Claudine's POV
I saw Jin-ah. I look at her and give her a signal. She understands what I mean. She'll take care of the party for the meantime. I opened the door and hid myself as I followed them.
They went to the right side and hid in a corner where no one was there. I looked around and found a place to hide.
I want to know about their plans. I sit on the floor and make sure my dress won't be noticeable. "So? You really came with that woman?" Samantha asks.
I can hear the hint of hatred and animosity in her tone. "What do you expect? She's back and was ruining everything that I work hard for. If I don't do as she says, it'll be a mess. I'll lose everything, Samantha," Elijah replied.
I feel like my husband was standing in front of me, smirking, until he showed me a dagger and started stabbing me. It really hurts.
"Didn't I tell you to kill her?!" she screams in a controlled but dangerous tone.
My eyes dilated. I covered my lips and made sure they wouldn't hear my gasps.
"Here, I bought this in a black market. They said this poison is tasteless. Give her a drop every breakfast. It will slow down her heart rate, and two weeks later, she'll die in cardiac arrest," she continues.
I cover my ears and start trembling in fear. How can they think of such thing? Am I really that easy to kill?! How could they… oh my…
"Even if they run an autopsy, they won't find anything. Hurry up and do it. I hate seeing her with you, Elijah," Samantha added. I heard my husband sighing.
"You're really impatient, huh?" he commented.
I take a peek and realize that my husband might see me if his eyes shifted in this area. Samantha wraps her hands around his neck and claims his lips. I hide myself again.
"I am, sweetie," she murmurs.
I heard their footsteps leaving this area. I stayed and let my tears stream down my cheeks. I feel like everything in this world were gray.
I hugged my knees while trying to find the courage to go back to the party after crying. I stood up and took a long, deep breath.
I checked my face in a mirror and used the powder to conceal a little of my puffy eyes. I was halfway to my destination when the elevator opened on my right side.
"Claudine?" a man says. I frowned, and my eyes dilated.
He runs toward me and embraces me. I blink and gasp. "I can't believe it was really you!" he roars, delighted. He let go of me and smiled afterward.
"Max Page, right?" I remarked.
He nodded and smiled again. "It's been so many years since the last time we met. That must have been four years ago?" he says. I chuckled.
"You look different now. You look confident and… handsome?" I joke.
He laughs and raises his hands together. "I don't look like that, silly. But I guess you're right. I look much better than the wimp Page before."
I shake my head and smile. "You don't look like a wimp even once. You're just dedicated in your dream to being a psychiatrist. That's why you love reading books rather than playing sports during high school and even in college." He chuckled while looking at me.
"Why are you laughing?"
Max lightly shakes his head. "Nothing. Your smile brings back memories. Anyway, you look like you're in a hurry. Here's my calling card. Call me if you're free for a drink," he says.
I grab the card and smile. "No problem. It's great to see you again, Max," I remarked. "Me too," he says. He placed his hand on my head. We both laugh.
"I'll see you around again?" he asks. "Uhm," I replied.
That's his habit. He always did that when he wanted to see me again. We walked away and waved to each other before we turned our backs again.
I opened the door and went back to my bitter reality. Most of the guests were dancing. I went back to our table and took a seat.
I look at the calling card before putting it inside my purse. "Dr. Max Page, licensed psychiatrist."
I gasped when I saw which hospital he was working with. "Wow! He's already a director of this department?" I whispered.
I laugh and lean back on my chair. "Who is Max Page?" Jin-ah asks.
I blink and turn around. I saw her standing behind me along with Elijah. I simply smile. "He's a man I've trusted since I was in high school. We met outside when I was planning to breathe some fresh air in the garden. Maybe the other people he was with were his colleagues," I explained.
I opened my purse and grabbed my phone. I start putting his number on my contact list.
"Huh? In your speed dial 1?" Jin-ah asks, pulling the chair closer to my side and taking a seat. I nodded.
"He's been in my speed dial 1 since I was in high school."
"You seemed to like this guy," she asks.
"I do. By the way, did you receive any calls from my parents? I'm sure someone told them that I'm back," I remarked.
She grabs her phone and gives it to me. I look at the screen. It's my older sister and younger brother who message her.
"They even called, but I didn't answer because a man was tailing me like a dog a while ago," she says, irritated. I laugh and hold her face, pinching her cheeks.
"Don't be upset. You are just too hot even in a simple but elegant dress," I complimented.
"How about you? You even met a man too! I bet he's hot, right?" she asks, pointing her finger in my face. I cracked up and started reading my older sister's and brother's messages.
"Let me save their numbers and call them instead. They might come here out of the blue," I mumbled. We raised our heads when someone coughed.
"No need. They'll be here in five minutes," Elijah coldly stated.
I frowned and kicked his feet under the table. "What is wrong with you, huh? Are you trying to make a mess?!" I growled in a controlled tone.
"Think whatever you want," he coldly replies.
I sighed and tried my best not to get mad, or else the guests would see it. A couple suddenly came to our table. I stood up and grabbed a glass of wine from the waiter that is walking around.
"Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, hi!" I greeted. They're one of the elite investors in the business world. Several businessmen seek their help. They're already senior citizens, but their looks talk a lot.
"I guess your mother-in-law told you about us. You knew who we were right away," Mrs. Daniels says. I laugh softly.
"How can she forget the people that trust her dad? Of course, she always talks about you guys. I'm really glad to finally meet you," I whispered, grabbing their hands.