"I was wrong, Kennie. It hurts..." Ophelia furrowed her brows, her watery eyes fixed pitifully on the man before her. Keh abruptly released her wrist, his eyes dropping to the red marks left on her skin. His brows furrowed deeply. Even though he hadn''t yet vented his frustration, his chest was suddenly filled with warmth as Ophelia pressed against him.


    She wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his chest, separated only by the fabric of his shirt. She could feel his rapid heartbeat and the rise and fall of his chest, both driven by his anger. "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have lied to you. I was wrong. There won''t be a next time," she admitted softly, her tone earnest.


    She truly seemed to regret her actions.


    After all, she was indeed at fault this time.


    If Keh hadn''t shown up today, Ivy likely wouldn''t have let her off so easily.


    It had been a risky move on her part.


    But Ophelia couldn''t shake the feeling that something was amiss between Keh and Victor.


    She couldn''t pinpoint exactly what, but the hunch was strong.


    What''s it?'' she wondered.


    "Humph... Do you think I''ll forgive you just because you said that?" Keh''s deep voice rumbled above her.


    He forcefully pushed her away from his embrace.


    His tone softened slightly, though his jaw remained tense.


    His expression, while still stern, was less menacing than before.


    Since he was angry, Ophelia had to coax him, of course.


    Ophelia looped her arm around his and leaned closer again. "Then what will it take for you to forgive me?"


    Even pouting didn''t work.


    Keh kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, his hands buried in the pockets of his tailored pants.


    From her angle, Ophelia could only see his sharp, chiseled side profile. She stood on tiptoe and nted a kiss on his cheek.


    Still, Keh remained unmoved.


    When the elevator doors opened, he strode forward without even ncing at her.


    He wasn''t easy to appease.


    Ophelia quickened her pace to catch up, and just as she reached him, a woman''s voice rang out near the elevator. "Well, well... isn''t this the famed Ms. Spencer? What a coincidence. Chasing after a man, are we?" Ophelia looked up, meeting the woman''s gaze, only to barely notice the foot that stretched out in front of her.


    She stumbled, nearly falling, though her agile reflexes saved her from aplete spill. She still wobbled awkwardly for a


    moment.


    о


    Chapter 240-


    The woman covered her mouth with a fakeugh.


    77%


    Ophelia recognized her instantly. This was Tina Harrison, someone she had encountered at the recent designer conference.


    Tina had taken part in the roundtable discussions and had even tried to back Phoebe before Summer had shut her down.


    Tina was an international designer who had been banned from Heloria''spetitions for five years after incorporating elements of another country''s culture into her work. Her brand had been publicly boycotted, and she had long since changed her nationality. Frankly, Ophelia had already found her presence at yesterday''s conference rather odd.


    Tina had loose, wavy hair cascading over her shoulders, wore a figure-hugging dress, and draped a cream-colored Chanel- style jacket over her shoulders.


    "Who would''ve thought? Ms. Spencer, who''s all cold and pure on the surface, turns out to be so... open in private. Chasing a man around a hotel? How amusing," Tina said mockingly.


    "Then I guess you''ve lived a pretty sheltered life since you''re so easily amused." Ophelia shot back, her tone icy.


    Her demeanor had shifted entirely from the gentle patience shed shown Keh earlier.


    That foot earlier was definitely intentional. Tina was trying to trip her.


    "Humph... Ms. Spencer, don''t waste your time. That man clearly doesn''t fancy you. Why are you clinging to him like this? Do you even know who you''re chasing?" she added. Ophelia''s gaze stayed calm as she waited for Tina to reveal her knowledge.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Just the price of his custom-tailored suit could buy out one of your gship stores." Tina sneered.


    Yes, Ophelia knew.


    Because every suit Keh wore these days was made from fabrics Ophelia personally selected and designed herself.


    Ophelia remained silent, and Tina let out a derisive snort.


    ''Got scared, huh? Tina wondered.


    Just from the man''s silhouette, Tina could tell he wasn''t ordinary. Anyone who coulde and go freely from the Evend Hotel wasn''t someone to trifle with. His worth had to be in the millions.


    "Ms. Spencer, just because you''ve made a name for yourself in the design world doesn''t mean you can win over a man like that. Sure, you''re good-looking, butpared to the women in his circle, you''re way out of your league," said Tina.


    The longer Tina droned on, the clearer it became to Ophelia. Tina had no idea the man she was talking about was Keh.


    Listening to Tina, Ophelia would think she actually knew who that guy was.


    "Finished?" She asked.


    Tina gave Ophelia an once-over, her expression a mix of suspicion and disdain. "What do you mean? I''m just trying to give you some friendly advice."


    "Thanks, but it''s unnecessary. That man is my husband," Ophelia said tly.


    Tina sneered and cast a dismissive nce toward the man in question.


    He was seated on a leather couch in the hotel lobby, exuding an aura of power that was impossible to ignore.


    Wait a second... Keh? Tina wondered. She froze, her brain processing the realization in slow motion. ''I was actuallyying eyes on Keh?''


    No wonder the man''s presence was somanding. And then Ophelia''s earlier im hit Tina.


    Ophelia said that Keh was her husband. This had to be some kind of joke.


    Tina burst outughing, her voice echoing through the hallway. The sheer absurdity of the statement made her double over in amusement.


    "You must be kidding me. Keh? Your husband?" Tinaughed.


    No one in Heloria didn''t know Keh. Even though Tina had been living abroad, she knew exactly who he was, the head of the most powerful conglomerate in Heloria.


    He was a man whose decisions could send shockwaves through the nation with a single move. And Ophelia wanted her to believe that he was her husband.


    Tina couldn''t believe she hadn''t noticed sooner how delusional Ophelia was.


    ''Does she really im Keh as her husband? She''s just putting on airs, acting so self-important in front of me. Tina sneered and shook her head, thinking, ''is this my chance to humiliate her?''


    "You must''ve lost your mind, Ms. Spencer. Keh? You?" Tina''s voice dripped with scorn. "Let''s be real. You don''t even qualify to be his side chick, yet you boldly im he''s your husband? God, how shameless can you be? You''re embarrassing yourself." Just now Ophelia was chasing him, and he didn''t even give her a look, yet she dared to say such things.


    Ophelia must be lying to herself.


    "Let me give you a piece of advice! Stay away from men like him, or you might not even see iting if something happens." Tina warned.


    Tina nced at the diamond watch on her wrist. She had other things to deal with and no time to pay attention to Ophelia.


    She made a small huff from her nose and was about to step into the elevator when her foot got caught on a leg, causing her to stumble.


    Her high heels wobbled uncooperatively, making her ankle feel like it was breaking, and her body lurched toward the unopened elevator doors. "Ah!" she screamed.


    The elevator doors opened slowly, and Tina lost her bnce, falling heavily to the ground.


    Her backsidended right in the gap of the elevator, the pain turning her face pale.


    The people inside looked at Tina with curious eyes.


    For a moment, Tina''s cheeks turned bright red with embarrassment.


    The first thing she did after standing up against the wall was ring fiercely at Ophelia, ready to confront her.


    "Did you trip me on purpose?" she roared.


    "Sure did." Ophelia nodded.


    Tina''s rage red even hotter as she hobbled forward, her voice trembling with anger. "You''re just jealous you can''t get


    Keh, so you go around saying he''s your husband? Please!


    "You don''t deserve to even look at him. Pathetic and disgusting, that''s what you are. If Keh knew what you''ve been saying, you''d be dead meat!"


    Tina''s insults grew more venomous with each word.


    In Tina''s mind, she could trip her, but if Ophelia retaliated, it was suddenly unforgivable.


    77%1


    Unbothered by the tirade, Ophelia turned away, her gazending on Keh. He was still seated in the lobby, one leg casually crossed over the other, his demeanor calm andposed. It was almost as if he were waiting for her or maybe not. "Stop right there!" Tina shrieked, her voice cracking with fury.