C35 Tease

Somehow, Sienna found herself not minding Ethan's voice for the first time.

Westley's spirits lifted at the sight of Ethan.

He must be here to repay the meal, right?

Ethan seemed to have worked some magic to win Juliana back. Arm in arm, they looked disgustingly sweet together.

He really was a jerk. He had a talent for charming women.

But that didn't matter. As long as he was ready to pay back the money, all was well.

"Mr. Jimenez, where are you headed?" Ethan approached and came to a halt in front of them.

"We've just finished eating and are about to head home. Are you here to..."

Westley was cut off mid-sentence by an eager Ethan.

"Don't rush off just yet. You've got to let your food settle. How about I show you a fun spot?" Ethan suggested with a hint of intrigue.

Westley had zero interest in whatever "fun place" Ethan was referring to.

He was only interested in getting his money back.

He had no choice; the fear of being penniless was real.

Even the smallest contribution was still valuable.

Why are you so shameless? Just give me back the money for the meal already!

"It's right across at the Golden Palace."

Ethan announced with a flourish, "I'll take you there."

Westley wondered: What's he up to?

And why hasn't he mentioned repaying the meal money?

I don't need him to take me anywhere.

"No thanks, I'm not interested," Westley dismissed with a wave of his hand.

Ethan hadn't expected such a blunt rejection from Westley, and his heart sank a little.

If you don't go, how will I save face?

No, you have to go!

By any means necessary, I'll get you there!

"Mr. Jimenez, don't be so quick to say no. Do you even know what the Golden Palace is? It's the biggest nightlife venue in Lindzac City, and it's not a place you can just waltz into with money," Ethan said, trying to pique Westley's curiosity.

"And how do you get in?" Westley asked, squinting.

Ethan couldn't hide his smugness as he replied, "That's easy. I have a cousin who works there. He's hooked me up with a few passes."

"So that's it," Westley said, the realization dawning on him.

Ethan's smile widened, oozing smugness.

"But I'm still not interested," Westley shrugged nonchalantly.

Ethan nearly choked in disbelief.

You're really not giving me any face!

Do I need to roll out the red carpet for you?

"You know, the Golden Palace hosts Cage Fighting Competitions every night. The inner circle audience can freely wager their chips. It's the kind of spectacle most people might never witness in their lifetime," Ethan played his ace.

"Cage Fighting Competitions?" Interest flickered in Westley's eyes.

"Exactly. They're akin to those no-holds-barred underground boxing matches in Thailand, where the fight goes on until one side is completely down and out. I've heard from my cousin that there have even been fatalities," Ethan whispered, adding an air of mystery. "But the Golden Palace has some serious clout behind it. Such incidents don't even make a dent."

Westley wasn't interested in the power players behind the scenes. The word that caught his attention was "chips."

It signified a chance for high-stakes gambling, which meant a chance to win big.

Sure, Westley had snagged a prize of 120,000 yuan, but that was a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the pricey medicines needed for his training.

More money was always better. Who would ever complain about having too much?

And when it came to taking risks, Westley was no stranger to gambling with his life back in his mercenary days.

"Alright, count me in," Westley agreed without hesitation.

Ethan was taken aback.

He thought he'd have to spend more time persuading Westley.

He hadn't expected this guy to just say yes.

This guy really doesn't play by the rules.

"Westley, are you sure you want to do this?" Sienna's brow furrowed with concern.

Truth be told, she wasn't keen on getting involved with Ethan.

She had a hunch about Ethan's ulterior motives and doubted his integrity. His competitive nature seemed to have intensified over the years.

After taking a hit like that, he was now eagerly extending an invitation to Westley.

She was convinced there was a catch to it and wouldn't believe otherwise.

"Yes, I'm in," Westley confirmed.

Westley nodded, silently affirming to himself, "I'm in it for the money."

"Alright, I'll come with you," Sienna declared, her resolve firm.

She only felt at peace by Westley's side.

Ethan couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Everything was unfolding as planned, flawlessly so!

Westley, didn't you just embarrass me?

Wait until we're at the Golden Palace, and I'll have you make a fool of yourself!

I'll reclaim my dignity tenfold, a hundredfold!

With his vengeful fervor momentarily shelved, Ethan led the way with feigned enthusiasm.

The Golden Palace was right across from the mall where they had dined.

Its name blazed in three large golden neon letters, exuding grandeur.

As they crossed the street, Sienna whispered, "Westley, be cautious. Ethan's probably got ulterior motives."

"I'm aware," Westley replied with a nod.

"You are?" Sienna's eyes widened in surprise.

"Of course! If I were in his shoes, wouldn't I seek to restore my pride after such a setback?" Westley said, his smile unwavering.

"But if you know that, why still go?" Sienna struggled to find the right words.

"Isn't there a saying, 'knowing the mountain has tigers, yet still heading towards Tiger Mountain'?" Westley supplied.

"Exactly!" Sienna agreed.

"He won't be able to cause much trouble."

Westley's smile was brimming with confidence. "There's another saying I believe in: 'Without braving dangers, one cannot achieve success.'"

Seeing Westley's grin, Sienna's worries began to fade.

Having spent the day with him, she was starting to get a read on Westley.

He might come off as slick, but his actions were methodical.

He had managed to recover bad debts and even provided aid to a sick person they came across.

These acts alone were testament to Westley's abilities.

Thus, her trust in him was slowly taking root.

At the entrance of the Golden Palace, an array of luxury cars lined the curb.

Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, even a rare Maybach, with the least of them being S-Class Mercedes and a fleet of six-figure vehicles.

The crowd exiting the cars was a mix of striking men and women, along with some high-society individuals in sharp suits.

As Ethan strolled along, he was busy boasting to Westley about the owners of the luxury cars they passed by.

But in the midst of his grand tales, a Rolls-Royce pulled up to the entrance of the Golden Palace. The car itself wasn't the most impressive—its price tag didn't even match that of a Ferrari or Lamborghini. What stood out was its license plate: 8888.

Once the car came to a halt, the doorman promptly approached and swung the door open.

Out stepped a woman clad in red, and in that moment, she was the epitome of a vibrant red rose in full bloom. Her presence was a visual spectacle that effortlessly captured the gaze of all onlookers.

Her curls tumbled freely over her shoulders, framing a face that could have been lifted from a canvas. Her lips were a striking red, and her ample bust was partially revealed, its whiteness stark against her attire.

Her waist was slender and supple, perfectly accentuating the fair, long legs that peeked out from the slit of her red dress.

In one word, she was beautiful.

In two words, very beautiful.

Her allure was one of mature sophistication and undeniable seduction, even without any overt flirtation.

A term darted through Westley's mind: tease.

She was the quintessential tease.