Chapter 17 Save Her From Embarrassment

Patrick observed Bradley, noticing that his gaze remained fixed on the screen, and an idea suddenly struck him. "Take the girl to the third-floor office after the show ends." "Okay." Having ended the call, Patrick approached Bradley with a mischievous grin and teased, "It seems like your bride hasn't quite satisfied you yet. But don't worry, I have a special surprise for you." Bradley had been too preoccupied with the girl's face to pay much attention to Patrick's words. As a classical melody filled the air, Freya gracefully ceased her dance and began to sing a beautiful classical song called "Crescent Moon." "The summer rain sprinkles upon the courtyard, silk illuminating the twilight. People return to the woods with the geese, moonlight filling the shadows. The grass serenely rests in the mound pavilion, checkerboard flowers adorned by lamplight. Rise and waltz for the king. May our love remain forever fresh..." she sang. Her eyes were misty and her voice soft, as if she possessed some magic that enraptured everyone's hearts. At that moment, Ethan and Lola were lost in their own world when the sound of singing reached their ears. In a flash, Ethan's disorganized thoughts vanished. He lifted his reddened eyes and fixed them upon the screen, which showcased the enchanting stage scenery. In a mere glance, Ethan found himself unable to tear his gaze away. His heart raced at the sight of the woman on the screen, who he imagined to be a fairy. Lola embraced Ethan in a flirtatious embrace, staring at the screen where she thought the woman looked familiar. She gave the screen her full attention for about five seconds before turning back to Ethan. "Ethan, stop looking at her! Join in the fun!" Lola was about to approach him when Ethan abruptly pushed her away and said coldly, "There's no need for you to pretend because it’s over now. You may leave.” Lola clung to Ethan, calling his name. Lola was taken aback by Ethan's sudden transformation from romantic softness to a fierce glare. Unwillingly, Lola readjusted her loose clothing and exited the room. "It's okay. There will always be another chance," she told herself. She thought she had what it took to woo Ethan. While performing, Freya closed her eyes and absorbed her role. "The night is enchanted by the winds, moon, and dancing flames. The moonlight cascades onto the crimson curtains while the fragrance lingers on the bed. Time sparkles with dewdrops as a dream fades until dawn. A dream, fading until dawn..." Freya's eyes opened as the song faded, dazzling as if millions of stars were reflected there. She bowed gracefully to the crowd by placing a hand on her shoulder. The men in the audience whistled incessantly and cheered, "Encore, encore!" The live audience was stunned, and Patrick, watching on the screen, couldn't take his eyes off her. He believed this woman to be unmatched in beauty. Bradley shifted his posture and fixed his gaze on the figure on the screen, his eyes burning with intensity. He coldly stared at the person who had unexpectedly appeared on the screen, tightly clenching his fists as the eerie sound of cracking bones echoed in the silence... ... After the manager of the Shangri-La Bar received a call from Patrick, he prepared to take Freya to the office on the third floor. However, before he could proceed, someone from the crowd rushed forward and seized Freya's hand. Ethan looked fascinated as he studied Freya, and then he reached out and tried to tear the veil from her face. Freya, however, frowned and averted her gaze from him. She recognized Ethan as the evil man who had insulted and bullied her the last time they met at the Royal Garden Mansion. "It seems that Frederick's punishment was too mild. How dare he come to the nightclub and try to touch me?" Freya thought to herself. "Come with me from now on, pretty girl, and I'll take care of all your needs. You don't have to sing here anymore," Ethan said, placing his hand on Freya's shoulder. Patrick, who was seated in the third-floor office, witnessed the situation unfold and immediately contacted the lobby manager. "What is going on? Weren't you supposed to take her to the third floor?" "Mr. Patrick, Ethan has taken an interest in the girl and wants to take her out of the bar," the lobby manager informed. "Stop Ethan right away. I'll send someone to handle this," Patrick replied decisively. Ending the call, Patrick turned to Bradley and spoke with determination. "That's Arthur's idiot son. I'll go down and deal with him." Patrick quickly reached out to Gabriel, and they swiftly left the office. On the other hand, Bradley coolly leaned against the sofa, his gaze fixated on the screen, seemingly uninterested. However, deep within him, a surge of unnamed anger was ignited upon seeing Ethan placing his hand on the girl's shoulder. The girl took center stage, her figure accentuated by the form-fitting white dress. At that moment, she resembled a frightened little bunny, her eyes misted with uncertainty. This sight reminded Bradley of his new bride, the moments when she wore the same expression because he treated her unfairly. Suddenly, Bradley started to miss Freya. He snatched his car keys off the desk, got to his feet, and walked out of the office. With a posse of security guards at their heels, Patrick and Gabriel hurried onto the stage. Patrick took Ethan by the collar and gave him a hard punch without hesitating. Ethan, taken aback by the unexpected assault, whirled around and swore, "Do you know who the hell I am?" After punching Ethan again, Patrick asked, "Do you know who ran this damn place?" After taking two solid blows, blood began to spurt out of Ethan’s mouth. Ethan lost two of his teeth, and he then sobered up. He looked back at the onlookers with his mouth full of blood bubbles. Ethan immediately recognized Patrick, the general manager of Shangri-La Bar and the "most famous man in the night clubs in town," given his extensive experience there. "You should treat me like God because I'm your customer. I'm going to take this woman as mine today." As he prepared to leave, Ethan wiped the corner of his mouth while holding Freya's hand. "She is the one I have my eyes on! How dare you take her away from me?" Patrick's voice grew harsh and threatening, and he threw a curse word at Ethan before shoving him offstage. Patrick walked towards Freya, clapping his hands and resuming his original graceful demeanor as he smiled at her. "Hello, lovely lady. Are you alright?” "I'm fine. Thank you for helping me out." Freya gave him a brief glance before turning to leave. Now that her task had been accomplished, it was time to head back to the Lawson household to watch the drama going on there. Patrick, however, stood in her way and asked, eyebrows raised, "Don't be in a hurry to leave! I just helped you out, so how would you like to repay me?" "How do you want me to repay you?" Knowing that this person's motives for aiding her might not be sincere, Freya squinted her eyes. "I just want to invite you for a drink. I don't need you to do anything." Before Patrick could finish, he noticed a person approaching with a limp.