Janice may have stepped in with many acquaintances trying to speak with her, whether it's related to her divorce saga or about her ongoing endeavours in providing marketing services through her platform. She was grateful for her father's influence in suppressing the divorce rumours from affecting her platform's performance, though she suspected her father must have sent fake supporters.
That's exactly the reason she couldn't get over the divorce. The reason she couldn't let go cause she had had it all since young and was so protected that she had never needed to deal with negativity till lately.
Her eyes fell on Sebastian instantly, out of so many men trying to catch her attention. Her eyes still remember his figure by heart despite his disguise, but not in the manner he was now. She had never seen the way he spoke to Violet from the balcony before. It was gentle and excited, while trying to keep Violet, who looked upset but was still admiring his gaze on her, engaged. Janice knew without a doubt that they both were into each other.
She knew she would be seeing them tonight, but she didn't expect herself to feel so strongly about them. She suspected that the first time Sebastian disguised himself as Phor Tat that fateful night, it must have been Violet whom he kissed while trying to divert the press' attention from her rebels.
Though she had just arrived, she felt like leaving already, despite the purpose of her attendance being for work. Though she didn't manage to collect many name cards from her brief appearance, she didn't expect the press to catch up with her so efficiently, midway through, when she was about to leave.
Flashes of the camera kept blinking, which was blinding for Janice. However, she knew she couldn't stop, or else she would be swamped by them and having ugly pictures taken was equally bad.
Miss Akashia, please comment on your divorce updates?
Yes, Miss Akashia, are you and Mr Lu reconciling? You were in the same event today earlier today.
When are you both finalising your divorce?
Are you both secretly dating again?
Miss Akashia, are you dating anyone now?
At some point, it was no longer the chasing or pushing which annoyed Janice but the questions they asked. It was the same questions asked in the afternoon to Sebastian when she rescued him.
Wasn't it obvious that we had not reconciled from his cold demeanour towards me?
Wasn't it obvious we wanted privacy since I'm still coping?
She replied in her mind tiredly. However, it didn't appease her. Their persistent repetitive same questions added more fuel to her anger. She wondered if it was also due to her jealousy towards Violet earlier.
She stopped midway, wanting to reprimand the reporters, but before she could, she was covered by a coat and escorted out of the lobby. The perfume of mild woody scent didn't ring a bell in her memory of who it was.
But the question didn't stop.
Sebastian Lu!
Mr Lu, can you explain? Are you both reconciling?
Why are you suddenly in this event?
Is your filming almost completed?
Please comment on rumours of your harsh behaviour towards staff during filming.
Finally, did she come to know who it was saving her? She glanced up and met his annoyed gaze. She noticed he had put away his glasses and messed up his hair to look like his King of Mystery's image once again, as compared to his neatly combed hair earlier, which resembled a rich middle-aged uncle under Phor Tat's name.
He stopped midway while keeping Janice hidden in his coat with a stern, agitated look glaring back at the reporters.
"It is our privacy on the divorce. I do not wish for the press to continue harassing any of us. I respectfully request all of you and the members of the public to give us space and time in coping with this hard time. As for any events that had occurred during filming, I, Sebastian Lu, give you my word. I treat everyone with respect as long as everyone else does the same with me." His last line was as though a threat to the public and his hidden enemies.
With that, he firmly but gladly led Janice to the four-wheel drive waiting for them at the entrance. The whole time, he had been thinking to himself, Violet looked great in yellow not only cause it suited her, but it was the first striking colour and comfort he could get in such a tense situation. He mentally noted to make her wear brighter colours whenever they were working.
The thought itself made him smile absentmindedly as he entered the car after Janice. Violet watched the entire scene unfold earlier. She was glad he was smart to use this chance to address all the chaos, as she wondered if the little idea she wanted to carry out with him to post greetings to his fans, was going to work now.
Earlier, when the reporters were pursuing Janice, it was her idea for him to save Janice. With some research on Fang Li's tablet, she managed to find Akashia's family's house address in an admin folder.
However, out of formality, she cleared her throat to ask. "To the Akashia's family house, sir?" She asked in a professional voice to Sebastian, who nodded, though he was trying hard not to laugh at Violet's sudden formal self.
"Ah, it's fine. I can drive myself…" Janice wanted to reject, only for Sebastian to halt her.
"Get your driver to pick up your car. It's not safe." He said casually before leaning back into his seat and staring at the rear mirror.
Somehow, the view of Violet's serious look in navigating the way was making the silence between him and Janice in the back seat more bearable.
Janice was staring at him the whole way, too. She knew where his gaze was, though Violet was focusing on her only duty that night, ignoring anything that was happening behind her. It was heartbreaking as Janice blinked away those welling tears.
You know it's slowly letting him go… This is it, Jan. He's doing you a few last favours. Don't ask for more…
Violet wasn't entirely ignorant. She noticed his stare at the rear mirror on her right, and she noticed her silent tears from the front mirror on her left.
She wished this miserable drive could end quickly, too; anything better than being stuck in the middle of such tension. Besides, they had a mission later, which she needed to ensure went well to protect him from tomorrow's trouble.
That impromptu interview with the reporters earlier would be a good excuse to help him call in sick later. Violet thought to herself as they were close to the Akashia's residence.
As Sebastian alighted with Janice, he offered to walk her up to the house. "Seb…" She started along the way.
"Don't mistake this… It's just returning the favour you did for me in the afternoon. So, thank you." He said politely.
Surprisingly, it appeased her jealousy earlier as she smiled and nodded.
"You don't have to walk me back. You should leave and rest early. It's been a long day." She explained.
He paused midway through the long path to her family's house's main door and gave it a thought. He surely wanted to return to Violet soonest cause they were on a mission, but he remembered his promise to Janice. He didn't want to spoil the atmosphere and mood for her.
"No, it's fine. Let's go. I promised to help you let go slowly. This is part of it." His words were definitely comforting her as she quickly trailed him from behind.
As they reached the main door, he smiled when their gaze met. It reminded them both of their time together during dates when he used to send her home like this, too.
"Rest well. Take care and thank you again." He said before turning to leave.
"Seb…" She called out gently as he turned around slightly.
"Thank you, too." She smiled delightfully cause she was genuinely satisfied this way.
She didn't feel jealous anymore but compensated, and for the last time, she could feel what it was to be sent home again by him. Though there weren't any more kisses or holding hands, it was part of letting go slowly.
He nodded and smiled before leaving as Janice stepped into her house and walked quietly to her room. She thought she would be crying, but instead she smiled, catching a glimpse of the four-wheel drive driven away.
Is this really goodbye? She questioned herself with an unknown answer. A part of her didn't mind if it was going to be Violet to replace her, as her interest grew curious about Violet. She mentally reminded herself to arrange for a meetup with her one day, much later, as she could sense that Violet wasn't just an ordinary girl.
Meanwhile, Violet manoeuvred her way to the hospital quietly with Sebastian, who was now seated next to her on the passenger side.
"You're ready?" She asked while parking as he smirked, nodding to put on an act.
"Ah, hold on… What are you doing?" She asked not knowing he was going to slash his right arm to fake an injury.
"Turn around. Don't see." She obediently obliged as he took a penknife from his pocket, discreetly and slashed his right arm without Violet knowing.
"Ok, done." He said, holding his hand with the small towel he had prepared. She turned around to find a blood stain appearing on the towel.
"You! You slashed yourself?!" She squealed in shock as he nodded.
"Let's go. Let's go before I lose more blood…" He urged her, but she was very pissed.
"Is there no other better way to do this act?! Must it be so real?! Your arm is an asset to your job! Superficial injury, are you sure? How are they going to keep covering it with make-up?! Yet what if you cut too deep and bleed to death?!" She vented as he blinked many times, surprised at her reaction, too.
He noticed some stuff she said didn't make much sense, and knew she was worried about him.
"It wasn't deep." He assured her as she calmed down a little.
"And if we don't go now, it will definitely leave marks. Remember to make it sensational." He reminded her before quickly alighting.
He was afraid of pissing her off even more as she stormed away to the entrance of the hospital, but was reminded of his reminder to propagate the act.
She stopped midway to let him catch up as she took a deep breath, hoping things would turn out the way they had planned.