Filed to story: Snatched a Billionaire to be My Husband Book (Cora & Byron)
Byron sought solace in Cora as a substitute while Jane was away.
Byron’s displeasure had been evident when Cora left with Eason earlier. But it was likely due to his possessive nature, which Harry assumed would fade with time.
Yet to his mention of Jane, Byron simply replied,
“So what?”
***
In a corridor outside the banquet hall, Eason led Cora away, his grip firm on her hand. Cora tried her best to shake off his hold.
Eason looked at the woman he used to adore and said with a hoarse voice,
“Cora, we can’t get back together. Don’t waste your time. Don’t embarrass yourself.”
Cora scoffed.
“Embarrass myself how? I didn’t come here to win you back. Don’t flatter yourself!”
She hadn’t realized Eason could be so narcissistic.
Eason pressed on,
“Then why did you spread rumors about you and Carter?”
Cora’s expression momentarily froze. She truly had no relationship with Carter and felt guilty for getting him involved in this mess.
But in Eason’s eyes, her reaction seemed like a confirmation of her relationship with Carter.
When Mia told him about it last night, Eason didn’t believe it because he knew how hard it was to win
Cora’s heart.
Yet now seeing her attitude at the mention of Carter…
“Cora, you know the Pope family’s influence surpasses ours, and their biases regarding social status are no less harsh than ours.”
“That’s not your concern,”
retorted Cora. In truth, the biases based on social status were merely excuses for Eason’s cowardice, his unwillingness to defy his mother, and his preference for the wealthy while shunning the poor.
Eason’s eyes burned with desire as he continued,
“You know, Cora, there’s still a way to maintain your previous lifestyle without demeaning yourself.”
Cora frowned, not saying anything.
“Be with me, and I will cover your mother’s medical expenses and ensure you a carefree life, just like before.”
Whether it was due to Cora’s association with Carter or her exquisite appearance today, Eason’s desire for her was ignited.
Cora couldn’t believe what she had heard,
“You want me to be your side piece?”
“Just for now! Once I leverage the Donald family’s power to secure a position in Hansen Group’s management, I’ll divorce Mia and marry you. I’ll make her leave with her baby,”
Eason explained eagerly, trying to hug Cora’s slender waist.
Cora suddenly bent her knee and hit Eason hard in his belly. Writhing in pain, Eason looked up in shock, only to be met with the coldness radiating from Cora’s delicate face.
“Eason, I used to think your obsession with money and power was just a bad influence from your mother, and deep down, you were still a good person. Now I know you’re a real bastard.”
“If you can sleep with Carter, why not with me? How am I any worse than him? He chose to become my uncle’s useless assistant just to avoid fighting for his own share of the property against the other
Popes!”
Eason retorted, still trying to justify himself.
“I don’t care. You’re just a scumbag!”
Cora seethed with anger, delivering another forceful blow to
Eason’s groin.
Eason was unaware that Cora’s mother had enrolled her in various programs as an attempt to discourage her from pursuing medicine. One of those was a close combat training program, which
Cora had quickly mastered and put into practice.
Eason never anticipated such ruthlessness. After being hit twice, he was in excruciating pain, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He bent down in agony.
Adding to Eason’s displeasure, Carter suddenly showed up and said to Cora,
“Go to the lounge.”
Cora was surprised, as Carter’s message indicated Byron’s invitation. She didn’t want to face Byron right now, but she yearned to rid herself of Eason and put an end to this farce.
“Okay,”
she nodded,
“Let’s go.”
Cora briskly walked away, with Carter following her. Her decisive departure startled Eason, triggering his panic.
Disregarding his pitiful state, he chased after Cora, blurting out,
“Cora! I regret it. I will not get engaged!
Don’t leave me!”
Cora halted in her steps. Eason said he regretted it…
This should have been a moment of joy for Cora, but she felt no excitement or happiness.
Instead, an overwhelming sense of disgust and embarrassment engulfed her.
With only a moment’s pause, she resumed her stride, moving away from Eason.
However, Eason, having mustered the courage to voice his true feelings, refused to let Cora go with
Carter.
He caught up to her, tightly gripping her wrist. His voice grew hoarse, and his eyes welled with tears.
“Cora, I’m calling off the engagement. I’ll ask Mia to get rid of her baby. I promise everything will return to how it was before. Please don’t leave me. I’m begging you!”
Eason lowered his head, adopting a humble tone that revealed his deep fear of severing ties with Cora.
Even Carter couldn’t help but give Eason another glance, believing it would be difficult for Cora not to be moved.
However, to Carter’s surprise, Cora forcefully broke free from Eason’s grip and slapped him across the face.
“You’ve made your choice, Eason. You don’t deserve to say you regret it, nor should you let down another woman. It only diminishes my regard for you,”
Cora turned around and left without glancing back.
Covering his stinging cheek, Eason remained bent over, embarrassed, and utterly lost.
Carter led Cora to an exclusive lounge, which had been specially built according to Byron’s preferences, as the banquet hall for this engagement party was also one of his properties.
With a little more thought, one should be able to deduce the connection between Cora and Byron.
Unfortunately, Eason and the others believed that it was simply Carter overstepping his authority by using Byron’s lounge. They believed that Byron and Cora, coming from completely different worlds, would never cross paths.
“I’m not going in. My friend is still waiting for me,”
Cora asserted.
“Mr. Hansen is inside,”
Carter said.
Cora frowned. She really wanted to ask, ‘So?!’ But before she could utter a word, Carter pushed open the door.
Cora’s gaze landed on the man sitting in the innermost part of the lounge. Byron was dressed in a black suit, blending seamlessly with the room’s black decor.
As he smoked, the cigarette between his fingers emitted a flickering glow, adding to his deep and cold aura. His piercing eyes fixated on Cora’s feet.
Recalling the indifference on Byron’s face in the hall, Cora had no desire to subject herself to further humiliation.
“Mr. Hansen, I’m going back, I-“
Before she could finish speaking, Byron extinguished his cigarette and approached her, putting his arms around her waist.
The faint scent of aftershave mixed with tobacco instantly surrounded Cora, causing her nose to inexplicably sting. Though she disliked physical contact like this, she couldn’t deny the allure of Byron’s aura, which curiously put her at ease.
Before Cora could fully regain her composure, Byron’s voice resonated from above her head.
“Mhm, it’s better for you to go back. You shouldn’t have come here.”
Byron’s voice was lower and gentler, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. People would probably never believe that Byron could speak to a woman in such a soft tone. Yet, Byron couldn’t figure out how his words could have angered Cora.
The woman who had obediently stayed in his embrace moments ago suddenly pushed him away with all her strength, her voice filled with resentment.
“Yes, indeed, I shouldn’t have come to this place.
There’s no need to humiliate myself here!”
Cora was almost hysterical. She resembled a cat with its fur standing on end, ready to fight anyone who crossed her path.
Yet she was well aware that Byron was not someone she could afford to offend. Thus, without waiting for Byron’s response, Cora swiftly exited the lounge and returned to the banquet hall.
***
The engagement party was about to commence, and nearly all the guests had arrived.
As Cora gracefully passed through the crowd, making her way to Sally, she became a living embodiment of a goddess in the eyes of men. Their exclaims of admiration filled the air, while even the women who had surrounded Mia showered Cora with praise.
“That must be a runaway princess from a fairytale book!”
“I wonder who did her plastic surgery? They removed her angel wings flawlessly!”
“A face like hers could have secured 300 years of peace if she had been born in ancient times!”
The praises kept pouring in, as if everyone had forgotten how they had previously flattered Mia, who couldn’t help but feel that the praises for her were insincere.
Whenever Cora appeared, all eyes were drawn to her. ‘Even on my engagement day, that bitch manages to steal all the attention that should rightfully be mine!’ Mia was furious.
She felt even more aggrieved when she thought of how Eason wouldn’t let her speak ill of Cora when she told him about Cora’s relationship with Carter.