Chapter 29

Kate's gaze was like a hawk, fixed on Lilly and Alexander throughout the event. Fury simmered beneath her poised exterior, her clenched fists betraying her true feelings.

“You shouldn't worry so much," Amanda murmured, her tone laced with mischief as she swirled the wine in her glass. "I've heard rumors that their so-called marriage might not even be real.”

Kate turned sharply to her. "What did you hear?"

Amanda smirked. “Oh, just whispers. People are saying no one truly believes Alexander would tie himself down. They think he's using her to dodge Old Master Lowe's plans to marry him off to his granddaughter. So.darling, the door isn't shut for you just yet.”

Kate's lips curled into a slow smile. "That explains a lot." She turned her eyes back to Lilly, who had just left the hall for the restroom.Her father,Peter,stood nearby, his gaze lingering on Lilly like a shadow.

How pathetic, Kate thought. He knows she'll never forgive him, and yet he still watches her like a ghost from the past. I'm the only daughter he has now. Lilly disowned him the moment she walked away.

"Now that Lilly's gone, isn't this the perfect moment to approach Alexander?" Bella's voice broke through Kate's thoughts as she joined them. Kate's smile grew sharper. "Why didn't I think of that?" She pulled out a compact mirror, ensuring her makeup was flawless and her smile inviting. “You look stunning, darling. Go on," Bella urged, her eyes glinting with encouragement.

Kate nodded and moved gracefully toward Alexander, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor. Her heart raced with anticipation. This was her chance to make her mark.

"What's Kate up to?" Peter asked, noticing his daughter's determined stride toward Alexander.

Bella,standing beside him, raised a brow. “Relax, Peter. She's networking.Kate's the new CEO of Blake Real Estate. She's merely seeking a business collaboration. Who better to align with than Alexander Kane?”

Peter sighed, though his eyes remained on Kate. "I hope she doesn't stir trouble with Lilly.”

Bella smiled thinly. "You underestimate her, Peter.She knows what she's doing.”

Kate rehearsed her lines in her head as she neared Alexander, who was deep in conversation with Ethan. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to stay composed. With a measured breath, she spoke.

“Hello,Mr.Kane.”

Alexander turned his piercing gaze on her for a fleeting moment before returning his attention to Ethan without a word.

Kate felt heat rise to her cheeks, a mixture of humiliation and frustration threatening to crack her poise. She had idolized Alexander since high school,but now his cold dismissal stung deeper than she anticipated.Swallowing her pride, she tried again.

"I'm Kate, the new CEO of Blake Real Estate. I'd like to discuss a

potential collaboration with you."

Ethan paused, his curiosity piqued and looked at her. Alexander, however,remained indifferent, his attention now shifting to his watch.

"Twenty minutes," Alexander muttered, his brow furrowing. He signaled one of his guards. "Find out where she is."

"Yes,boss," the guard replied, immediately heading toward the restroom.

Kate froze. He's talking about Lilly.

Her frustration deepened as she watched the man she admired dismiss her entirely for the sake of her.

Determined not to slink away in defeat, Kate boldly slid into the empty chair Lilly had left behind. That finally drew Alexander's attention.

“Get up and leave," he said, his voice like ice.

The chill in his words sent shivers down Kate's spine, but she forced herself to stand with a small, embarrassed smile. Just as she was about to retreat, the guards returned, their faces pale with fear as they whispered urgently to Alexander. His expression darkened instantly, and he shot up from his seat.

"What's going on?” Ethan asked,already following his friend. Curiosity burned in Kate's chest, and she trailed behind them. By now,the unusual movement had caught the attention of others, including Old Master Lowe, who motioned for his men to investigate the growing commotion. Peter's eyes narrowed as he noticed the sudden stir. When he saw Alexander and Kate heading toward the restroom, alarm bells rang in his mind.

"Where are you going, Peter?" Bella asked, trying to mnask her unease as she saw the same thing.

"Lilly hasn't returned. It's been too long, and now Alexander is heading in her direction. Something's wrong." Peter made to leave, but Bella grabbed his arm.

“Don't. You've stayed calm this entire night, and now you want to create a scene? Let her come back on her own.”

Peter shook her off. "I need to know."

With a sigh of exasperation, Bella followed him, though her nails dug into her palms in barely contained frustration.

"What do you mean she's gone?” Alexander's voice was like a thunderclap.and the trembling guards flinched under his fury.

"We were ambushed," one of them stammered, blood trickling from his temple."Two men. They knocked us out and took her."

"Who dares take my wife?" Alexander's voice dropped to a lethal growl as he grabbed one guard by the collar. "If she isn't found, you're all dead.”

Ethan quickly intervened. “Calm down, Alexander. I've already sent my men to search the hotel and review the CCTV footage.We'll find her." “It's not enough," Alexander snapped, his jaw tightening as he stormed toward the exit. "If someone has taken her, they'll regret it." Peter arrived just intime to hear Alexander's threats. His face turned ashen as he pushed through the gathering crowd.

"Where is my daughter?" Peter demanded, his voice ringing out like a cannon blast.

Alexander stopped in his tracks, his sharp eyes locking on Peter.

“What daughter?” Ethan asked,confused.

Peter's voice shook with both anger and desperation. "Lilly. She came with you, and now she's missing. If anything happens to her, her grandfather will come for you.”

Ethan's expression shifted to shock as he turned to Alexander.“Your wife is a Blake?"

Kate's heart plummeted as the revelation hit her like a sledgehammer.Her fists clenched at her sides.

Alexander's face was unreadable, but the tension in his frame betrayed his inner turmoil. His thoughts were a storm of questions. Lilly. A Blake. Why didn't she tell me?

His expression hardened. One thing was clear, when he found her, Lilly would have a lot to explain.