Banishing the nonsensical thought and image of his wife standing before him, Alexander finally saw the red dressed lady standing before him.

When she sensed his eyes landing on her body, Yan Xiaoran had to stop her nerves screaming for him.

Yan Xiaoran held her breath, expecting him to recognize her as soon as he laid eyes on her, but instead of that, a woman suddenly was thrusted between the two of them, interrupting their fateful encounter.

"Mr. Qu! How glad I am to bump into you here!" The woman looked pretty and immediately stepped closer to him as if they were close acquaintances.

"Mrs. Valisis." Alexander took his eyes off Yan Xiaoran and looked down at the woman before her. He sidestepped and avoided her outstretched arm to take him into a tight hug.

Mrs. Valisis frowned at his cold attitude towards her.

Mrs. Valisis is Haruka's close friend, and just like Alexander's aunt, Mrs. Valisis was younger than what people think of her because of her title as the Lady of the Valisis family.

With only five years difference in their ages, Mrs. Valisis had such a great expectations that someday she would become Mrs. Qu, however, things were sometimes bound to never happen. Just like now, instead of becoming Alexander's wife, she was now the lady of the Valisis family, wife to Mister Alejandro Valisis, another important mafia figure in France.

"Why are you being so distant now?" Rebecca laughingly asked.

"I'm married now," he replied before adding, "And I don't remember ever being so close with you."

"Pfft!"

From behind, Yan Xiaoran couldn't stop herself from laughing. If she didn't cover her mouth and force the laugh that was rising up to her lips, she might cry because she laughed at the embarrassing exchange between the two of them. But more so on the part of the lady who was trying to get closer with her husband.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh and it wasn't because of what he said… Pfft… Again, I'm sorry." Yan Xiaoran had a hard time holding her joy and pleasure of seeing someone being rejected by her husband. But at the same time, she pitied them for hearing such a harsh response from him.

Rebecca took great offense from the masked-lady and glared at her. She said with her chin raised smugly, "What's wrong with you? And why are you wearing a mask? Are you perhaps hiding your ugly mug behind that thing? How laughable."

Yan Xiaoran ignored her. She had no time taking insult from harmless bitches like her, words didn't really hurt her even if they hurled a thousand hurtful words in her way for as long as it wasn't thrown at the people precious to her.

Putting her hands together with a smile, Yan Xiaoran bid them farewell, "Well, since I've seen something fun, I shall return to the party where I can find preferable companions to talk to."

If she was going to stay there and continue exchanging blows with the woman, Yan Xiaoran was going to avoid being discovered at all cost - hiding from her husband while he stood there before her was quite a difficult task, after all.

Alexander raised his eyebrows. This woman was strangely familiar, but he couldn't put his hand on it and which part of her was familiar to anyone in particular.

But then, the illusion of his wife standing before her and not the masked-lady was quite unbelievable. Especially the likeness of their voice.

Was it possible for two people to share the same voice and body shape?

That's something he was about to find out...

Yan Xiaoran watched as he moved languidly, walking forward and towards her.

He put his hands inside the pockets of his pants - small movement, but she felt waves of danger coming off him. It was powerful enough to be oppressive and make her step backward.

Yan Xiaoran's mouth twitched. This guy… is he trying to intimidate her? But the way he was scrutinizing her with his eyes told her that it wasn't quite right. He seems to be searching for something. But searching for what?

No way…

He couldn't be searching for me, his wife, who shouldn't be here, right?!

Yan Xiaoran stared at him again and saw he was serious at trying to unveil the truth.

Despite her heart beating thundering so loud inside her chest, Yan Xiaoran forced her face to remain nonchalant. "Is there something wrong?" she asked.

Alexander's cold eyes had a gleam in it and as he said, "Don't move. I have something to check."

Gulp… he really is suspecting me right now.

"Mr. Stranger, I wouldn't dare try and do anything if I were you." she said, "You just mentioned you were married but why are you coming to me now? Are you perhaps trying to flirt with me now? And what would your wife back at home say if she finds out about this?"

Her face twisted comically as she adopted an aggrieved look. On the side, Rebecca couldn't help but glare at Yan Xiaoran. She was blaming her for just being there and taking Alexander's attention.

She had been pining for his affection while using Haruka, wishing to become his wife and control his property while flaunting the title as Mrs. Qu, but instead not only did she fail getting him, tonight she even failed to keep him by her side even just for a minute.

"I'm not flirting with you." The statement came in a quiet, threatening tone.

Yan Xiaoran froze.

She knew he wasn't flirting with her, alright!

He was definitely trying to take her mask off and see the face behind it!

"Mr. Stranger…" hearing her call him that seemed to be so suspicious, but to hell with it! She needs to make up a nice and quick excuse to get her out of this trouble. "Even if you say that, but if you continue on doing this, people might really think otherwise."

After a moment of silence, she heard him say, "I don't care what other people think… Now, don't move."

Seeing his hand raised up and zooming closer to her face, Yan Xiaoran started to panic.

No!