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Jan ignored Freya’s words as his eyes were focused on the woman standing in the center of the stage with a graceful smile.
When he saw her smile, he felt incredible happiness.
He wanted to see her winning. He did not care whether it benefited Dane’s company. He just wanted to see a smile on her face.
He could hear Freya’s voice beside him again.
“How can you be so foolish in love, Ian? Dane is someone I know very well. You have been winning this project for the past two years, so he has his eyes on it. Don’t you think he got what he wanted by putting his gun on Ava’s shoulder? He forced her to have this project and gave her confidence so that only she could work on it. Now look at the result: he successfully managed to get the win.”
Ian smirked when Ava gave him a sarcastic grin as if telling him that she had won over him.
“He is a fool if he thinks I don’t know his plan. I had won every project he was interested in over the last few years; why would I not be aware of his intentions?”
Freya froze upon hearing Ian. She grabbed his jaw and made him turn to her, breaking his gaze from Ava.
“Are you serious? You knew his plan but still gave up on this project so easily?”
Ian grabbed her hand and removed it from his jaw. He smiled at her and whispered,
“Just because I behave calmly with you doesn’t mean you can touch me anytime.”
Freya was stunned. She glanced at his hand and mumbled, “I am sorry. I thought-”
“That I am like your Dane?”
Her gaze returned to him, who chuckled. “I am not Alpha Dane but Alpha Ian. I know how to have my ways just like him. But when it’s about love, I follow my heart instead of proceeding with my mind. Your Dane is nothing but a jealous brat who wants everything that I have. Just turn your eyes and look at him. He is looking at you, but he will never come forward to say that he is jealous.”
Freya scoffed at him. “No way. That man loves your woman. He doesn’t love me anymore.”
Ian’s eyes darkened as he pulled her hand closer, causing her face to come close to his.
It once again amused the cameramen. They quickly flashed their cameras, capturing them in the same way they did Ava and Dane.
“Your man does not have the authority to have my woman. So it’s better if you make him get it in his mind before I snatch his life away from him.”
Freya felt a shiver run down her spine as Ian’s voice and words resonated through her. She gulped, slowly lowering her head.
“Please don’t hurt him.”
Jan released his grip and sneered, “Why don’t you go and seduce him so that you can be with him again?”
She shot a glare at him and replied, “You know he doesn’t love me. Why would I go to him? My love is nothing to
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him. He is blinded. Why don’t you come to me instead of waiting for Ava?”
She looked away when Ian shot her a stern look. Ian glanced at other people who were observing him. Then he smiled and put his hand around Freya, pressing her head against his chest and patting it.
“It is alright. Better luck next time. Be happy with others‘ victory,” he said loudly so that other people would hear
him.
Everyone was astounded by Ian’s sporting spirit. They began to compliment his demeanor, claiming that he was a true businessman who was pleased with his competitor’s victory.
Meanwhile,
Ava was watching Ian and Freya from the stage. She could not hear them, but she felt awkward in her heart as she watched them getting so close to each other.
She realized that after learning that Ian was her mate, she began to feel this way as a result of the mate bond.
She ignored them and turned to Dane only to see him staring at Ian and Freya. 1
He wore an angry expression. Taking his arm, Ava whispered, “Dane.”
Dane looked away from the two people who were like thorns in his eyes. He smiled at Ava and wrapped his arm around her, getting down from the stage.
Ava’s friends came to congratulate her. Ava noticed that they did not look so happy; rather, they were looking very confused.
Ava assumed it was because their company had lost the competition. She did not ask much because she feared they would be upset.
Later, Ava left the venue without glancing at Ian. She wanted to avoid him. If he wanted to get back to Freya, it would be good for himself.
However, the thought of it made her chest hurt.
Dane threw a success party the following afternoon.
The party was also open to all of the company’s competitors. The majority of the Alphas did not attend because they thought it was mocking for their loss.
But Alpha Ian arrived at the party as if he did not mind losing the competition. He came along with his friends.
It surprised Ava. But she decided to ignore him for the whole party.
Ava invited her friends to the party. Abigail and Debra did not look confused anymore. They expressed their joy for her.
As the party began, Ava greeted the guests with a cheerful smile. Her red sleeveless gown enhanced her beauty, She was the main character of the party.
“Designer Florence”
That was how others greeted her and congratulated her.
Dane was sitting at the bar with a glass of wine in his hand. Ava approached him and took up her position beside
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him.
“Why are you alone?” she asked.
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She had been noticing him for a while. His gaze was fixed on Freya, who was close to Ian. She did not know why she did not feel bad in her heart, but she was perplexed by her sudden change of mood.
“Ava, do you really like me?” Dane asked suddenly, looking directly into her eyes.
Ava was stunned. “O–Of course. Why did you ask that?”
He wrapped his hand around her waist and drew her closer to him. “Then prove it.”
“H–How?”
“Kiss me.”
Hearing him, she was shocked. Her gaze wandered around the hall. She found Ian staring at them. His eyes were dark, warning her to stay away from Dane.
Ava tightened her fists and turned her head to face Dane.
She took a deep breath before nodding her head. “I like you, Dane. There is no doubt that I want to be with only you.”
After saying that, she leaned in close to his lips. She closed her eyes and kissed him.
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