Alexandrea sauntered into her condo, greeted by the rhythmic clapping of Yuan's hands.
"What's that for?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Your acting skills were so believable earlier," he replied, his admiration evident in his voice. "Even Ian was fooled. He totally thought you were in love with him."
Alexandrea smirked, savoring the satisfaction of her deception. Her revenge plan was well underway, and she wasn't about to stop now.
Alexandrea and Yuan sat on the plush sofa, their silhouettes bathed in the warm glow of the floor lamp. The steady rhythm of Yuan's clapping had subsided, and the only sound in the room was the gentle ticking of the clock on the mantel.
"So, what's next?" Yuan asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Alexandrea smiled enigmatically. "That's for me to know and you to find out," she said. "But one thing's for sure: Ian is going to pay for what he did."
Her voice was laced with venom, and Yuan could tell that she was deadly serious. He nodded, his expression grim.
"I'm with you all the way," he said. "I'll do whatever it takes to help you get your revenge."
Alexandrea leaned forward, her eyes locked with Yuan's. "Good," she said. "Because I'm going to need your help."
She paused for a moment, her mind racing. She had already formulated a rough plan, but she needed Yuan's expertise to execute it perfectly.
Yuan's heart skipped a beat as he saw Alexandrea’s lips. They were so full and inviting, like a ripe cherry waiting to be plucked. He leaned in closer, his breath mingling with hers.
Alexandrea felt Yuan's lips hovering over hers, and she felt a flutter in her stomach. She had been drawn to him from the moment she first met him, but she had been too focused on her revenge plan to act on her feelings.
But now, as she felt his warm breath on her lips, she couldn't resist any longer. She closed her eyes and leaned in, meeting his kiss halfway.
Yuan's lips were soft and demanding, and Alexandrea melted into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with equal passion.
Their tongues danced together, exploring each other's mouths. Yuan's hands roamed over Alexandrea’s body, igniting sparks of desire.
Alexandrea felt herself melting with pleasure. She had never felt this way about anyone before. She wanted to give herself to Yuan completely, but then she remembered her revenge plan.
She pulled away reluctantly, her eyes filled with longing.
"I can't," she whispered.
Yuan looked at her in confusion. "Why not?" he asked.
"I have to focus on my revenge," Alexandrea said. "I can't let anything distract me."
Yuan sighed in disappointment. "I understand," he said. "But please know that I'm here for you, whenever you're ready."
Alexandrea smiled gratefully. "Thank you," she said. "I know I can count on you."
She stood up and turned to leave. But before she walked away, she turned back to Yuan and gave him one last look.
"I'll see you soon," she said.
Then she turned and walked out the door, leaving Yuan standing there alone, his heart still racing.
Alexandrea continued to work on her revenge plan, but she couldn't stop thinking about Yuan. She had never felt this way about anyone before. He was kind, intelligent, and handsome. And he seemed to understand her in a way that no one else ever had.
But she knew that she couldn't let her feelings for Yuan distract her from her goal. She had to stay focused on her revenge.
*****
Alexandrea’s heart pounded in her chest as she served the volleyball over the net. She spiked the ball with all her might, and it sailed over the heads of the opposing team, landing squarely on the floor.
The crowd cheered, and Alexandrea’s teammates mobbed her, high-fiving her and congratulating her. She smiled and laughed, but her mind was elsewhere.
She had seen Javier standing on the sidelines, watching her play. He was wearing a black hoodie and sunglasses, and he was trying to blend in with the other spectators.
But Alexandrea knew exactly who he was.
Alexandrea felt a surge of anger and resentment. She remembered what he did and wanted to confront him, but she knew that she couldn't afford to do anything that would jeopardize her revenge plan.
She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the game. But it was no use. Her mind was too preoccupied with Javier.
After the game, Alexandrea went to change her clothes. She opened her bag and was about to put her volleyball gear away when she noticed something was missing.
The bracelet that Javier bought for her.
"Are you looking for the bracelet?" Javier asked.
Alexandrea’s heart sank. She had no idea why Javier had the bracelet.
She didn't know what to do. She was too scared to confront him, but she also couldn't ignore the fact that he had the bracelet.
Alexandrea’s heart pounded in her chest as she glared at Javier. "Why do you have my bracelet?" she demanded, her voice laced with anger.
Javier raised an eyebrow. "Is it yours or Andrea's?" he asked coolly.
Alexandrea’s breath caught in her throat. She couldn't afford to tell him the truth. She couldn't afford to tell him that she and Andrea were the same person.
"It's mine," she lied. "How did you get it?"
Javier's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the bracelet in his hand. "Andrea gave it to you?" he repeated.
Alexandrea nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that she was taking a risk by telling him the truth, but she didn't see any other way.
"Yes," she said. "She gave it to me as a gift."
Javier shook his head. "I don't believe you," he said. "Andrea would never give you something so precious."
Alexandrea’s eyes widened in anger. "How dare you!" she exclaimed. "Why wouldn't she give it to me?"
Alexandrea’s vision blurred with tears. She couldn't believe that Javier was saying this.
"I don't care what you believe," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. She grabbed quickly the bracelet from Javier. "But the truth is that Andrea gave me this bracelet. And I'm not going to give it back to you."
Javier got angry.
He turned and walked away, leaving Alexandrea standing alone.
Alexandrea watched him go, her heart heavy with despair. She didn't know what to do.