Joanna looked down and saw her foot on top of Julian's. Her face burned in embarrassment and she mumbled awkwardly, "I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
"You're dancing with me. If you're not paying attention to me, who are you paying attention to?" Julian asked her casually.
Joanna stepped on Julian's foot out of anger this time, and hissed, "Why did you have to say that? I'm already in a tough spot here!"
Wasn't it obvious? Of course, she had been focusing on Ace. She felt like a thief prying into other people's business when Julian called her out like that.
After a while, the song came to an end, and the lights went out.
Julian suddenly let go of Joanna's waist. He spoke just loud enough for Ace and the others to hear them. "Since we aren't good dance partners, why don't we try exchanging partners?"
"What?! Exchange partners?" Joanna sputtered, but before she could react, Julian started walking towards Shirley. He reached out to her. "Shall we dance?"
"I…" Shirley's cheeks turned red as she looked at Julian, who resembled Ace. She was flattered by the attention. They were both extremely attractive men, and each had their own unique traits, it was honestly hard to choose.
Shirley instantly replaced Joanna as the most envied woman in the bar.
Suddenly, Ace spoke up. "I think exchanging partners isn't a bad idea."
After that, he let go of Shirley and walked up to Joanna, staring deeply into her eyes. "Let's dance."
Although Joanna wanted to refuse, she subconsciously put her hand in his.
The music that came on next was known as a freestyle waltz.
Joanna's dancing wasn't too bad. Almost like a conditioned reflex, she straightened her spine, and she and Ace began dancing effortlessly.
This actually wasn't the first time they had danced the waltz together. Although they didn't like each other, they danced very smoothly together. From afar, they looked like a match made in heaven.
The waltz was a relatively romantic dance, so their bodies were practically melded together. They could even feel the other's warmth.
Joanna's nose was near Ace's chest, and she could smell his unique peppermint scent. For a moment, she indulged in it. "Mr. Moran, are you feeling lonely? We divorced not that long ago, but you've already moved on to a college student?"
Joanna immediately regretted asking him. As his ex-wife, she was in no place to ask him that question.
Ace, meanwhile, was enjoying dancing with Joanna under the spotlight." How do you want me to answer that?" He asked slowly.
"I don't really care." Joanna pretended to be indifferent. "The girl looks quite naive, so I just felt sorry for her. If you want to play around, I suggest you try with someone on your level. Don't hurt her, or she'll be scarred for life."
"She is certainly naive, just like you were three years ago…" Ace murmured, looking down at the woman in his arms. He tightened his grip around her waist and studied her face intently. "So, have you
not moved on.
Joanna's face turned red for some reason, and she avoided Ace's gaze. Her mind went blank, and she didn't know how to answer him.
Fierce pride rose in Ace and he continued triumphantly, "Your silence tells me that I'm right. You still have feelings for me, don't you? You can't move on."
Joanna had nowhere to hide. She made several mistakes while dancing and Ace's feet suffered the consequences,
She was a coward! Joanna was furious at herself, and gathered the courage to speak. After taking a deep breath, she looked up daringly into his eyes." Mr. Moran, it seems to me that you're very self- obsessed. I had never fallen for you to begin with, so how can I move on?"
"You're acting tough again…" Ace sighed, then leaned down to murmur in her ear, "You know very well that you're in love with me."
Joanna's face turned even redder. She wanted to deny it. but the song suddenly came to an end. Ace immediately went back to his indifferent self, and let go of Joanna. Though they had both been dancing intimately a moment ago, they were now behaving as if they didn't know each other. They both kept their distance from each other.
Much to Joanna's disappointment, Ace turned around and looked for Shirley again. Once he found her, he walked up to her and asked, "Do you want to have a drink with me?"
Shirley had been distracted when she danced with Julian earlier. Her eyes had only been on Ace and Joanna. Although Julian was also very charming, her feelings for Ace were stronger.
It had been love at first sight.
Shirley didn't want things to end between her and Ace and was hoping he would take things further. Hence, when Ace asked her that, she felt excitement bubble up in her. She nodded hastily and said, "Sure, it's an honor."
The two of them walked past Joanna, not even sparing her a glance.
Joanna, meanwhile, felt as if a car had just run her over. Her heart ached and her face crumpled. Ace Moran was pure evil!
Julian shrugged nonchalantly, a little upset that his plan didn't work. "I tried my best."
Joanna and Julian returned to their seats.
Liam was a little worried when he saw Joanna's crestfallen expression. He asked with a frown, "Boss, are you alright? Did that jerk say something mean to you when you danced together earlier? You seem to be in a bad mood."
"Isn't that expected of him? There's nothing surprising about it." Joanna picked up her glass of fruit wine and finished it in one gulp. 'You're already divorced, and yet, you still let that jerk affect you,' she thought to herself angrily.
Liam felt sorry for Joanna, especially since he knew she was pregnant with Ace's children. That scumbag had actually openly flirted with another woman!
Liam clenched his fists tightly. "Boss, what did he say to you? Tell me! I'll beat him up!"
Joanna looked up and smiled bitterly. "Sure, go ahead. Come back to me once he's dead."
Joanna was only joking. She knew full well that Liam might look like a rebel, but he was way smarter than he looked and wouldn't do anything rash.
To her shock, Liam picked up a wine bottle and began walking furiously toward Ace's table…