2

Zac extended his hand, and the chilling aura emanating from him silenced everyone in the vicinity.

Stella Williams lowered her head and hurriedly walked behind Zac.

Zac raised his head, and with a contemptuous look in his eyes, he scanned the reporters who had just asked questions, as if scrutinizing a criminal.

"Miss Williams, she's my invited companion. My wife is feeling unwell today and couldn't attend the event. It was my mishandling of the situation that caused some misunderstandings, and I hope everyone can forgive me."

As soon as he finished speaking, the reporters and guests who had just spoken began to defuse the tension.

Keen observers all understand that you shouldn't provoke Zac Jacobs.

Going up against him is a one-way ticket to disaster.

The livestream had already ended, but the last words spoken by Zac still echoed in my mind.

I was not ill. I could have attended the event.

It was just that Zac didn't allow it.

For so many years, very few people had truly seen me. I never went to those social scenes, and my father never insisted on it.

I sighed and sat on the balcony, lost in thought.

In my younger days, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I was full of youthful vigor and enthusiasm.

As soon as I returned to the country, I began to take over some of my father's responsibilities at work. Everyone thought that this little girl wouldn't be able to achieve much in the business world and advised me to give up, but I refused.

The less people believed in me, the harder I worked to achieve success.

In just a few short months, the projects I led skyrocketed to the top of the industry, and major companies were eager to collaborate with us.

As a result, the Quinn Group firmly established itself in the business world and became one of the industry giants.

Everything was going smoothly.

Until Zac returned from abroad, with someone new by his side, Stella Williams.

Zac, for her sake, began to dismiss all the frivolous distractions around him, including me.

I started to feel anxious.

Since childhood, I had grown up alongside Zac, and in his world, besides me, it seemed like no other girls ever appeared.

Not to mention someone who could pique his interest.

No matter who it was, he always wore a cold and distant demeanor.

On that New Year's Eve, my parents went abroad for business, and the streets were bustling with activity, filling the entire city with a lively atmosphere.

I stayed home alone, not going anywhere.

As the New Year's bell was about to chime, I heard Zac's voice, thinking it was a hallucination.

"Anna."

I raised my head, and the doorbell at the entrance rang. I opened the door to find Zac holding fireworks under the moonlight, his eyes glistening with a faint watery sheen.

"Anna, Happy New Year!"

His finely scattered bangs partially covered his eyebrows. In the gentle, mist-like starlight, the man's dark and profound eyes exuded the tranquility of a peaceful time.

The man's melodious voice echoed above, and at the same time, the pitch-black sky behind him bloomed with colorful fireworks.

At that moment, my heart suddenly began to flutter.

So, that was what it felt like to have a crush.

I had always thought I was an exception, but it wasn't until Stella Williams appeared that I realized that all these years, I had merely been indulging in self-delusion.