The CEO and the Country Wildflower chapter 65

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The CEO and the Country Wildflower
Chapter 65: The Dark Gamble


The world plunged into darkness, the grand ballroom of the charity gala swallowed by an abrupt power outage. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Emelly barely registered them—her wrist was caught in a vice-like grip, dragging her backward. She stumbled, her free hand flailing for balance, but the unseen assailant yanked her harder. "Lucas!" she called out, but her voice was drowned by the rising chaos. She couldn’t see him. Couldn’t see anything. The scent of expensive cologne—something woodsy and sharp—filled her nose, but it wasn’t Lucas’s. This was someone else. Someone who moved with deliberate, predatory steps. "Let go!" she hissed, twisting her arm, but the grip only tightened. A low chuckle answered her. "Now, now, Miss Clus. No need to make a scene." Her blood ran cold. That voice—Leo Brown. Before she could react, a sharp tug pulled her sideways, and suddenly, she was shoved through a hidden door, the noise of the gala muffled behind her. The darkness was thicker here, the air stale. A storage room, maybe. Leo released her, but before she could bolt, the click of a lock echoed. "Relax," he drawled, his silhouette barely visible against the dim emergency light seeping under the door. "I just wanted a private chat." Emelly squared her shoulders, refusing to let fear crack her voice. "Kidnapping isn’t a great conversation starter." "Kidnapping?" He laughed. "You walked here willingly." "Dragged," she corrected. "Semantics." His shadow shifted closer. "You and York are quite the pair.


Tell me, does he know how much you’ve been snooping around Brown Group’s files?" Her breath hitched. She had been digging—quietly, carefully—but how did he—? "Ah. That look says it all." His tone turned icy. "You’re playing a dangerous game, little wildflower." Before she could retort, a sharp bang rattled the door. "Emelly!" Lucas’s voice, raw with fury, cut through the wood. Leo sighed dramatically. "Right on cue. The knight in a tailored suit." He leaned in, his whisper a venomous caress. "Run along now. But remember—this isn’t over." The door burst open, flooding the room with light.


Lucas stood there, his expression thunderous, his gaze locking onto Leo with lethal intent. Emelly didn’t hesitate. She darted past Leo, straight into Lucas’s arms. His grip was instant, crushing her against him as if reassuring himself she was real. "You okay?" he growled, his eyes never leaving Leo. She nodded, her pulse still racing. Leo merely smirked, straightening his cufflinks. "York. Always so dramatic." Lucas took a step forward, but Emelly caught his arm. "Not here," she murmured.


The gala was still in disarray, guests murmuring, staff scrambling to restore power. A scene now would only fuel gossip. Lucas’s jaw clenched, but he nodded curtly. With one last glare at Leo, he guided Emelly away, his hand gripping hers like a lifeline. As they retreated, Bruno and Serritary intercepted them, their expressions tense. "What the hell happened?" Bruno demanded. "Later," Lucas bit out. Serritary’s sharp eyes flicked between them. "We need to leave. Now." Emelly agreed. The gala was no longer safe. But as they moved toward the exit, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Leo’s warning wasn’t just empty theatrics. This wasn’t over. --- Meanwhile: Bruno and Serritary’s Prelude Bruno Halthorn had never believed in love at first sight—until he met Serritary Jonshon. Correction: until he was forced to marry her. Their arrangement was simple: his family’s money for her family’s reputation. A business transaction, nothing more. Or so he’d thought. Serritary, with her razor-sharp wit and a glare that could freeze fire, had other plans. She’d made it clear she wasn’t some docile bride. Their first meeting had ended with her dumping a glass of champagne over his head. Yet, as they navigated the gala together—her hand tucked reluctantly in his elbow—Bruno found himself stealing glances at her. The way her nose scrunched when she was annoyed. The defiant tilt of her chin. It was infuriating. And intriguing. When the lights had gone out, she hadn’t panicked. Instead, she’d gripped his arm and hissed, "Don’t you dare let go." As if he ever would. Now, as they followed Lucas and Emelly out, Serritary muttered, "This night is a disaster." Bruno smirked. "And here I thought you thrived on chaos." She shot him a look. "I thrive on winning. There’s a difference." He couldn’t help it. He laughed. Maybe this marriage wouldn’t be so bad after all.