Chapter 9 Replacing her

"Father, I've been asking her to join this meeting. But she doesn't seem interested. She said that it's not important."

Vania smiled secretly at her daughter's reply. As planned, they would replace Ellina in this meeting.

Raven and Azzura's faces changed. Aldric's face darkened as well. He had not expected that Ellina would say that. Feeling victorious, Lexsi laughed victoriously to herself. Not only did she create a rift in Aldric's heart, but she also made Ellina's name worse in front of the Reegan family.

"Father, maybe sister is just a little busy. Anyway, it's natural that she refused. Since this was originally my business, I intend to take over again," Lexsi said softly, her eyes looking at Aldric and Raven's faces.

"Take over?"

"Who refused?"

Aldric's words coincided with Kenzie opening the door to the room and closing it. All eyes turned around, and Kenzie was standing there. His eyes were icy, like someone who came directly from the Arctic.

"Tell me, who refused?" repeated Kenzie through Lexsi's eyes sharply.

Lexsi smiled faintly, so faintly that she shivered in fear. "That's-"

"Sit down first," Raven ordered, looking at Kenzie.

Obeying his father, Kenzie sat down opposite Lexsi. Then the atmosphere turned strangely silent. Only Lexsi quietly stole a glance at Kenzie. Cursing her stupidity for not knowing Kenzie all this time.

"Then what should we do?" asked Azzura quietly. She turned to Kenzie. "Our son has come, but as we heard, your daughter doesn't want our son."

Kenzie's face-hardened hearing her mother's words. Rejected? Him? And his family? He really couldn't accept that.

"I'm sorry this happened. We felt something was wrong. We think Ellina just didn't know about this meeting," Aldric explained.

"But Mrs. Reegan, do you really have to match her with our firstborn? We still have one more daughter," Vania said politely while looking at Lexsi, who smiled shyly.

Feeling uncomfortable, Aldric nodded. "Right, because we wanted to match him with Lexsi at first. Then I guess it's fine if we swap -"

"Aren't you enough talking?" Kenzie's cold interruption silenced everyone. Her eyes sharpened with a dark, cloudy look. "Am I an item that you can swap at whenever you wish?"

Lexsi bit her lower lip hard. She looked down in fear of Kenzie.

"Kenzie," Raven warned uncomfortably.

"Go with the original plan. I want the first girl, not her." Kenzie coldly rejects Lexsi outright.

Azzura's eyes lit up. "So you agree? Is it okay if she doesn't come?"

Aldric and Vania were also surprised at Kenzie's decision.

"There won't be a problem if I'm the one who wants it."

Kenzie's words brought relief to every face but not to Lexsi. She clenched her fists tightly and tried to suppress her anger. Smiling softly, saying that she felt happy for Ellina because of Kenzie's choice. Although she had to bite her own tongue for the deepening hatred.

"Y-yes, I think you two are perfect for each other," Lexsi said, stammering to suppress her embarrassment.

"So, Uncle, why didn't she come?" asked Kenzie, ignoring Lexsi and asking Aldric.

Lexsi's face hardened, knowing that she was being ignored. She tried to smile at Kenzie's question and answered again. "Chief Ken, she had no interest in this meeting. I tried telling her you were coming, but she didn't care."

Kenzie gave Lexsi a sharp look. From the beginning of the meeting, he already disliked the woman in front of him, and this time, her voice was quite annoying to hear.

"Kenzie, I think -"

"I'll meet her on her campus," Kenzie cut in, making a decision. Everyone turned their heads. "Why? Am I not allowed to meet her?"

Aldric laughed. "No, of course not. You can see her anytime."

"Anytime?" Kenzie repeated coldly. The corner of his lips twitched at the permission he had gotten. "Since Uncle has given permission, I will see her now. You guys can discuss things. I don't mind if we get engaged quickly."

Azzura's eyes lit up at her son's words. If he didn't refuse, they had to manage everything quickly, or Kenzie would change his mind and turn everything upside down.

Kenzie left the meeting room and walked out. His vast strides matched his cold, expressionless face. His eyes focused on her black car, which was parked not far from the cafe's courtyard. As his hand touched his car door, a voice made him turn his head.

"Chief Ken, can I come with you? I'm also going to the campus. I think I can help you meet her."

Kenzie looked at Lexsi from head to toe. He could really feel that this woman was interested in him. He was sure she was trying to get close to him. But the woman before him was nothing more than a nuisance for him.

"Who said I was going to see her?"

Lexsi furrowed her brows at Kenzie's answer. She knew very well that Kenzie was cold but still thought it was just her feelings. But this time, she felt the man before her genuinely didn't like her. "But-"

Lexsi was stunned as Kenzie ignored her and got into his car without letting her continue her words. Slowly, the black Lykan Hypersport drove smoothly away, leaving her stunned.

Smiling in disbelief, Lexsi threw her handbag into the air and muttered in annoyance. " Seriously? I got rejected because of Ellina? It's her again! Why is she so lucky!"

Ellina was striding happily in another place with several groceries bags in her hands. She had just bought some clothes and was now sitting enjoying a cup of coffee at a cafe in the Reegrand World Mall area, the largest mall in the city of Z was owned by the Reegan family.

Her small face looked radiant with her hands stirring the coffee in front of her. Her eyes flickered occasionally, looking around the crowded cafe. She enjoyed it when she could relax and act on her desires like this. She intended to enjoy every day to the fullest.

Feeling that this moment was precious, she took out a cellphone box she had just bought. Pulled out the contents and started fiddling with it. Her fingers hovered over the screen skillfully. Her eyes were clear with a soft, warm smile.

"Can I sit here?"

A knock on the table was accompanied by a heavy voice. Ellina looked up to find Aaric standing with coffee in his hand.

Not answering, Ellina preferred to remain silent and busy on her cell phone.

"Since you didn't answer, I interpreted it as a yes."

Aaric sat down and stared at Ellina's unbothered face. "Have you been here long? What are you doing?"

"I don't think we have anything to talk about. Let's act like strangers when we meet."

Aaric's face was stunned. He looked disappointed. "Why is it like that? Why do we have to be like strangers?"

Ellina smiled faintly, "Because we have nothing."

Those sharp words ended their conversation. Ellina stood up, carried all her shopping bags and left the cafe. Paying no heed to Aaric's shouts or the greetings of the few men who flirted with her. In her small steps, a wide stride had just gotten out of a black car. Entering the crowd with a cold stare and one straight look. They walked side by side without acknowledging each other.

Ellina's steps were halted when suddenly an unfamiliar hand pulled her hand. Her small body staggered backward and bumped into a stiff-warm body.

"We meet here, Thief."

Ellina's eyes widened. That expressionless cold face, that familiar fragrance. Her body trembled with fear before she quickly tried to remove his hand. The bags in her hands fell to the ground, her breathing ragged with her heart racing. Her nerves told her to run away from there as fast as possible. But the man's grip on her hand was too firm.

"Trying to escape?"

Ellina did not answer. She was still trying her hardest to release her wrist. Her tiny hand touched Kenzie's and tried to let go. Her gaze did not move from the strong hand wrapped around her wrist. The corners of her eyes watered slowly. She was crying in fear!

"Let me go," Ellina said softly, her voice filled with fear. She began to regret running away from Aaric and meeting this man.

But the hand remained firmly wrapped around her, leaving a red mark on her white skin. Fear and panic filled Ellina's heart as her world began to fill with darkness. Her body felt as light as cotton as she could no longer stand on her own. And she faintly smelled that familiar scent getting closer to her body.

Am I going to die now?