The Rise of the White Lotus

Lexi glanced at the two— Elliot Gong and Ethan Lu— making a fist bump with a seemingly peaceful and bright atmosphere between them. She then glanced at Stella Du before taking a glimpse at Edward Lu and Evelyn Lu who kept on looking back at her with a sad face.

'What a night…' She thought inwardly as Lexi felt like yawning as she suddenly missed their bed.

"Right, Miss Du, I apologized for whatever my little cousin had said to you to hurt your feelings." Still not letting go of what Stella Du said about Lexi especially in his own party, Ethan Lu was more annoyed that he had to deal with her because he was eager to throw himself to Lexi.

"Uh— I— It's fine, Master Lu." Stuttering, Stella Du panicked as his attention was on her again. She had been breathing as less as possible to conceal her presence because she realized that being ignored by him was way better than being noticed under these circumstances. Furthermore, Edward Lu already paraded his favor to Lexi which was the most shocking part.

"It should be, Miss Du." Ethan Lu smirked as a dreaded glint flashed across his pair of dark eyes. "Also, I must apologize in advance that I have to cut my investment with your family's company. Our familial acquaintance has standards that you failed to show tonight. I'm sorry."

Hearing that said, with his merciless remarks, not just Stella Du but everyone around were utterly terrified. Understandably, the Lu family and Ethan Lu himself was now the leading business magnate from almost every field. Therefore, a partnership with the Du family would be considered a small project to Ethan Lu but it was considered the biggest project to the Du family. 

Was this because Stella Du offended his cousin Evelyn Lu? Was it because she caused a disturbance to this magnificent night? Or because she targeted Lexi Yang who seemed to know the epitome of power and influence in the business industry named Ethan Lu? Everyone had their own conclusion and the individuals who spouted their harsh comments earlier lessened their breathing to reduce their presence.

"Mas— Mr. Lu— why—" Along with her stuttering, Stella Du's complexion turned even paler upon hearing his last remarks. She believed that no matter what she said, Ethan Lu would not just breach their contract just like that. Well, maybe he would be displeased but he should just warn her, right? Yet, Stella Du was completely ignored by him as his focus returned to the gorgeous Lexi.

"My beautiful lady, will you come with me, please?" Ethan Lu handed out his hand which made Lexi return her attention to him from Stella Du. The moment her pair of nut-brown eyes landed on him, a subtle smile appeared on her lips before she raised her arm and reached for his hand.

Raising her hand, Ethan Lu leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand. "I missed you." He whispered as he raised his head to see his lady staring down at him. 

To Ethan Lu, the world seemed to fade as he only had her in his eyes. He could not hear or sense the people around him who inadvertently gasped with his bold move and his words towards her. Raising his other hand, he cupped her cheek and scrutinized her pretty face as if he was tattooing every detail of her face to his mind and heart.

Meanwhile, Lexi's heart fluttered and she felt the seed inside her womb, she smiled, knowing that that little seed was waiting to see and feel the love of his/her father. All of her grudges to her grandfather for his odd walkthrough earlier and daring to raise a gun on her completely vanished with those three words. 

Indeed, this day seemed to run slower than usual as Lexi missed him just as he missed her. "Me too… I missed you too." 

Just then, the imaginary pink petals floating around the two suddenly cracked upon hearing a loud plea, along with the 'thud' sound of knees crashing to the carpeted floor of the event hall. Both Ethan Lu and Lexi along with everyone around turned to its direction.

There, Stella Du was on her knees with a face of desperation plastered across her whole face. The shock of Edward Lu's indirect declaration of his favored choice of a spouse of the Lu family head and Ethan Lu and Lexi's sweet interaction that kept the camera clicking from the permitted media inside this event was nothing compared to Stella Du on her knees.

"Mr. Lu, please, I beg you. Our family needs your help." Despite her secret vendetta on Lexi as she pushed all of the blame onto her, Stella Du swallowed down all of her pride. After all, she could not bear this great loss of her family as they already shelled out more money that was considered little to a man like Ethan Lu. Which would lead to a chaotic crisis for their family business if Ethan Lu would pull out his investment. Moreover, part of her tells her that Ethan Lu would not let them off that easily afterward.

Stella Du then snatched a glance at Lexi who was looking down on her with a conflicted expression. Yet, all Stella Du saw was Lexi plainly looking down on her! Still, being in this position caused by her own stupidity and tactlessness, Stella Du, fortunately, retained her sane mind and controlled her emotions.

"Miss Yang, I apologize for what I said and not knowing more. Please, forgive me and give me a chance to correct my wrongs." 

"Lyrick, get her out of my sight." Unappeased, Ethan Lu was more vexed that Stella Du was purposely asking Lexi for forgiveness. Well, even if Lexi would forgive her, he would definitely destroy the whole Du family for raising such an ill-mannered girl.

To him, Lexi had faced too much criticism and slanderous remarks in the past. But, he wouldn't let that happen under his watch. She had been way too hurt before and every toxic person including anyone in the Lu family, he would cut them all out just to give her a peaceful environment. Even if he would be titled as the most wicked man on the planet.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Lu who had a glimpse of what her cousin did for staining the back of her goddess idol's hand, she instantly threw a huge fit. Fortunately, the guards near Edward Lu restrained for her not to cause more trouble.