Her Rebirth.-Chapter 53

After waving at the people on stage, Amelia and Damien went backstage.

"We all did a great job," Damien announced to the team, his voice filled with pride. "This collection wouldn’t have been a success without every single one of you."

The team cheered, exchanging smiles and pats on the back.

"But," Damien continued, turning slightly, "I want to thank one key player in particular."

Before Amelia could react, he reached for her wrist and gently pulled her forward. "Miss Amelia Cosgrove."

Applause erupted once more, the team members nodding in appreciation.

"Good job, Miss Amelia!"

Amelia, surprised by the attention, felt a rare warmth spread in her chest.

"Thank you all, but this collection would have never been a success without you all."

"Ahh, don’t be polite, Amelia," one of the members teased.

"Yes, don’t be polite," Damien repeated.

Before she could respond, Damien pulled her into a hug. She stiffened for a moment, not expecting the embrace. But then she relaxed, allowing herself to enjoy the moment of celebration.

However, despite being hugged by another man, her thoughts couldn’t help but drift to Kai. Ever since the night he had kissed her, she had begun burying herself in work, often sleeping at Liavenne instead of coming back, just for the sake of avoiding him. She wanted to sort out her feelings, and she expected him to sort out his too. Maybe she had been overthinking. Maybe the kiss was just done on a whim, and he held no actual feelings for her. But she couldn’t take any chances.

She wasn’t sure if he did, she would be able to reciprocate it. Besides... she didn’t think she could ever fall in love again. Not after what Aldric did to her. Love was a fleeting feeling, after all.

---

Kai took a deep breath.

He had watched the fashion show, or at least Liavenne’s collection. The moment it was over, he had wasted no time coming to the backstage area.

His hands clenched the bouquet of roses in his hand.

He really didn’t want to admit it, but he was scared of Amelia’s reaction. But how would he know how she felt if he didn’t even try?

Taking another deep breath, he walked in. He had introduced himself as Amelia’s fiancé and had been let in.

As he entered, he paused in his steps, his eyes darkening.

Before him was Amelia, hugging another man.

Was that the one she loved?

His fingers twitched, itching to pull out a gun and pierce a hundred bullets through whoever that was.

As if sensing his gaze, Amelia’s eyes caught him, and she quickly let go of Damien’s embrace, her heart panicked.

"Kai..." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Why was she panicking? Why was she scared? It’s not like she did anything wrong.

Her eyes fell to the roses in his hand. He was dressed in a clean black tux, his hair tied into a low ponytail.

"It seems I interrupted something," he said, his voice cold.

"You didn’t interrupt anything," she said softly and walked toward him with a sigh. "What are you doing here?"

Damien studied Kai with interest. So this was Amelia’s fiancé. The illegitimate son of the Blackwood family. He was rumored to be useless, but why did he feel an oppressive aura from him?

"I just came to say congratulations," Kai said, albeit aggrieved.

Amelia glanced at the bouquet again before taking it gently. She brought the flowers close, inhaling their fragrance, then smiled softly.

"Thank you," she said.

Damien felt a pang in his chest.

Why?

Why did he suddenly want to be the one she smiled at like that?

"I’m happy you like it, Amelia," Kai said, then paused before adding, "When are you going to come back, Amelia... or are you avoiding me?"

Amelia stiffened.

It was expected that he may have noticed that she was avoiding him, but to call her out so openly...

She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Let’s go outside."

Turning to Damien, she said, "I’ll be back shortly."

As they walked out, Kai cast one last glance at Damien, his eyes cold and dark.

Damien felt an instinctive chill run down his spine.

What the hell was that?

---

As the applause from the audience faded, Ray had barely waited for the show to end before scrambling up from his seat. His heart thrummed vigorously with excitement.

He needed to see Amelia and congratulate her in person.

But as he made his way through the rows of seats, a prickling sensation settled on his neck.

Someone was following him.

His steps slowed, and he quickly glanced over his shoulder.

It was Sera Langford.

Ray’s brows furrowed in irritation. Why the hell was she following him?

Ignoring her presence, he continued down the corridor, his pace slightly quickening.

Yet, no matter how fast he walked, she was still behind him.

His patience snapped.

Ray whirled around, glaring at her. "Why the hell are you following me?"

Sera raised an eyebrow, her expression one of pure boredom. "Who’s following you, brat?"

Ray’s eye twitched. "You, obviously."

Sera scoffed, flipping her hair back. "You must be going mad."

He stared at her, utterly exasperated, before rolling his eyes and stomping forward.

He wasn’t going to waste time arguing with her.

As he reached a particular backstage door, a security guard stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Name?" the guard asked.

Ray opened his mouth to say, I’m Amelia’s brother—

"Sera Langford," Sera said smoothly, stepping forward.

Ray turned to her, annoyed. "I thought you weren’t following me?"

Sera rolled her eyes. "And I thought you were just an annoying brat, but turns out you’re also delusional."

The guard, recognizing her immediately as the Langford princess, thought of her as a sponsor and stepped aside, opening the door.

Ray clenched his fists. This woman was so fucking unbearable.

Sera stepped inside first, scanning the room with mild disinterest. Then her lips curled into a lazy smile.

"Where’s that hateful bitch?" she said lazily.

Damien turned, frowning. "What are you doing here? Amelia just stepped out a minute ago."

Ray’s expression darkened as he turned to Sera. His voice was hostile.

"Why are you looking for my sister? Do you want to harm her?"