Standing Next To You-Chapter 463: Meeting Richard

Ten minutes earlier...

"Bei Sangyun?"

Bei Sangyun whipped her head around, startled to see someone she hadn’t expected. She tried to shake off the hand gripping her arm, but his hold was too tight. She glared at the hand and scowled, "Let go."

Richard only tightened his grip, his eyes roaming over her. "It’s really you. It’s been nearly five years... You’ve grown. Much prettier, too. Life must’ve been good to you."

Bei Sangyun felt a wave of discomfort at his gaze, laced with obvious malice. If they weren’t at the Royal Banquet, she would have slapped him for looking at her like that.

"I told you to let go," she warned.

But Richard leaned in, his alcohol-laden breath brushing her ear. "I still remember how you framed me back then. Imagine getting accused like that—when I hadn’t done a thing. I wouldn’t feel this bad if I’d actually touched you that night."

Bei Sangyun’s eyes darkened. She stomped hard on his foot. Richard yelped and, instinctively, let go of her arm.

She quickly pulled her arm back, rubbing the sore spot where he’d gripped too tightly.

"If you had actually touched me back then, you wouldn’t be alive today." Her words cut through the air, stirring bitter memories from her past life.

In that life, Richard had sneaked into her room and tried to force himself on her. She had fought hard and managed to escape, yet the Lin family sided with him. They believed his story, that she was the one who had snuck into ’his’ room to seduce him.

Thinking back, she realized she’d gone too easy on him.

Richard laughed at her threat. "Kill me?" His laughter stopped abruptly, and his gaze turned cold. "You should have. Because now, seeing you doing well, I have a new purpose. I can’t just let you live happily with the Jameses. Not after what you did to me."

The Jameses?

Bei Sangyun frowned. Why would he associate her with the James family? Was it because of the dance?

She paused.

Did everyone think the same thing after she danced with William? Did Fei Chuan think that too?

However, before she could dwell on it, Richard stepped toward her again, reaching out.

Bei Sangyun stepped back to avoid him, but Richard, taller and with longer arms, quickly caught hold of her arm.

"Don’t cause a scandal here, Richard," Bei Sangyun warned. "This isn’t a place where you can easily hide your actions."

"Even better," he sneered. "My reputation’s already ruined. This is my last chance with my family. After this, I’m nothing. I might as well take you down with me."

Bei Sangyun frowned. She wasn’t afraid of Richard, but this was the Royal Banquet. Causing a scene here wouldn’t just damage their reputations—it would make enemies of everyone present. All her hard work to be here would be wasted. And there would be no hope for her company to reach the top of the global market.

But more than anything, she worried about Fei Chuan. She didn’t want him to see her humiliated like this.

"You want to blame me for what happened to you?" she said, meeting his gaze steadily. "I was only a small part of your downfall. It was your own actions that ruined you."

She stepped closer, holding his gaze. "If your ’gentleman’ act had been genuine, maybe I would have fallen for you."

Richard, who was visibly angered since earlier, paused at her words.

Taking advantage of the moment, Bei Sangyun pulled her arm free. "There’s a private room in the lounge. If you want to keep blaming me, let’s go there. I doubt you want to destroy your family’s name. You wouldn’t want Mr. Simon to suffer a heart attack from the shame, would you?"

Without waiting for his reply, she turned and left the hall, hoping he’d follow. She’d dealt with desperate people before. Judging by the madness in Richard’s glare, he seemed ready to act on his threats. He was unhinged, prepared to drag her down with him.

She quickly took out her phone and sent a message.

Sure enough, she heard footsteps behind her. Richard was following.

She sighed in relief. At least he still had enough sanity left not to seek his own destruction—and his family’s—with reckless abandon.

They left the hall and entered the lounge. Bei Sangyun opened the door to one of the private rooms, but as soon as she did, Richard shoved her inside and quickly locked the door behind them.

Bei Sangyun just watched him lock the door calmly.

As soon as the door clicked, he turned around to push her against the wall, trapping her in the corner.

"Are you planning to compensate me for what you did?" His gaze raked over her. "You know, I found you attractive five years ago. But now...damn, you’re even more desirable." He tilted her chin up, his eyes filled with lust.

Bei Sangyun met his gaze steadily, though she was disgusted inside. She slapped his hand away. "Don’t you mind looking this desperate? As you said, I ruined you once, and I can do it again. Back down now, and I’ll pretend none of this happened."

Richard laughed at her defiance and lifted her chin again. "You really do know how to manipulate people. Even though I know you’re just baiting me, I can’t help but want to take the chance." He leaned in, whispering in her ear, "Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should get a grip and pursue you the ’right way’ this time."

A chill ran down Bei Sangyun’s spine. She glanced at him in shock—he really must be out of his mind.

How could he still desire someone who’d ruined his entire life?

"Maybe that’s why I’ve been so angry," he continued, his voice low and intoxicated. "Because I couldn’t let you go. You destroyed me, but I can’t get you out of my head." His gaze drifted to her neck, his eyes darkening.

"I swear, I’ll make you mine—"

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The door flew open as Lin Sanju burst in, two security guards flanking him.

Seeing Richard pinning Bei Sangyun against the wall, he cursed and immediately shoved Richard away.