When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 387

Upstairs, Nelly and Nancy were led to the best seats on the second floor. They had both been invited to the event. Nancy was genuinely excited about the jewelry, already thinking about taking some photos for her social media and promotional posts. Nelly wasn’t quite as into it, but she hoped to catch a spark of inspiration for Never’s next collection.

The auction was only halfway through when Nancy slipped out to the restroom.

Inside, the restroom glittered with gold and crystal accents. Nancy stood at the mirror, carefully touching up her lipstick. Her pale blue, crystal-studded mermaid dress made her look even more fresh and graceful, the kind of pretty that turned heads without her even trying.

All of a sudden, she saw a shadow behind her in the mirror.

A man was there, leaning lazily against the counter, a slow grin tugging at his mouth.

“Ah!” Nancy’s breath caught, her lipstick slipping from her fingers and clattering into the sink.

She spun around. Before she could react, the man caught her wrist and pinned her gently, but firmly, against the mirror.

Rudy squinted at her, pressing a finger to his lips as if to say, Quiet.

“Rudy, what are you doing…”

“Weren’t you looking for me? Now that I’m here, why do you look so surprised?”

He let his fingers brush over her soft skin, and there was something dangerous in the way his gaze burned into her. Nancy felt a shiver run down her spine.

“You know why I was looking for you. This is a public place. There are guards outside…”

She tried to warn him, but her voice was shaky. She knew just how reckless he could get.

“Relax. I just missed you.” Rudy’s voice was low and smooth, almost hypnotic.

Outside, the auction was in full swing. The restroom was completely empty. He’d locked the door when he came in, and the thick walls kept everything silent and private.

She called out a few times, but her voice just faded into the silence. Panic started to creep in, her eyes fixed on Rudy, trying to figure out what he was really after.

“That day at the press conference… I let you go on purpose.” Rudy’s tone softened as he looked at her.

He lifted her chin, his breath warm at her ear. “Don’t you think you owe me a thank-you?”

“You’re crazy!” Nancy was shaking, her anger bubbling over. She spat at him without thinking. “We were never friends, and we never will be. From now on, we’re enemies! If you have any guts, stop playing these dirty tricks!”

“Enemies?” Rudy planted his palm on the mirror behind her, his eyes suddenly cold. “But what should I do, Nancy… when I think I might actually be falling for you?”