Chapter 7 Friends

"Bro, let's go there," Isabella, who had silently taken her place behind Julian, nudged him. Her face was inscrutable, betraying no emotion.

"As the guest of honor, sit here!" As Julian approached, someone immediately vacated a spot for him. He took the seat with ease, his piercing eyes unabashedly roaming over Ethan and his companion. "And who might this be? You're quite secretive, Ethan. Aren't you going to introduce her to us?" Ethan tenderly squeezed the girl's hand and said with a smile, "This is Lily Parker, my girlfriend. Please don't tease her too much, Julian. Otherwise, who will compensate me if she gets scared away? And Lily," he whispered into her ear, "just call him ‘Julian’.”

Upon hearing Ethan's introduction, Lily looked up at Julian and greeted him with a warm smile, “Julian, nice to meet you." Her delicate eyebrows and the crescent moon curve of her eyes when she smiled were enchanting. With her exquisite features, she appeared as an alluring pearl, impossible to look away from.

Lily Parker was ushered by Isabella into a private screening area. As soon as she settled into her seat, Isabella grabbed the remote, her face beaming with mischief. "Lily, what type of movie do you enjoy? However, as great as this place is, it's no match for the big screen. I'll reserve tickets for you the next time there's a premiere. Oh, silly me! Ethan, that madman, must take you out all the time, right?"

"Ethan, the madman," was Ethan Hart. That's how she had affectionately referred to him since their childhood. At one point, she thought she'd call him by that nickname forever...

"He's often busy, so most of the time I watch on my own," Lily replied, laughing lightly. Yet, her gaze settled on Isabella's impeccably manicured nails, their soft pink reminiscent of March peach blossoms. She then glanced down at her own pristine fingers, momentarily lost in thought.

Isabella, sensing her unease, lifted her chin and teased, "What's holding you back? Not used to such settings?"

Lily was taken aback by the question. After a pause, she replied, "It's been nice; everyone's been so welcoming. Maybe it's just post-exam exhaustion."

The soft light from the wall sconces illuminated her slightly tense face, its paleness verging on translucence with barely a hint of color. She wasn't naive. From the way they looked at her, she knew their warmth was limited and conditional—it existed solely because she was Ethan's guest. Had Ethan not introduced her to them as his girlfriend so earnestly, they might've viewed her as just another fleeting amusement.

But how could she easily integrate into Ethan's world? She had told him long ago that they were mismatched, but he never heeded her words. Instead, he forcefully entered her world, making her sink into the tenderness he offered. However, no amount of sweetness could hide the stark differences in their backgrounds. Luxury cars, fine wines, glamorous women – all were unfamiliar extravagances to her.

After a contemplative silence, Isabella said with a playful grin, "You know, Lily, you can't just spend all your days in the music room practicing. You'll become socially isolated. It's about time you started hanging out more with Ethan and us. Familiarity will come in time. You know, in a way, I was a matchmaker for you two. How do you plan on thanking me? Offering yourself in return, maybe?"

Lily's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, her ears burning. Shyly she retorted, "Isabella, you're making fun of me again!"

Lily Parker was gently pulled into the private screening room by Isabella. As soon as they settled in, Isabella playfully picked up the remote and dimmed the lights. Under the soft luminance of the screen, her expression turned slightly more opaque, a shadow of pensiveness clouding her usual mirth.

Ethan Hart was in high spirits tonight, and it appeared luck was on his side. By the end of the evening, he had won a significant hand in their game, much to the dismay of his companions. As the game concluded, Ethan hurriedly approached Lily, who seemed on the verge of tears, her hand clutching a tissue. Concern and a touch of anger evident in his eyes, he gently drew her into an embrace while casting a stern look at Isabella, as if blaming her for not watching over Lily well enough.

Isabella's expression flickered with hurt, but she maintained a smile, laughing it off. "Oh, come on, Ethan. Don't look at me like that. It's just that the movie was emotional, and our dear Lily here is quite sentimental. Ask her if you don't believe me!"

"That's all?" Ethan asked, still not entirely convinced, his gaze softening as he looked down at Lily's tear-streaked face. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Lily responded, her voice soft and nasally. "It's the movie's fault. Those lovers were torn apart...” She tried to playfully pout at Ethan but suddenly became self-conscious when she realized the attention they were drawing. To her surprise, her gaze met Julian Sterling's, who was leaning casually against a doorway, an amused smirk on his face.