Chapter 267 - Playing With Fire

A blush crept on Olivia's neck, tinting her cheeks a shade of plum from utter embarrassment. She felt like a teenager caught by an a.d.u.l.t for doing something forbidden.

"Your gown is rubbing off the concealer. Aiyoo. Next time, tell Maxen to put his mark somewhere discreet, like your inside t.h.i.g.h. Your grandpa loved to leave his on my left t.h.i.g.h."

"Grandmaaaa…" Olivia whispered a huff, and her eyes scanned their surroundings in case somebody heard her grandma's tale. "How can I unhear that?" She bit her bottom lip to suppress her laughter. Sometimes, she couldn't keep up with how animated her grandma could get.

"You can't," Grandma chuckled. She was laser-focused on Olivia's c.h.e.s.t as she smeared the concealer with the pad of her thumb.

"He did this on purpose. You know that."

Grandma Lin broke out in a fit of laughter and heads snapped in their direction. "Definitely the work of a possessive little prince. Next time tell Eli to make the tube higher so just the right cleavage is showing."

"Or maybe Maxen could stop being intrusive with my choice of wardrobe." Olivia extended an arm and reached out for a goblet of water when she noticed the name card on the seat she was on.

Her head turned left and right, going as far as her eyes could reach, but she couldn't find her name card.

In her fixation, she didn't notice the group of Oliver, Ava, Auntie Martha, and Eli arriving at the Lin's table until she felt warm fingertips on her b.a.r.e shoulders. Her eyes snapped upwards and saw Auntie Martha smiling down on her.

"Oh, this seat is yours, Auntie," Olivia said as she stood up with a goblet in hand. Auntie Martha replied with a thank you before settling on the chair to relieve her achy feet.

Olivia remained standing, chatting with a few guests whom Oliver introduced. A few minutes later, Tristan Yang and Alexa arrived, and Henry Lin trailed behind them.

Soon the lively chatter died down, and all eyes were glued towards the stage when Fiona Chung emerged, dressed in a glossy red silk gown, fitted to her silhouette which flattered her curvy shape.

Making eye contact with random people, and deliberately avoiding the Lin Family's direction, Fiona spoke through the mic and welcomed everyone to tonight's event.

When she got her go signal from the organizer, Fiona announced the arrival of the royal family,

Olivia stood like a lost lamb when she couldn't find her place card on the Lin's designated table.

She had an inkling her name could be on the Sui's table, but it could also be mixed up on another table as well.

How could she feel so entitled that she forgot to check where her seat should be?

As if her silent plea was heard by the heavens, her senses heightened after getting a whiff of Emily's perfume.

Turning her head to the right, she saw her friend tapping the empty seat beside her.

Olivia let out a shaky breath through her pursed lips and offered a prayer of thanks as she sashayed towards Emily.

"You can sit here. My mom can't make it tonight," Emily started. True enough, when Olivia checked, her name wasn't written on the card.

"Unbelievable," Olivia almost cursed but decided it was best to slice Maxen in half with her glare.

"Yeah, I think your seat is beside Maxen."

"For the record, I'm not mad."

Emily's brows knitted in confusion. "Okaaay?"

"He probably did that to put Fiona in her place. He didn't need to, but I was bitching about it the other day. So… my wish is his command."

Emily tried her best not to squeal, but her feet rhythmically tapped under the table. "Sooo we'll be hearing an announcement soon?"

"I don't know. I feel like I'm ready but not ready. Do you know what I mean?"

"Take the leap of faith, Livi. That way you won't have any regrets."

Emily and Olivia's conversation was cut short when the ceremony kicked off with a welcome speech by King Alistair.

The entire night, food, wine, and entertainment kept the guests hyped until the highlight of the event. During their bathroom break, Ava peered at Olivia through her reflection in the mirror.

"Livi? I forgot to ask why are you sitting with Emily? The organizers must have mixed up the sitting," Ava expressed her thoughts.

"Or? I almost forgot!" Emily clapped her hands. "Unless you're an award recipient this year? Are you?" Ava c.o.c.ked her head to the right, unsure of the chances that Olivia might be nominated for such a prestigious award.

"Not sure about that. I didn't receive any letter."

"Well, you're not supposed to because it's a surprise. But most of the time, those who did are seated with the Suis," Ava explained, puckering her lips after applying a light shade of cherry.

"I don't want to think about it. I just want this night to end. "

Muttering under her breath, Olivia cursed, "Freaking bells."

Meanwhile, outside the ladies' room, Maxen was waiting for the trio to come out. Earlier, he spotted the trio walking towards that direction that was why he followed them, in the hopes of stealing a few minutes with Olivia.

Just as he arrived by the cordoned area, he heard the bells that almost cost him the love of his life. "F.u.c.k it," he cursed in his head, but his mouth was quicker to say it. He made a mental note to ban bells in the country just so incidents like this won't happen again.

To Maxen, the effect of those damned bells had worn off a long time ago, but he couldn't erase the fact that he was caught red-handed by Olivia before. And if she sees those bells in close range to him, who knew what else could run in Olivia's head?

"Hi, Maxen," Fiona greeted with much familiarity, her crimson lips curved in a seductive smile.

"Ms. Chung," Maxen responded with a curt nod and quickly averted his gaze to the phone in his hands.

"Some guests prepared an after-party at the penthouse suite later, Your Highness. Your presence will surely add more spice to it… Just like the old times."

Fiona saw an opportunity to check if she still had the effect on Maxen. If she did, well, maybe she could lure him back into her arms.

After all, there was no harm in playing with fire, correct?

"Your Highness?" Another flick of her hair. Another round of chiming bells.

Instead of saying another word, Maxen responded with a small smile and gestured towards the ladies' room as if telling Fiona Chung to go ahead and leave him alone. He was about to retreat when he saw Olivia stepping out of the ladies' room with a sinister smile on her face.