Chapter 3: Eyes Gave It Away

Jerome adjusted the cuffs of his black suit one last time as he stood outside the grand Astoria Hall, trying to swallow down the frustration twisting in his chest. The building shimmered like something out of a dream, towering glass, gold-trimmed doors, a red carpet stretching like a royal path

He wasn’t ready for this.

He wasn’t ready to meet his mother’s soon-to-be husband.

And he definitely wasn’t ready to pretend everything was normal.

But here he was.

“Jerome?” a soft voice called behind him.

He turned and stopped breathing for half a second.

Vanessa.

She stepped toward him in a silky midnight-blue gown that hugged her like a secret. Her black hair fell over one shoulder in soft waves, her lips red, her perfume familiar enough to tug sharply at his heart.

She was beautiful. Heart-stoppingly beautiful.

But something felt… off.

Her gaze kept dropping away from him, almost instantly.

Her hold on her clutch was too tight.

She smoothed her hair for the third, fourth, fifth time.

“Vanessa…” He stepped closer. “Are you okay? You look…”

“Fine,” she cut in too quickly. “Just… nervous. Big night and all.”

“Nervous?” He frowned. “About what? This is my mother’s engagement dinner, not yours.”

She gave a tiny laugh, but it was thin, brittle, a sound that cracked before it even left her mouth.

“And you know I’m terrible with formal events.”

“Vanessa.” Jerome gently caught her wrist before she could fidget again. “Look at me.”

She hesitated, then lifted her eyes.

And Jerome felt something in his chest tighten.

Not fear.

Not panic.

Guilt.

Her pupils flickered away after barely a second.

Her lips trembled with words she clearly didn’t want to say.

Her shoulders rose with the weight of something unspoken.

“Talk to me,” he whispered.

She shook her head, forcing another small smile, a smile he’d known long enough to recognize as fake.

“I’m okay, Jerome. Really. We should go inside. Your mother’s waiting.”

She slipped out of his hold and walked toward the doors before he could stop her.

But not before he caught something unmistakable:

A heavy conscience.

A weight in her eyes.

A constant awareness of someone she didn’t want to look at.

Jerome followed her in, confusion twisting into something darker.

Inside Astoria Hall

The hall was extravagant, dripping chandeliers, golden walls, soft live music, waiters moving gracefully with trays of champagne.

Yet even among all the sparkle, all Jerome saw was Vanessa.

She stood beside him, but not with him.

Shoulders stiff, eyes constantly shifting away.

Avoiding faces.

Avoiding him.

Avoiding something in the room.

“Vanessa…” Jerome whispered as they wove through guests. “You’re shaking.”

“It’s c-cold,” she muttered.

“It’s warm here.”

She didn’t respond.

Jerome narrowed his eyes, following her gaze,every time she had one. She kept glancing toward the center table, where “Miranda Liu” and “Akihiko Tanaka” were written in crisp lettering.

“Are you worried about meeting my mother?” he tried again.

“No,” she said too quickly.

“Then what’s wrong?”

Her breath stuttered, but she offered no answer.

Jerome reached gently for her chin, turning her face toward him.

And there it was,not fear.

But something deeper.

Heavier.

Guilt-ridden.

Like seeing someone you shouldn’t see.

Like walking into a place where a secret wasn’t supposed to follow you.

“Vanessa,” he said quietly, “who are you avoiding?”

Her eyes widened, then darted away instantly.

Not even a second of eye contact.

“Please…” she whispered. “Not here, Jerome.”

Before he could push further, the atmosphere around them shifted.

The music softened.

Guests turned toward the entrance.

Jerome followed their gaze.

His mother walked in, regal, radiant in silver, poised like a queen. But beside her…

Akihiko Tanaka.

The man who would soon be his stepfather.

Tall.

Sharp.

Impossibly polished.

Carrying himself like he owned the entire hall.

Jerome’s jaw clenched.

But beside him, Vanessa…

Her entire posture collapsed inward.

Her breath caught.

Her hands tightened around her clutch until her knuckles whitened.

She looked down quickly, refusing to look anywhere near Akihiko’s direction.

Avoidance.

Pure, unmistakable avoidance.

“Vanessa?” Jerome murmured. “Do you know him?”

She didn’t answer.

Instead, her gaze dropped to the floor, shoulders tensing under the weight of whatever she was hiding.

“Vanessa… talk to me. Did something happen between…

“Jerome,” she whispered sharply, “not now.”

But the truth was already spreading coldly through his chest.

She knew Akihiko.

And she didn’t want to see him.

Not out of fear, but guilt.

Like someone trying to hide evidence of a crime they willingly committed.

Akihiko’s eyes scanned the room, slow, measured.

Until they landed exactly on them.

On her.

Vanessa’s breath stilled.

His expression didn’t change.

But something flickered in his gaze.

Recognition.

Private.

Intimate.

Jerome felt something twist painfully inside him.

Vanessa’s grip tightened on his sleeve, not in fear, but dread of being seen.

“Jerome,” she whispered, voice trembling with conscience rather than fear, “we need to go.”

Jerome instinctively stepped in front of her. “Why?”

But she didn’t answer.

Because Akihiko Tanaka was already walking toward them slowly and deliberately, like he knew exactly what he was approaching.

Vanessa lowered her head, eyes fixed on the marble floor.

Avoiding him.

Avoiding everything.

Akihiko stopped in front of them and extended a hand.

“Jerome Liu,” he said with a cool, practiced smile. “It’s an honor to finally meet my future son.”

Jerome didn’t take the hand.

Not when Vanessa was practically shrinking behind him.

Not when Akihiko’s quick glance towards her wasn't neutral.

It was knowing,

Remembering.

Confident in a way that made Jerome’s stomach turn.

And in that moment, Jerome understood:

This wasn’t just an engagement dinner.

Jerome could feel something heavier in him, something keeps telling him something huge is going to happen but he could place his hands on it.