Chapter 173 - Second Uncle

Lina hated parties. She despised gatherings. And especially disliked networking events. The thought of putting herself out there with a fake smile and fake personality repulsed her. She wanted to do nothing but curl up in a library and read her books. But that wasn't going to get her the chairwoman position. That'd only go to prove her grandmother right.

"You're not going?" Lina asked.

The dress had finally arrived a few days later. Sure enough, Jay had performed beyond her wildest imagination. If the first dress was a draft, this was the masterpiece that no one could imagine. The tulle dress had many airy layers forged from white, silver, and glistening crystals that would capture the light wherever she turned.

The bodice wrapped upwards like glamorized dove wings with a pleasant dip. There were two straps attached to give it a modest appearance. Paired with heels, the dress barely grazed the ground. Her neckline was left bare, for people to admire her collarbone.

"No—" Kaden froze at the sight of her beauty.

Kaden was at a loss for words. He could've sworn her Goddess form appeared right before him. She was a vision to behold. Not even the greatest painter could capture her beauty. It was never meant to be captured. No. She was meant to be admired in person, where her glamour shined the most. He had never seen something so beautiful in his life.

"Do I look strange?" Lina asked, touching her bare neck and chest.

Lina had applied a thin layer of shimmering highlighter that naturally blended into her skin, but added a healthy glow. Suddenly, she wondered if the dress hugged her stomach too much.

"No," Kaden instantly responded.

"Y-you look.." Kaden couldn't describe it.

Lina was shocked. This was the first time he stuttered around her. She felt a blush rising to her cheeks. He was like a man worshiping a goddess.

"You look spectacular, as always," Kaden murmured.

Kaden approached her from behind. Even in heels, she could barely meet his height. He admired the sight of them in the mirror. She was so beautiful, he did not want anyone else to see her.

Kaden wanted to capture her, a beauty meant only for his eyes. Kissing the side of her neck, he groaned. She smelled delectable. All eyes would be on her. She was the star of tonight's celebration, even when she wasn't the celebrated person.

"How about we lounge and watch a movie in this dress instead?" Kaden whispered, even though they'd do more than watch.

Kaden kissed the nape of her neck, then behind her ears, and her throat. She let out a soft sigh, leaning into his touch. Immediately, the blood rushed to his groin. He felt himself harden. She felt it too, even through her dress. She stiffened, a soft gasp.

"Don't give me ideas now," Kaden softly rasped. He pressed an open-mouth kiss to the side of her neck. He debated marking her, for everyone to see. For everyone to know she belonged to Kaden DeHaven. And no man was going to change that. Or woman.

"You'll enjoy yourself tonight?" Kaden insisted.

Lina shakily nodded her head. She'd rather enjoy a night with him in bed. He kissed her shoulders, then the curve of them, and then, brought her hand to his mouth. He pecked her fingers, which had been freshly painted in a light coral.

"Should you need me, here's your phone," Kaden told her. He reached into the pocket of his black pants and pulled out a flat device.

Lina blinked. She had forgotten about her phone. In fact, she didn't even remember charging it! Frantically, she grabbed it.

"There are multiple miss calls from your family, especially your mother and Milo," Kaden said. "Including that obnoxious friend of yours."

Kaden peered over her shoulders, watching her quickly text the people she cared about the most. Milo. Isabelle. That was it. Nothing else. She didn't even glance at her mother's contact. He was intrigued, but said nothing. He was glad she was going to get rid of that leech.

The minute she texted Milo, her phone began to ring.

Lina worriedly looked up at Kaden, as if holding a bomb in her hands. He urged her to pick it up.

"H-hello—"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

Lina winced at his volume. She held the phone away from her ears. Milo wasn't on speaker, but his voice might as well have been.

"YOU'VE BEEN IN A COMA FOR TWO WEEKS THEN MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE?!" Milo shouted like a father reprimanding his daughter. "What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?!"

"That I'm a grown adult and older than you?" Lina responded in disbelief.

"Oh pish posh, that's bullcrap! Do you know how worried we were when my stupid brother-in-law's men came to pick up your stuff? I thought you were kidnapped and held captive!" Milo hollered over the phone.

Lina blinked. She didn't have the opportunity to speak. Milo continued his rant.

"Mother almost fainted when she heard you were officially marrying Kaden. The entire Yang family is riddled by this news, our relatives are quickly on the move, they're worried about how many shares your husband has!" Milo exasperated, unable to contain himself from the ramble.

"How many shares my husband has?" Lina repeated in disbelief.

"Many."

Lina's head snapped up. Kaden smirked down at her, his eyes flashing with amusement. She opened and closed her mouth, but he simply winked.

"Yes! Do you know?" Milo asked. "No one is telling me anything. With the workings of our government, we're unable to know. It's not in public records, since Kaden is not a politician, thus, his stock shares aren't aired."

"I don't know," Lina mumbled.

"It seems enough to shake up Second Uncle and his entire team of people. He was certain his oldest son would inherit the role!" Milo shouted.

At the mention of her Second Uncle, Lina's entire body froze over. She felt a cold chill down her spine. Her breathing grew heavy with fear.

"Be careful out there, okay?" Milo whispered. "You know, now that I think about it, I'm so glad you moved into Kaden's house. The protection there must be better, even if you're going from one cage to a prettier one."

"Y-yeah.." Lina managed to say.

"Are you alright?" Milo asked.

"I'm.. fine," Lina forced out.

"Really," Milo insisted. "If you're at home, you'd be ambushed much easier. Make sure you tell your husband I said to protect you properly!"

Kaden grabbed the phone from Lina's hand. His hearing was heightened from his Pure-Blood abilities. He could always hear the conversation on the phone, especially if she was standing this close. That, and her brother's voice was unnecessarily loud.

"Watch out for yourself too, kid. I've got your sister handled." Kaden hung up the phone.

Kaden moved to give it back to Lina, but found her pale with nerves. Her eyes were shaking and her breathing came sharply. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. She was trembling now, her face aghast. She looked like she saw how she'd die.

"Dove," Kaden coldly said. "Who did this to you?"

"I-I—"

"Breathe," Kaden reminded her.

Lina forced handfuls of air into her tight lungs. She raised her head and peered up at him. She didn't want him to see her like this. She didn't want him to know how weak she was.

"You've been so strong," Kaden reminded her, but his voice was like an icy night.

He was calm in the face of calamity. Nothing terrified people more than his composed expression. Violence was predictable. Indifference was not. He was out for blood and you wouldn't even know.

"Now, rely on me some more," Kaden urged her.

Lina couldn't say it. She couldn't physically open her mouth. It was not like her Second Uncle violated her. He was never that sleazy. No. He was the one who gave her trust issues. The one that reminded her to trust no one, especially powerful men.

"Did he touch you?" Kaden sharply asked.

"No."

historical

"Then—"

"I have it handled," Lina meekly told him. "Do not worry. He wouldn't dare to kill me."

Not with Lawrence alive, at least.

Lina was willing to bet the only reason her Second Uncle didn't take things too far was because Lawrence was still alive. His influence in the company was still at large, even if his shares were not. Lawrence could pull the strings and cause her Second Uncle's bridge to come tumbling down like it was made of popsicles.

But only if Lawrence was still alive.