Chapter 614

If his younger brother weren’t so obviously smitten, Michael might have asked for Aria’s number himself. At their level, wealth and power were already givens. What else was left to chase but beauty? And a woman this stunning—refined instead of vulgar, elegant instead of gaudy—was nearly impossible to resist.

In that moment, Michael finally understood why Shawn could leave home for ten years and still hold onto her memory. If she had looked like this even a decade ago, it wasn’t hard to imagine why no other woman overseas had ever measured up.

Sean had already noticed Michael’s gaze lingering on Aria. He gave a pointed cough, snapping him out of it. When Michael looked up, he met his friend’s amused, teasing eyes.

Michael quickly pulled back, smoothing over his lapse with casual small talk. He exchanged pleasantries with Sean and Christina, but even as the conversation moved along, his brother remained glued to Aria’s side, laughing and chatting as if the rest of the banquet didn’t e