yet undeniably cold.
Caleb lifted his gaze to look at her.
Crystal had already leaned back, exhaling a plume of smoke from her red lips. "Let’s officially end this."
She didn’t want him to be the one to inform her of this. If anyone was going to bring it up, it had to be her.
Caleb frowned.
Crystal took a drag of her cigarette, looked at him, and smiled. "Wishing Lawyer Ford a blissful marriage."
At those words, he snuffed out his cigarette and narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. With a swift turn, he hooked an arm around her waist and effortlessly pulled her onto his lap. Her back was pressed against the steering wheel, leaving her nowhere to retreat. Crystal frowned. "Caleb Ford, don’t tell me you want to have breakup sex?"
Wait, that wasn’t right. They had never even been together. It wouldn’t count as breakup sex. At best, it was a parting fuck. Either way, she had no desire to do it.
Caleb pinched her chin, forcing her to look him straight in the eyes. "You were the one who took the initiative to seduce me and start this relationship. If it’s going to end, I have to be the one to say it, otherwise it doesn’t count."
Crystal laughed out of sheer anger and forcefully stubbed out her cigarette. "Would your wife really be willing to let you keep a mistress on the side?"
As she spoke, she leaned against his chest, her fingertips toying with the buttons on his shirt. Her eyes were seductive, her breath smelling like orchids. Every movement was a blatant, naked provocation. Yet, despite her teasing actions, her tone was completely merciless. "But I don’t make a habit of sharing my man with other women. Counselor Ford, find yourself a new target."
With that said, the radiant smile faded from her face. She pushed him away and tried to get out of the car.
A large hand pressed against her hip bone, forcing her back onto his lap and trapping her against his chest. He even wickedly thrust up against her from below, causing Crystal’s expression to change drastically. Her face flushed red, then went pale. "Caleb Ford! Stop playing dirty!"