Ryan didn't notice his friend's surreptitious glances at the other family's daughter because he was too engrossed in watching the upper-class crowd indulging themselves in diamonds, dazzling outfits, and the scent of high-end perfume from famous brands. Among them were a few acquaintances, but mostly strangers."They're all smiles and chatter on the outside, but inside, everyone is trying to conceal their true nature," Ryan remarked with a fleeting smile, his bright black eyes continuously observing. Then, he replied nonchalantly, "I have to admit, I'm not exactly thrilled to be here either.""Well, we'll just have to endure it together," the lawyer patted his shoulder, taking two champagne glasses from the tray as the server passed by and handing one to Ryan.Ryan calmly accepted the glass and continued to scan the surroundings. Currently, both of them were standing near the corner of the wall, in a position perfectly suited to oversee the spacious room filled with numerous guests. O
Everyone was surprised, mixed with confusion and curiosity, especially Ryan. Inadvertently, Ryan and Mason exchanged glances, conveying their mutual bewilderment to each other. No one could have guessed that Ivy knew Luke, the youngest son of the Evans family.As for Ivy, she followed the reaction and turned her gaze towards the person who called her name. A moment of silence ensued as Ivy's eyes met Luke's, and it seemed like the whole world stopped spinning at that moment.Wow! Ivy silently praised and admired. Luke's handsome appearance truly captured everyone's attention, not just Ivy's. After a moment of stillness, Ivy realized that he was her client; they had exchanged photos to recognize each other. With Luke's sudden appearance and intervention, Ivy momentarily forgot about her awkward situation and hastily lifted her slightly damp posterior off the floor."Luke!" she exclaimed, sheepishly smiling. She appeared embarrassed by her own clumsiness, not due to any lack of professi
While Ivy was engrossed in her work, Luke stood quietly, observing every small gesture of Ivy with evident pleasure.At this moment, Ivy approached a rack of clothes, reaching out to select a dress. She scanned continuously, her eyes darting, but still couldn't find what she wanted. This was indeed her weakest area, and with little interest, Ivy quickly felt a headache and struggled to make a decision. Truth be told, today's outfit was suggested by Jena, who had an atrocious fashion sense."I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, but could you help me choose a dress?" Ivy reached her breaking point, unexpectedly turning to Luke for assistance. "I have no idea what to wear; there are too many options here. And I don't know what would be suitable for me."Ivy's casual remark took Luke by surprise, and Ivy herself was astonished at what she had just said.Luke had been quietly observing, but when Ivy asked for her opinion, he stepped forward and stood next to her."Is it okay for you to let me c
After a moment of shy glances, Ivy decided to break the previous silence. She wanted to steer the conversation in a different direction to alleviate the awkwardness.Ivy smiled brightly and gently asked, "What do you think of the dress? Do you think it suits me?""It looks great," Luke genuinely complimented. He quickly snapped out of his stillness as Ivy spoke up: "Indeed, the dress suits you.""Perhaps you're just saying that to please me. I'll have to verify for myself," Ivy declared, then promptly stepped outside, scanning around for a mirror. She wanted to see how she looked. It turns out there was no mirror; someone had forgotten to place one in the room. In fact, there was a mirror, but it had accidentally been broken earlier due to the hotel being too busy, and the staff hadn't had time to replace it."What are you looking for?" Luke asked curiously, noticing Ivy's anxious expression."There's no mirror here," Ivy remarked with a hint of disappointment."Perhaps the hotel over
"Thank you so much!" Ivy said shyly, then lowered her head to look down at her neckline. Ivy admired the delicate necklace, handcrafted with precision, when suddenly Luke spoke up."It's not over yet.""What else?" Ivy exclaimed in surprise, a hint of curiosity mixed with apprehension.Once again, Ivy was taken aback by Luke's actions as he reached out to touch her ear without permission, wanting to put on a pair of earrings for her. Because she had become accustomed to Luke's impulsive gestures, Ivy remained silent, allowing him to finish what he was doing. Besides, Ivy saw no reason to refuse the items Luke lent her. Everything was to enhance Ivy's beauty. Ivy being beautiful meant Luke would feel proud and pleased with Ivy in front of others.Perfect, that's what Luke realized as he admired his handiwork."Do I need to touch up my makeup?" She looked at him for his opinion as Luke had stepped back a few paces. He thought she looked beautiful enough already. However, when he saw he
"Got it! I'll do my best; I won't let you down." Ivy drew Luke's attention back with a confident statement. "I hope we'll have pleasant cooperation." "I'm really looking forward to collaborating with you. I'll also do my best to support you to the best of my abilities," said Luke sincerely."That's great to hear; thank you so much," Ivy exclaimed excitedly."To be honest, I'm not expecting your performance to be impressive or perfect," Luke interrupted his train of thought, deciding to clarify his desires to Ivy. "So, don't put pressure on yourself.""Okay," Ivy smiled, silently grateful for the client's easygoing nature."Is there anything else you'd like to say or anything you need me to clarify?" Luke gently inquired."Basically, I've grasped the key points of the issue," Ivy confidently stated. "I believe I'll handle this situation well.""Then I'm reassured," Luke smiled. "Let's quickly get back to the banquet." "You're right," Ivy agreed.After whispering to each other, they f
The deep sigh from Ivy caught Luke's attention. He immediately looked at her, concerned. "What's wrong?" Luke asked gently. "It's nothing," Ivy shook her head, dismissing it. "I'm just lost in thought; you don't need to worry about it." Knowing that Ivy didn't intend to share her thoughts and worries, Luke couldn't force her. So, he decided to pretend to trust what Ivy said, even though he felt deeply concerned for her. "Why don't we join in the fun with everyone?" Luke suddenly suggested, aiming to lift Ivy's spirits and help her blend into the atmosphere. He suspected that she might dislike such fancy parties that are difficult to approach like this one. "How about dancing? It can help clear your mind of all worries." She smiled brightly, timidly nodding her head and slipping her arm into Luke's waiting one, just as the band started playing the familiar party tunes.
"It was thought to be someone else; turns out it's Ryan Blake," a familiar guest greeted Ryan, taking the liberty to welcome him. "Please feel free to sit."No one at the table objected to Ryan's presence. The previously serene atmosphere was shattered, and everyone quickly reverted to an uneasy, anxious demeanor.With permission granted, Ryan casually pulled out a chair and sat down. He deliberately chose the empty seat to Ivy's right and took his time settling in. Mason swiftly took the seat right next to Ryan.Ah! This unforeseen situation is truly a nightmare!Ivy suddenly felt a knot in her stomach, discomfort creeping in as Ryan sat down. On the other hand, Ryan keenly noticed Ivy's tension and silently mocked her. Ivy's concern was justified; who would have expected to be caught here, especially by Ryan, someone who never missed a chance to corner her and undermine her?Th