Anna tilted her head to dodge me, her pupils dilating, a flash of fear crossing her glamorous face in an instant.

Half of what I said was fact, and half was exaggerated. Although I still hadn't fully deciphered Christian even now, one thing was clear: he didn't like unsettled women, especially those filled with ambition.

Anna emerged from the restroom pale-faced, and I didn't forget to pat her on the shoulder: "Youth is the cheapest thing there is, so you aren't actually superior to me at all."

By the time we walked out, the banquet was already halfway over. Christian was looking for me, and seeing Anna walking behind me, he seemed to realize something: "Unhappy?" I said no. I looked back at the resentful Anna: "The young lady is quite beautiful."

Christian curled his lips into a smile. Someone in the distance toasted him, and he picked up a glass of red wine, held it aloft across the crowd, gave a slight nod to the other party, and took a sip. Only after a long while did he look back at me and softly remark: "Not as beautiful as you."

I glanced at Christian's attire: "Why are you wearing the tie I gave you today?" In the past, he absolutely would never have worn anything I gave him to a public event.

Christian: "What, is that a problem?"

He had been very serious lately—too serious, giving one the illusion that he was a man one could rely on. My mind wavered slightly, the alcohol flushing my cheeks a faint red: "How could it be, I couldn't be happier."

Christian didn't stay long at the banquet before another phone call summoned him away. Logan had promised to pick me up in a bit, so I found a remote spot to sit and wait. No sooner had I sat down than someone called out to me.

"Mrs. Christian."

William stood by the spiral staircase in the lobby, nodding at me with a smile. Today, he wore a white turtleneck sweater and simple black trousers, his sleeves slightly rolled to reveal a stretch of cold, white wrist.

Compared to his graffiti shirts and ripped jeans, his aesthetic this time was mainstream enough, yet amid a crowd of guests in sharp suits, his casual attire looked somewhat out of place.

William exchanged a few words with a friend beside him before walking toward me: "What a coincidence."

I remained seated, lifting my eyes to look at him: "Please, stop calling me that." Hearing it was truly irritating.

While speaking, I checked my phone, wondering why Logan still hadn't come to get me.

William remained easygoing: "Did you come alone, Miss Chloe? Why don't I see Mr. Christian?" I said he was occupied.

Glancing around, William offered a radiant smile: "Stop looking, he didn't come."

I: "..."

Which eye did you see me looking for Julian with?! I was merely terrified of crossing paths with this great deity again. The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward, but fortunately, Logan called.

"The car broke down?"

Logan: "It's nothing major, currently being repaired, but it will take some time..."

I: "Fine, I see, I'll figure out a way home myself." William was listening on the side. After I hung up, he smiled: "A car is coming to pick me up in a moment, want me to give you a ride on the way?"

I didn't decline, nodding in agreement. I thought to myself that William seemed approachable enough; why was he so indifferent to Sera's pursuit? They had first met in a bar, where sparks had practically flown, yet now that the girl was being proactive, he hadn't offered the slightest response. I couldn't help but feel anxious for Sera.

Chapter 46: Afraid of What You Dread

The banquet hadn't ended, but William's car arrived early. Stepping into the vehicle, I was stunned; afraid of what I dreaded, there was someone else sitting in the car besides the driver: Julian. I froze while holding the door, feeling thoroughly deceived, and asked William: "Isn't this your car?"

Before William could speak, Julian patted the empty seat beside him: "We meet again, sit." I took a deep breath and sat in the back row, pressing my body firmly against the door to keep the maximum distance between us.

This time, he didn't resort to his usual sharp tongue. A thin stack of files lay on his knees, covered in densely packed text, and he soon lowered his head to focus his attention on the documents. The man wore a white shirt with two buttons undone, revealing a beautiful collarbone. His eyelashes were lowered, his profile focused.

The car moved steadily along the road, the interior completely silent. Sera's phone call came at an inopportune moment, so I lowered the volume. On the other end was Sera's excited voice, giggling: "Do you know what I discovered when I was working on a project with my tutor in the office yesterday?"

"Photos of William and Julian!" Sera exclaimed in disbelief: "They graduated from our school too, they're my upperclassmen."

I looked up at William and Julian, hesitating over whether to tell her I was currently in the car with them.

Sera said they had both attended undergraduate studies at this school, three years ahead of her. She had asked a third-year graduate student, who told her the two were incredibly popular on campus, especially beloved by the female students. After graduation, they had even been invited back by the school as outstanding alumni to participate in the anniversary celebrations.

Sera: "It's a pity I was too excited at the time, I even forgot to take a picture, waah waah."

"You didn't see, their student photos were so innocent, a completely different feeling from now."

"Both of them could have debuted as a duo, why are they even doing business."

"Especially Julian. My William is already handsome enough, but he was effortlessly crushed by Julian. What kind of godly looks does Mr. Julian possess? He's handsome to a whole new level!"

Sera's voice hadn't been loud initially, but as she spoke, her emotions inflated, her volume rising by twelve degrees. By the time I realized something was wrong, Julian and William had turned their heads in perfect unison, their eyes fixed on me without moving.

The atmosphere inside the car turned eerily quiet. I remained silent for a moment and, ignoring Sera's excited rambling, hung up the call with an expressionless face. Raising my head slowly, I looked at the two of them and offered a dry cough as an explanation: "A lunatic."

I had never felt this embarrassed in my life.

Julian let out a laugh, leaning back as his Adam's apple bobbed: "Your friend is quite something. Is she the girl who's been pursuing William? Do you need William's number? I can help her out." William remained silent. Julian tore half a sheet of blank paper from his files and scribbled a string of numbers, handing it to me.

His arm rested on the seat in front, and he patted William's shoulder: "Aren't you usually quite casual? How come you're not reacting when a young girl pursues you?"

William's expression darkened. His self-esteem as a former cover model was being crushed by Julian, an outsider—and to make matters worse, the person saying this was the very girl pursuing him. I sighed silently, sending a message to Sera: Forget about pursuing your William brother.

For a long time after that day, I never saw Julian again.

Chapter 47: Engagement Banquet

Christian also grew busy. Crystal's mother had undergone surgery and wasn't recovering well, so Christian visited often, his trips home increasing while the times he came to me dwindled. In the span of a week, I barely saw him twice.

On Monday, he sent over a box. Opening it, I found a thin, tulle-textured off-shoulder gown. When Christian returned that night, I had just stepped out of the shower. Loosening his tie, he pinned me against the sofa for a long kiss. I hooked my arms around his neck, panting: "You're finally back."

Christian pulled me onto his lap, stroking my hair, his voice raspy: "Does the gown fit?"

"Prepare ahead of time, pack your luggage. Next week, accompany me to Macau for a banquet," he said, "An engagement party."

The moment Sera heard I was going to Macau, she listed a massive string of items for me to bring back. I called her: "Little ancestor, have mercy on me, do you think I'm going on vacation?"

Sera: "Just treat it as going out for fun! By the way, who is getting engaged?"

I said I didn't know. Christian had many friends, and over the past two years, he had brought me to countless banquets, big and small. I was merely accompanying him, and beyond that, I neither cared nor inquired.

The day of departure coincided with my period, and feeling unwell, I forced myself to endure a several-hour flight. The location of the engagement was a villa in the suburbs, quite a distance from the airport. A private transfer was arranged, and after a grueling journey, my body felt like it was falling apart. By the time I reached the hotel to change into the evening gown, I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep.