Inferno Hearts | Xu Minghao

43. Vengeance and Secrets

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Minghao and Nabi spent the whole day at the beach, enjoying the peaceful moments they rarely had. Evening came quickly, and before heading home, they had a nice dinner at a good restaurant.

Nabi found herself utterly taken aback by Minghao's abrupt change in behavior. Just a mere week ago, his actions had left her emotionally wounded, and now he was the one introducing her to the beach for the very first time. Today was also the first time they had a meal together.

However, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Minghao appeared genuine and not at all pressured, he genuinely seemed to enjoy their time together. Yet, an inexplicable unease lingered within Nabi, casting a shadow over their newfound connection.

As they made their way back to the penthouse, Nabi failed to stay awake, her eyelids heavy with exhaustion. Minghao, ever observant, gently retrieved his jacket from the back seat and draped it over Nabi's legs, providing her with a touch of both privacy and warmth. Whenever the car came to a halt at a red light, he couldn't resist stealing glances at her.

In the penthouse, the members gathered around the dining table, joined by Lia. Dino, his curiosity tinged with concern, couldn't help but notice Lia engaged in a conversation with Jun and Wonwoo. Leaning slightly towards Joshua, he whispered, "Hyung, do you think Minghao might have done something to Nabi? It's getting late, and they haven't shown up yet."

"Dino, try not to worry. They'll probably be here soon. I highly doubt Minghao would do anything of the sort, especially considering that without Nabi, our entire plan for the event would be at risk," Joshua whispered reassuringly to him.

Dino nodded slowly, reassured by Joshua's response. Just as they shared this, Minghao and Nabi made their entrance into the penthouse, instantly capturing the attention of everyone present. All eyes turned towards the duo, curiosity etched on their faces.

As Minghao and Nabi walked in, everyone's eyes turned to them. But one person stood out from the crowd – they looked both frustrated and hurt by their entrance.

Minghao, stood there, dressed casually, car keys in his hand, with Nabi by his side. She wore a delicate floral dress, adorned with Minghao's jacket draped gently over her shoulders. However, she couldn't help but feel self-conscious under the scrutiny of so many eyes fixed upon her.

As Lia laid eyes on the couple, a scoff of disdain escaped her lips. Out of everyone in the room, she seemed to be the most deeply affected by their presence. She couldn't fathom how Minghao could casually go on dates with someone she believed to be his sister's murderer.

As the two approached the table where the members were gathered for dinner, Nabi offered a slight bow as a sign of respect. Some members reciprocated with nods, but not all. When Nabi's gaze met Lia's, an unspoken tension seemed to fill the room, casting a palpable sense of unease.

"Where have you been?" Lia spat out, her eyes locking onto Nabi's, addressing Minghao. "Did she show you where she buried Min's body? Or do you even know, because your dear father probably took care of it?"

Minghao swiftly intervened, his irritation evident in his voice as he retorted, "Lia, you'd better keep to your own matters. You know very well I won't let our long history excuse such comments."

Nabi, unwilling to entertain any further exchanges with Lia, silently retreated to her room without casting another glance in Lia's direction.

"Drama queen," Lia scoffed under her breath, her tone dripping with sarcasm.