Chapter 198

Lucy White leaned against the champagne table in the corner of the gala, her gaze locked on Ian Stone as he entered the room.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he moved through the crowd with effortless grace. People approached him for conversation, and he responded with just the right smile.

Half an hour later, Ian finally extricated himself and walked alone toward the terrace.

Lucy set down her glass and followed.

"What a coincidence," she said, standing beside him, twirling her champagne flute between her fingers.

Ian visibly startled before flashing a delighted smile. "You're here too?"

Lucy studied him discreetly. The last time they'd parted, she had specifically drawn a protective talisman for him. Yet now, there was no trace of its energy on him.

Stranger still, his features seemed more indistinct than before.

Most alarming of all—the curse within him had vanished.

"The company just relocated back home. Too many social obligations," Ian suddenly leaned in, his breath carrying the rich scent of red wine. "Lucy, are you single now?"

That familiar tone instantly reminded her of the man from her past life who had called himself "Stone Ji."

"And if I am?" She took half a step back.

"Be my girlfriend," he said with a roguish smirk, though his eyes remained cold.

So it was him.

Lucy let out a cold laugh. "Not interested."

As she turned away, she could feel the heat of his gaze burning into her back.

Returning to her seat, she immediately texted Ian: Where are you?

He replied quickly: Out. Why?

Lucy glanced at the terrace—the "Ian" there was deep in conversation, his phone untouched.

She swiftly arranged to meet at their usual café at eight that evening.

Just as she set her phone down, Bruce Wu approached with three men in tow.

"This is Master Lucy," he introduced respectfully.

The middle-aged man on the left extended his hand. "I've heard so much about you. I'm Mr. Zachary. I hear you have an interest in South Mountain?"

Lucy studied his face for a moment before saying bluntly, "You've been having a streak of bad luck lately, haven't you?"

Mr. Zachary's smile froze.

"Perhaps we should speak privately?" he murmured.

Lucy nodded and turned to her mother. "Mom, wait here for me."

Grace White smiled gently. "Of course."

That smile left the men momentarily stunned. No one would have guessed this elegant woman, who looked barely thirty, was Lucy's mother.

On the terrace, Mr. Zachary finally dropped his façade.

"Master Lucy, what you said earlier—"

"The son you've raised for twenty years isn't biologically yours," Lucy stated plainly. "Your wife refuses a divorce, your family has suffered one misfortune after another, and your company projects keep failing."

Mr. Zachary paled.

These were things he had never told a soul.