Chapter 6 A Voice for Lila

A tall man descended from the upper floor, his bearing severe and his features honed to an edge. He said, "You let an impostor move in on your turf and lead you around by the nose. One way or another, you'll regret it before long." Lila instinctively turned toward the voice. He was very tall, broad-shouldered, and trim at the waist, carrying himself with unmistakable authority. His nose was high-bridged, and his lips were pressed into a firm line. He looked young, yet there was something cold and untouchable about him. Lila didn't recognize him, but she thought that the voice sounded familiar. Serena and Damian finally got a clear look at the man's face and froze in place. Was that Rhett, the Dravens' eldest heir? Why would he speak up for Lila? The Crosses and the Harts carried weight in Evermere, but they were still a long way from the Dravens. No one had ever managed to unseat the Dravens at the top of the business world. People in Evermere wore any connection to the Dravens like a badge of honor. Meanwhile, Rhett was a once-in-a-century business prodigy. He kept the family's ventures thriving, and the research center he oversaw, Syntrex Research Center, was among the best in class, drawing the leading medical talent from both within the country and abroad. He rarely appeared at events like this. So why was he here that day? After pulling herself together, Serena forced an awkward smile and said, "Mr. Draven, you don't know Lila. She keeps picking on Erin. We don't even have to check the surveillance footage to know that this is her fault. "Get moving, you brat. Can you even afford the consequences of ruining Mr. Draven's mood?' Lila lowered her gaze, her nails biting into her palms. A stranger could speak up for her, yet the people closest to her didn't have a single shred of trust in her. She no longer felt like arguing. She'd be leaving them soon anyway. But when she struggled to her feet to leave, Rhett smirked, stepped forward, and blocked her path. "I may not know her, but I'm not blind or oblivious." He glanced over his shoulder at the security guard and coldly said, "Pull the surveillance footage. This occurred at a Draven Group hotel. Let's get the facts straight to avoid any dispute." Serena frowned, uncertain what Rhett was after. Damian's expression soured. From the way Rhett handled it, he was clearly siding with Lila. He wondered if the two of them shared a past. The security team pulled up the surveillance footage at once. In the video, Lila and Erin spoke so quietly that no one could make out their words, but the moment Erin slapped herself was captured clearly. Damian and Serena were stunned. They didn't know why Erin would do something like that. They turned back to Lila. Her face had gone pale with pain, and for a moment neither of them knew what to say. After a long beat, Damian finally spoke. "Lila, I-I'm sorry. There must be some misunderstanding. I'll go ask Erin and make sure you get an explanation." Lila smirked, contempt glinting in her eyes. Erin had flung a baseless accusation, and Damian blew up, convinced that Lila was at fault and insisted that she apologize. Even now, with the surveillance footage showing Erin framing Lila, he still called it a misunderstanding. Before, Lila hadn't known the truth and could still tell herself a different story. But now, she understood exactly where he stood, and how stark the line was between love and indifference. She had only ever been a means to curry favor with Erin from the start. Who was she to measure herself against Erin? "Don't bother, Mr. Cross. If there's nothing else, I'll be going." Lila gave Damian a polite smile, then turned to Rhett and pursed her lips. "Thank you, Mr. Draven," she said, reaching for the railing to head upstairs. Unexpectedly, Rhett spoke up. "I'll walk you up. I happen to want a word with you." Lila paused, caught off guard. "Me?" They had never met before, so what was there to talk about?