Chapter 4 So What if She's His Girlfriend

• So What if She's His Girlfriend
• Mark did as he said. He acted like a model boyfriend by taking her to school to settle her graduation matters and acted like a loving couple in front of everyone.
• However, he would let her hand go in disgust once nobody was watching. He wouldn't even look at her.
• Abby didn't know how to deal with this cold treatment. She wanted to break up with him as that was better than them hurting each other now, but Mark refused. In the next few weeks, Abby stayed at her best friend, Roselia Summer's house. She had never gone home even once.
• She was still tormented by her nightmares as usual tonight, but then Abby was woken up by her phone. When she opened it, she saw that it was Mark's message for her after he had come out from some entertainment center. 'My cousin is going to have a birthday party tomorrow. Dress up for it.'
• Abby sighed. How did we get to this?
• The next night, Mark came to pick her up on time.
• Abby's hair was tied up in a bun, with a few strands of hair by the side of her ears framing her face nicely. She was wearing a light green dress. She didn't look too outstanding when coupled with her fair, lovely skin, but she looked gentle and clean enough.
• There was a trace of surprise in Mark's eyes before it was immediately replaced by disgust.
• Mark's cousin was the eldest daughter of Gibson Group, one of the top noble families in Achroite. Not only did her parents come from rich and famous families, but they were also honorary professors hired by world-class research centers. As they spent their lives in research, they only had one daughter—Natalie Gibson.
• However, the thing that made Natalie famous throughout Achroite was the news of her engagement with Jeremy, the heir of the Hawkin Family.
• Even though Natalie came from a rich family, marrying into the Hawkin Family and being the young madam in that family was still an honor for her.
• Abby came into the villa holding Mark's arm. The banquet hall on the top floor was filled with dazzling lights that illuminated the delicate dishes on the tables as well as the guests who attended this party.
• The hall was already crowded at this moment as it was filled with the sounds of people, men and women alike, talking.
• A figure stood arrogantly within the hall. Natalie was wearing a cocktail dress that showed off her back today. She had beautiful makeup on tonight, so everyone looked at her in astonishment, much to her delight. As she elegantly walked down, the woman started chatting with her friends.
• Beside her was her best friend Cecilia Campbell, also a prominent figure in the socialite circle. She had an innocent look but a smoking-hot body that attracted many eyes. She was casually glancing around when her eyes lit up at the sight of Mark at the door.
• "Nat! It's Mr. Stone!"
• Hearing that, Natalie looked in Mark's direction and smiled. "What? Still trying to woo my cousin? He has a partner today, see?"
• "Hmph, that's just his partner. So what? I'm not even scared, even if that's his girlfriend." Cecilia then whispered something to her, and the pair beamed before coming over.
• "You came just in time, Mark." With a smile, Natalie pointed at Cecilia. "Cecilia told me that she just got a moonstone. She said it's really pretty under the moonlight, so now she's asking you to take a look with her."
• Cecilia smiled gently and blinked at Mark.
• It wasn't as if she hadn't teased Mark before. He just usually didn't care about it or would pretend not to understand.
• However, Mark, with a gracious smile and lowered gaze today, responded in a relaxed tone. "No matter how beautiful a gem may be, can it compare to the 'Heaven's Kiss' that my cousin-in-law reportedly auctioned for 18 billion?"
• Last month, the world-renowned sapphire necklace "Heaven's Kiss" was purchased by the Hawkin Family as a birthday gift for Natalie. Tonight, it hung exceptionally radiant and dazzling around her neck.
• Natalie smiled sweetly and shyly before she looked somewhat displeased toward the entrance, complaining, "He hasn't arrived yet. It's almost time for the opening dance."
• Mark withdrew his arm and coldly addressed Abby, who was left standing aside as if invisible, "Stay here. I'll be right back."
• Abby remained silent for a moment and lowered her gaze. "Okay."
• Cecilia exchanged a surprised glance with Natalie, but she soon happily approached and intimately linked arms with Mark as they left together.
• Abby raised her gaze, watching the back view of the two as they walked away, a hint of pain passing through her eyes.
• "Are you Mark's girlfriend? You look quite familiar…" Natalie arrogantly raised her chin and casually spoke as she glanced at Abby, who had her head down, lost in thought.
• If Abby were to admit it, Natalie would have to give her some advice. With Abby's status, she wasn't worthy of the Stone Family.
• Abby turned around to look at her. "I am just Mr. Stone's partner." She smiled.
• The moment she turned around, Natalie was stunned.
• On Abby's immaculate, pure white face, only a hint of makeup adorned her features. Her finely crafted eyebrows and eyes resembled a work of art. Her long, straight hair was elegantly pulled up with a white jade hairpin, a simple yet graceful and elegant adornment, but it exuded a sense of refinement and youthful vitality.
• Even as a woman, Natalie couldn't help but be captivated.
• She is gorgeous!
• Abby's exquisite facial features, combined with her unique air of nobility, were especially eye-catching.
• Natalie's eyes momentarily flickered with discomfort and jealousy, but she quickly resigned herself to the situation.
• What good does it do to be so attractive? With her lowly background, she can't enter our social circle; at most, she would become a plaything for the wealthy. It is better to be sensible.
• Natalie nodded absentmindedly and then turned to greet other guests.
• Meanwhile, Abby suppressed the pain in her heart, grabbed a drink, and aimlessly hid in a corner, gazing at the opulent decorations as she drifted into a daze.
• Those stained glass lamps… look so familiar.
• Abby's gaze was suddenly drawn to the exquisitely crafted stained glass lamps, and a peculiar feeling washed over her.
• Why do they look so familiar? These clearly look like expensive custom-made decorations. Where have I seen them before?
• When she was about to take a look, a sudden blackout plunged the whole villa into darkness.
• A moment of silence ensued before it was replaced by the sounds of commotion and screams.
• Mark, who had been passionately kissing Cecilia in the corner of the terrace, suddenly froze, furrowing his brow as he lifted his head to gaze into the hall. However, he couldn't see anything at all.
• A blackout.
• Mark knew Abby had nyctophobia. When they were on their first date, he didn't know she was afraid of the dark, so she clutched his hands and trembled with her eyes closed during the movie.
• As he reminisced about the past, Mark reflexively let Cecilia go and was about to search for Abby in the hall.
• She must be terrified.
• However, Cecilia caught his shoulder before he could walk away. Shyly, she purred, "Let's take this to my room, Mr. Stone."
• Since she was best friends with Natalie, there was a room for her in Gibson Villa.
• As a man, Mark knew what she was suggesting.
• "My partner is still inside." He frowned in frustration. Even so, he didn't reject the offer outright.
• Cecilia didn't think too much about it and continued to giggle. Although the woman from earlier was drop-dead gorgeous, anyone could sense the coldness emanating from Mark. Cecilia wouldn't have succeeded so easily otherwise.
• "We can just send a maid to tell her to go back later," she replied without hesitation, burying her head in the man's strong chest.
• Mark's eyes remained fixed on the hall, but his mind was filled with the undeniable memory of the suggestive marks on Abby's neck from that day.
• A dull ache pierced his heart, and he gave a bitter smile that couldn't be seen in the darkness.
• "Sure," he replied.
• …
• Did the power go out, or was it a circuit breaker trip?
• In the moment darkness descended, Abby clung to herself in fear, her body trembling involuntarily.
• She bit her lower lip in an effort to hold her scream in.
• The hall became more raucous, filled with the laughter or gasps of the guests. It was obvious that they weren't afraid. Most only thought this was fresh and exciting.
• The atmosphere in the venue suddenly became noisy, with the sounds of laughter, exclamations, and chatter filling the air. However, it was evident that most people didn't feel scared; they even found it particularly thrilling and novel.
• Where is Mark?
• Her eyes frantically scanned her surroundings, but she couldn't see anything. All she could perceive was a sea of darkness!