Chapter 4

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Nathaniel, you—"

A sudden ringtone cut me off.

It also interrupted Nathaniel’s childish attempt to punish me.

Noticing the redness in my eyes from the pain, he seemed to regain some sense of reason.

His grip loosened slightly but he still didn’t let go.

Unable to break free, I kept my face cold and answered the call right in front of him.

"Miss Lane, hello."

Before I could speak, the other person greeted me first.

The voice was deep and smooth, carrying a magnetic quality like an electric current humming through the receiver.

"I’m… Liam Reid."

...

Most of what I knew about Liam came from my father’s generation and the financial news.

He was the young and accomplished head of the Reid family and a true golden child of fate.

It seemed that no amount of praise could ever feel excessive when attached to his name.

But Nathaniel had never liked his uncle.

With a cold scoff, he once said, "Do you know how the family describes him?"

"How?"

"A businessman so calculated that he even considers which foot to step out with first to maximize his advantage."

The sharp clack of billiard balls colliding echoed through the air as Nathaniel lowered his cue.

Frowning, he warned me seriously to stay away from that man.

"In his eyes, people and things are only divided into two categories—useful or worthless. Someone like that… do you really think he’s capable of sincerity?"

His tone was laced with disdain.

I stayed silent.

But I couldn’t help recalling my last encounter with Liam.

It had been purely by chance.

Wanting to escape the crowd, I stepped onto the balcony for some fresh air only to realize someone was already there.

The man, who should have been the center of attention at the banquet, stood in the shadows instead.

His neatly styled hair had fallen out of place, stray strands brushing against his sharp brow bone.

Through the haze of cigarette smoke, our eyes met.

There was an unmistakable edge of dominance in his dark gaze.

But in the next second, it faded into his usual indifference.

"Sorry."

Noticing the slight furrow of my brows, Liam stubbed out his cigarette and stepped aside, offering me his spot.

I asked politely, "Are you heading back?"

He hesitated for a moment before pulling the corner of his lips into what seemed like an unfamiliar attempt at a smile.

"It’s rare to find some peace and quiet here. I thought I’d be alone."

I smiled.

Even though Nathaniel and I grew up together, I couldn’t say I was particularly familiar with his uncle.

So, after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Liam returned to the banquet hall.

I thought that was the end of it until a waitress suddenly approached me with a glass of warm water and a packet of painkillers.

"The gentleman said that rather than an extra coat, you might need this more."

I was startled.

Looking around, I quickly realized something—I had unknowingly been standing in the only spot on the balcony shielded from the wind.

A sharp pain in my lower abdomen made it impossible to ignore the gesture.

Swallowing down the warmth creeping up my ears, I murmured a quiet thank you.

But I couldn’t help it—my gaze drifted toward the crowd, seeking out the man who stood out no matter where he was.

Instinct told me that Liam wasn’t as distant and unfeeling as people claimed.

But back then, I only had eyes for Nathaniel.

When I noticed the slight jealousy in his expression, it only made me more determined not to show Liam any extra kindness just because of his striking looks.

I almost found it amusing.

Still, I played along until I turned and locked eyes with a deep, unreadable gaze.

Liam.

I had no idea how long he had been standing there, or how much he had overheard.

A flicker of awkwardness crossed my face, followed by an inexplicable sense of guilt.

Nathaniel, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered as he raised an eyebrow.