Chapter 172
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“What were you thinking?” Calen asked her. He shut the door behind them with more force than necessary. The lock clicked into place, scaling them inside the hotel suite they had rented for the event. The room was elegant–modern furnishings, dim lighting, and a large window overlooking the city skyline. It was supposed to be a place for them to rest for the night, a private retreat away from the crowd.
Instead, they were here to argue.
Calen ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply before turning to Pamella. When she said nothing, he repeated his question. “What the hell were you thinking, Pamella?”
Pamella tossed her clutch onto the coffee table. “What do you mean, what was I thinking?”
Calen scoffed, stepping closer. “You know exactly what I mean. You planned that entire scene. You were so eager to open that damn door–so sure that Izzy was inside. And now look.” He gestured toward the door. “You made a fool of yourself in front of half the damn event.” And why did she have to include him too!? Why the hell does she need to embarrass him too!?
Pamella folded her arms, tilting her chin up. “So what? It’s not my fault that woman looked exactly like her.”
Calen’s patience thinned. “You said her name, Pamella. Loud enough for everyone to hear. You weren’t just making a mistake–you were trying to humiliate her.”
Pamella rolled her eyes. “Oh, please.”
Calen’s fingers curled into fists at his sides. “Why are you so obsessed with her?” He took a step forward. “What do you even get out of this?”
Pamella’s expression flickered for the briefest second before she let out a short breath. Instead of answering, she walked past him toward the minibar, pulled out a bottle of water, and unscrewed the cap. “Why are you so concerned about her, Calen?” she asked casually. “She’s safe, nothing happened. Done.”
Calen narrowed his eyes.
“What?”
Pamella turned, leaning against the counter. “You’re acting like her knight in shining armor.” She took a slow sip of water and then set the bottle down. “Do you still love her?”
Calen’s jaw tightened. “That’s not the point-”
“Oh, but I think it is.” Pamella tilted her head, her gaze sharp. “You’re always so quick to defend her. Always so worked up whenever I mention her name.”
Calen clenched his teeth. “This isn’t about me. It’s about you and whatever the hell you’re trying to pull.”
Pamella smirked, pushing off the counter. “Funny. I don’t see anyone else here losing their temper over Isabella Rossi. Just you.”
Calen let out a harsh breath, stepping back as he ran a hand through his hair. “You’re deflecting.”
Pamella took a step closer. “Am I? Or are you just mad that I’m pointing out something you don’t want to admit?”
Calen exhaled sharply. “This is ridiculous.”
Pamella watched him, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Is this about your past?”
Calen stiffened.
Pamella’s lips curled slightly. “That’s it, isn’t it? You still feel guilty because you cheated on her. You think you owe her
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Chapter 172
something. That’s why you keep defending her.”
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Calen met her gaze, his patience wearing thin. “Izzy has moved on,” he said, his words firm. “She doesn’t even look at me the way she used to. And you know what? That’s fine. She’s happy. She’s with Horvath now. He exhaled, shaking his head. “But you? You’re still stuck in whatever happened between Izzy and I when this has nothing to do with you” As much as he hated to admit it, Izzy seemed happy with Liam by her side.
Pamella’s expression darkened.
Calen didn’t stop. “Why are you still targeting her?” His voice dropped slightly. “Can’t you see? She’s already leaving the company.”
“Are you blaming me for her leaving your company?” she raised her voice. “Is this why you’ve been angry the whole time?”
“You-“This conversation was about her scheme, yet here she was, trying to gaslight him into thinking this was all his fault. “I’m done talking to you.”
“Where are you going?” Pamella asked when Calen turned around and started walking toward the door. “Are you leaving me here? After what happened?”
“I came here to talk to the Blackwell family. You just had to create something out of nothing! And now…” He had seen how the guests looked at Pamella. They knew. Those people knew that she had tried scheming and failed–miserably.
Calen didn’t spare her another glance as he strode toward the door.
“Follow me later,” he said without looking back. “I need to find the Blackwell Group’s representative.”
Pamella’s fingers curled into fists as she watched him leave. The door shut behind him with a dull thud, leaving her alone in the quiet suite.
Her jaw clenched.
This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go.
She inhaled sharply, pushing off the counter and grabbing her phone from the table. With quick movements, she dialed a number and pressed it to her ear.
The call rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then it went to voicemail.
Pamella’s grip tightened around the device as she pulled it away, glaring at the screen. She redialed.
No answer.
Her teeth ground together.
Something had gone wrong. Somewhere between setting up the scene and Izzy appearing at the wrong time, something had slipped through the cracks.
How the hell had Izzy figured it out?
Pamella exhaled slowly, trying to rein in her frustration. She needed answers. And she needed them now.
With one last glance at the door, she redialed the number again and waited.
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Chapter 172
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“Aren’t you going to talk to the Blackwell representative, too?” Izzy leaned toward Liam.
“He looks occupied.” Liam glanced at the older man, who was already talking to few people, then turned his gaze back to Izzy. “I’d rather stay with you.”
“Why do I think that you aren’t even interested in talking to them?” Izzy asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know that representative?” she asked.
“Would it matter if I said yes?” he asked.
Izzy pursed her lips. So that’s how it is, she thought inwardly. Liam must have already talked to the representative behind the scenes. Somehow, she felt like a proud little wife for having such a sharp husband.
Izzy smiled at him. “Thank you for helping me earlier.”
Liam watched her, his expression unreadable. “Hmm?”
She tilted her head slightly, but inwardly, her mind drifted back to what had happened just moments ago.
That actor–his grip on her wrist had been firm, his intention clear. He had tried to pull her toward the restroom, his body angled as if to block her from leaving. But before she could even react, before she could twist her arm free, Liam had intervened.
His presence had been swift, his hand closing over hers as he easily pried her from the actor’s grasp. There had been no need for words. The moment Liam stepped between them, the man backed down, his confidence vanishing under Liam’s gaze. As for what happened next, only Liam and his people knew. She wanted to ask him but then hesitated.
What she recalled was Liam telling her that the actor would not have any career the very next day and in the near future.
Izzy blinked, pulling herself back to the present as Liam leaned in slightly, his elbows resting on the table as he studied her. “Is that how you thank your knight in shining armor?”
Izzy gave him a tight–lipped smile. Then, without hesitation, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss was brief–soft, fleeting.
It ended as quickly as it started.
Liam stilled, his eyes widening slightly as she pulled back.
Izzy settled back into her seat, crossing her legs as if nothing had happened.
Liam blinked once. Then again.
For
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