Chapter 1

The night sky stretched out like a deep, inky canvas, dotted with shimmering stars that twinkled like golden threads left behind by a celestial seamstress.

A winding path snaked through the darkness, faintly visible like a shadowy tunnel leading into the unknown. It was the kind of road that could inspire unease in anyone traveling alone.

Yet, amidst the stillness, a singing voice broke through the silence.

"Walking down the country road, an old ox keeps me company… lalalala… Ah, I messed up the lyrics again! Guess I'm just not cut out for singing."

The clear and melodious voice seemed to dissolve the night's gloom, filling it with warmth.

"Ugh, I can't believe Clover left me to walk home alone. I'm never going to share my snacks with her again," Nelly Albright grumbled, pouting in dissatisfaction.

It had been Clover Reagan's turn to walk her home, but an impromptu class reunion had thrown a wrench in their plans. Left with no choice, Nelly had to head home by herself.

She hopped lightly as she moved. Her steps radiated confidence, and her petite frame was lively against the somber night, like a fearless fairy dancing in the moonlight.

"Lalala, lalala—"

Suddenly Nelly stumbled, and she screamed as an icy hand gripped her ankle.

"Ah! Who are you? Let go of me!" she shrieked, struggling to free herself.

As she wrestled with the sudden restraint, the person spoke up. "Help… me."

It was a man's voice, low and magnetic yet chilling.

"W-Who are you?" Nelly stammered, her voice trembling.

"Help me," the man repeated firmly before slipping into unconsciousness.

Cautiously, Nelly crouched down, straining to make out his features in the darkness. However, his face was shrouded in shadows.

"What should I do? Should I help him?" she mumbled to herself, feeling torn. "But I can't just leave him here either… Whatever, saving a life is the right thing to do."

Having made up her mind, Nelly mustered all her strength to help the tall man to his feet. Her small frame contrasted sharply with his imposing stature.

"Good grief, this must be what they call a 'cute height difference,'" she muttered wryly.

Instead of calling a cab, Nelly was ever thrifty and decided to walk the short distance home. By the time they arrived, her clothes were soaked with sweat.

Exhausted, she let go of the man without thinking, and he landed on the floor with a heavy crash.

"Oops, sorry! Didn't mean to do that," Nelly said apologetically.

Summoning what strength she had left, she hauled him onto the couch before getting her first aid kit.

Although her place was small, it was neat and inviting.

When Nelly returned to the man's side, she noticed something peculiar—a golden mask adorned his face. It was intricately carved with a lifelike dragon, exuding a mysterious and sinister air.

While Nelly couldn't see his face, her mind had already begun to wander with endless imaginings.

"Huh. Must be hiding a hideous face," she muttered with a hint of disdain.

Still, his weakened state quickly prompted her to crouch down and examine his injuries.

Nelly unbuttoned his shirt and was shocked to discover a gunshot wound on his abdomen. Fortunately, it didn't hit any vital parts.

"Oh my God! What trouble have I gotten myself into?" she whispered in disbelief.

Nelly shook her head to dismiss her thoughts. Since she had brought him back, it was only right to help him deal with his injuries.

Carefully, Nelly began tending to the man's wounds, mimicking what she'd seen in TV shows. Though her hands trembled throughout the process, she gradually grew more adept.

She used an alcohol swab to gently clean and disinfect the area around his abdomen. Once done, she set her tools aside and stretched with a satisfied sigh.

"I should've been a doctor," she muttered proudly.

She darted into her room to grab a blanket and draped it over the man. Glancing at his still figure, she returned to her desk and pulled out her assignments.

Nelly was only a sophomore in college, but she knew that constant effort was the only way to avoid falling behind.

With that thought in mind, she picked up her phone and sent a text to someone in her contacts. However, there was no reply even after more than ten minutes.

"Must've gone to bed. I should work on my assignments," she murmured, trying to console herself.

"Ugh…"

Just as she was settling in, the man on the couch let out a soft groan, his forehead beaded with sweat.

Recognizing the signs of a fever, Nelly sprang into action. She fetched a basin of cool water from the bathroom and placed a damp towel on the man's forehead.

She had lost track of how many trips she'd made until her legs felt like they were about to give out. Thankfully, the man's fever subsided at last.

Slumping over her desk, Nelly resumed studying. Before she realized it, her eyelids grew heavy, and she slowly drifted off to sleep.

…

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room, bathing it in a warm, gentle glow. It brought a sense of tranquility, leaving one feeling peaceful and refreshed.

The man stirred on the couch, his fingers brushing against his temple as he awoke to unfamiliar surroundings.

As the memories of the previous night resurfaced, a menacing expression crossed his face. Nonetheless, it disappeared as soon as he heard an unexpected voice.

"Fried chicken, ice cream, creamy pasta… Delicious... They're all mine!" Nelly mumbled in her sleep, a glimmer of drool escaping her lips as she dreamed of food.

Matthew Yorke paused when he realized she was the one who had saved him. He studied her sleeping face and found her particularly beautiful with sunlight spilled across her features.

Though Nelly wasn't extraordinarily stunning, she was still considered charming. Her big eyes, delicate nose, and rosy lips complemented each other perfectly.

As he gazed at her, his usually cold heart stirred for the briefest moment.

His eyes then shifted to the assignment sheets scattered across her desk before noticing the absence of a blanket on her. For some reason, he had the urge to cover her with one.

But as he rose, the pain in his abdomen caused his body to lurch forward.

Matthew tried to steady himself but struggled to maintain his balance due to his injury. Luckily, he managed to prop himself up with his hands on the desk, or else he might've squashed Nelly.

Yet, his lips inadvertently brushed against hers.

Chapter 2

Matthew pulled away as if shocked. His movements were swift and precise as he was afraid of waking up the sleeping Nelly.

Nevertheless, Nelly remained blissfully unaware, lost in her dreams. The corners of her lips even curled into a slight, contented smile as she murmured, "Mmm, pork ribs… delicious."

The unexpected comparison brought a flicker of amusement to Matthew's face, his lips raising in a barely noticeable smile.

"With how soundly you sleep, you probably wouldn't even realize it if someone carried you off," he murmured, his voice carrying an unintentional trace of tenderness.

Just then, his phone rang sharply.

Matthew quickly retrieved his phone and silenced it with practiced efficiency. His warm expression hardened instantly, and his gaze sharpened to an icy glint.

"Speak," he commanded curtly.

On the other end, Kai Yorke, one of his personal bodyguards, shuddered at his tone. "Mr. Yorke, we've lost track of your location. Where are you?" he asked respectfully.

Although they all had satellite tracking, Matthew was the exception.

Matthew turned to glance at Nelly, a subtle trace of affection flickered in his eyes before his voice returned to its usual detached tone. "I'll send you my coordinates."

"Yes, sir," Kai responded promptly.

Ending the call, Matthew looked at Nelly.

He quietly picked up the blanket from the couch and gently draped it over her. Then, taking a pen and paper from her desk, he scrawled his name in bold, sweeping strokes—Matthew Yorke.

Afterward, he slipped out of the apartment and vanished as if he'd never been there.

…

Outside, as Matthew reached the bottom of the stairs, a convoy of sleek, limited-edition luxury cars pulled up in front of him in a flashy fashion.

Fortunately, it was still early in the morning, and the streets were mostly empty. Otherwise, onlookers would've swarmed at the spectacular sight.

Kai stepped forward and asked worriedly, "Mr. Yorke, you're injured?"

"It's nothing serious," Matthew replied indifferently.

Taking the hint, Kai didn't press further. Instead, he moved to open the door of a Porsche Cayenne.

Matthew slid into the car and unbuttoned his shirt to inspect the wound on his abdomen. Nelly's face flashed across his mind unbidden, and an imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Meanwhile, Kai nearly fell out of the front passenger seat when he caught Matthew's expression. He couldn't believe he was seeing a smile on his usually emotionless boss's face.

While Kai was bewildered, Matthew's smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. His stoic demeanor returned as he instructed, "Look into someone for me."

"Yes, sir."

When the preliminary report came in, Kai was utterly stunned to learn that the someone was a woman. He couldn't help wondering if Matthew was finally showing interest in someone.

However, the woman looked so young.

…

Psyros Group, ruler of Megham's corporate landscape, was an enigma.

No one knew the true identity of its owner. Apart from his personal bodyguards and a select circle of close friends, none of the company's employees had ever seen him.

Not even the most relentless paparazzi had ever managed to capture his appearance.

It was said that no one dared to provoke him.

How Matthew had achieved this level of untouchability was a mystery, and no one dared to inquire. And yet, the man Nelly had saved last night was none other than the elusive CEO of Psyros Group.

On the 98th floor of Psyros Group's towering office building was a sprawling office decorated in black and white. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor office offered a panoramic view of the bustling city below.

To Matthew, the cars looked as insignificant as ants. As he stood by the window, one could sense his domineering presence from his tall silhouette alone.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Kai entered, holding a file. "Mr. Yorke, here's the information you requested."

"Leave it on the desk," Matthew replied impassively.

"Yes, sir." Kai placed the file on the desk and turned to leave.

Just then, an indignant voice rang out.

"Matthew, are you trying to get yourself killed? I went through hell to heal your old injuries, and here you are risking it all again! Next time, don't count on me to save you!"

The office door swung open with a bang, and a strikingly handsome man stormed in. His complexion was smooth and fair, his features sharp and well-defined, with mesmerizing eyes that radiated charisma. His looks screamed elegance and nobility.

"Mr. Yorke," Kai called out tentatively, glancing at Matthew.

"Leave us," he ordered calmly.

"Yes, sir." Kai retreated, stopping momentarily to greet the man who'd barged in. "Mr. Murphy."

Quentin Murphy nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Kai left and closed the door behind him. Though he was concerned about Matthew's condition, he knew better than to pry.

Those who worked closely with Matthew had been handpicked through rigorous selection. Only those who earned Matthew's approval could officially become his personal bodyguard and would bear the honor of taking his last name to signify their allegiance to the Yorke family.

"Matthew, do you even care about your health?" Quentin scolded angrily.

Matthew shot him a disinterested glance before walking to his desk.

As he looked over Nelly's file, the icy expression on his face melted away, replaced by tenderness and affection that even he didn't fully understand. It was unprecedented that a simple document could evoke such change in him.

His fingers brushed his lips absentmindedly as he recalled the kiss from earlier that morning. Then, a small smile crept onto his face.

Quentin froze in shock, his mouth hung open at the sight. He felt as though the Matthew he knew had transformed into a stranger overnight.

Before Quentin could regain his composure, the atmosphere shifted. Matthew's expression darkened as his gaze lingered on the documents in his hands.

As his close friend, Quentin knew all too well what that ominous look signified. He assumed an employee must have angered Matthew and casually commented, "Matt, it's just an employee. Don't let it get to you."

Matthew, however, wasn't listening. His eyes were glued to the papers in front of him. As he read about Nelly's background, a pang of inexplicable sorrow stirred within him.

Quentin looked frustrated as he prodded impatiently, "Hey, are you going to say something?"

Matthew glanced up at him, his indifferent expression silencing Quentin immediately.

Curious about what had captured Matthew's attention, Quentin moved closer to sneak a peek. As soon as he glimpsed the information on the document, his jaw dropped.

Chapter 3

"Matt… you're… you're looking at a woman?" Quentin sputtered in disbelief.

Matthew shot him a sidelong glance, then abruptly nudged him away with his foot. He'd always had an aversion to proximity due to his almost obsessive cleanliness.

"Hey! What was that for?" Quentin protested with a look of exaggerated grievance.

"Why are you here?" Matthew asked coldly.

Quentin rubbed his leg, flashing a mischievous grin. "Come on, at least tell me who she is."

"It's none of your concern."

"We're friends! Can't I care about you?" Quentin pressed on.

"Get lost if you have nothing better to say," said Matthew as he put down the file and got to work.

"Wow, Matt, never thought you had a thing for an age gap. Didn't take you for a cradle-snatcher," Quentin teased, recalling the photo he'd glimpsed in the file.

"Not everyone is as shameless as you," Matthew retorted evenly.

Quentin scratched his nose awkwardly and said matter-of-factly, "That you don't understand. As a man, what's life without women?"

Matthew snorted. "Your heart's as big as your ego."

Quentin winced at the jab. "Can't you play along nicely?"

"Go play with your women."

"But I want to play with you."

"I'm not free," Matthew rejected without a second thought.

Quentin pursed his lips, feeling helpless.

"Why are you still here?"

Quentin was irked by Matthew's continuous dismissal. He had come out of genuine concern, yet this was the attitude he got in return!

"Forget it. I came here on business," he said solemnly.

Matthew set down his pen and finally looked up. "What is it?"

"Who attacked you last night? Any leads?"

"It was Black Hawk. They're overestimating themselves," Matthew answered with a cold chuckle. Though his golden mask obscured his expression, the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Black Hawk? They must be tired of living. Who gave them the nerve to cross you?" Quentin's voice carried a simmering anger, and a terrifying scowl morphed on his face.

"They wanted the shipment. But their appetite doesn't match their ambition."

"So what's the plan?"

"Anyone who dares to cross me will pay the price," Matthew said fiercely. The mask on his face only heightened his air of sinister arrogance.

"Don't worry, I'll have someone take care of it," Quentin assured him. Dealing with small fry like Black Hawk hardly required his personal involvement.

Matthew nodded, redirecting his attention back to work.

"You can leave now," he said without looking up.

Quentin wondered how he'd ended up befriending someone as stoic and unfriendly as Matthew. He complained, "Use me, then toss me aside. Typical."

"You came uninvited," Matthew replied flatly.

"I…" Quentin was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Close the door on your way out," Matthew added.

With a dramatic huff, Quentin turned to leave. "Fine, I'm going!"

But after taking just two steps forward, he paused and turned back with a teasing look. He asked curiously, "By the way, who was that… young lady you were looking at?"

He had wanted to say "woman", but the person in the photo seemed too young.

"You seem free. I hear Andrew's been stationed in Nuvelo for three months now. Perhaps it's time someone joined him—"

"I forgot I've got pressing matters to attend to. See you later!" Quentin cut him off and bolted out the door.

How could he forget? Just because Andrew Blaire had misspoken once, Matthew had sent him straight to Nuvelo—a godforsaken place unfit for anyone, especially not Quentin.

Matthew watched him flee and shook his head before returning to his work.

…

Quentin rushed outside and immediately spotted Kai approaching, a stack of documents in his hands. Without a word, he grabbed Kai and pulled him close, his eyes locked onto him.

"Mr. Murphy, if you stare at me like that, I might think you have feelings for me," Kai deadpanned.

"Piss off." Quentin shoved him away, and Kai let out an amused laugh.

"Kai, I've discovered something interesting." Quentin crossed his arms, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"What is it?"

"I just caught Matt looking at a photo of a young lady, and he actually smiled. But… she's way too young," Quentin said, his tone dripping with intrigue.

"That's Mr. Yorke's private matter. I have no place to interfere," Kai replied firmly.

Quentin smacked Kai on the head and chided, "You idiot. Your boss has been abstinent for 26 years. It's about time he changed things up."

Kai's expression darkened instantly. He hated when people hit him on the head. His voice turned cold as he said, "Mr. Murphy, since you seem to have some free time, why don't we spar a little?"

Quentin instantly backed away, shaking his head furiously. "No!"

He had never won against Kai in a fight and always ended up beaten into a pulp.

Although Kai was Matthew's subordinate, the three of them had been through thick and thin together and had become close friends. Thus, they would often train and spar together.

Just then, Kai's phone rang.

"Uh-oh," he muttered, his face tightening as he answered the call. "Yes, Mr. Yorke."

"Did you die on your way here?" Matthew's sharp voice boomed.

"No, Mr. Murphy stopped me," Kai answered honestly.

Quentin's face fell.

"Kai, tell Mr. Murphy he'll be taking over for Andrew tomorrow," Matthew said curtly before hanging up.

Kai put his phone away and looked at Quentin with an unreadable smile.

Quentin felt a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

"Mr. Murphy," Kai began, his voice brimming with glee, "Mr. Yorke has instructed that you're to take over Andrew's position starting tomorrow."

Quentin felt like he'd been struck by lightning.

"I'm not going!" he shouted and moved to search for Matthew.

"If you don't mind staying away for a year, then go right ahead and bother Mr. Yorke. You know how much he hates people wasting his time, and yet you're still holding me up," Kai said with a smirk.

Chapter 4

"Damn it! Why didn't you say so earlier?" Quentin stomped his foot in frustration.

"I did warn you that Mr. Yorke needed me," Kai replied calmly before walking away, leaving Quentin fuming where he stood.

As the head of the Murphy Group, being bossed around like that was infuriating. But what could Quentin do? In terms of strength, he was no match for Matthew.

With no other choice, Quentin left begrudgingly, planning to plead his case again that evening in hopes that Matthew would spare him from being sent to that desolate place.

…

"Mr. Yorke, I've looked into it. Ms. Albright is studying at Bronwich College," Kai reported, standing before Matthew's desk.

"Got it," Matthew replied coldly.

"What would you like to eat today?" Kai asked. "Given your injury, you should stick to lighter meals. I'll have Abel arrange something."

"Whatever, you decide."

Kai finished his report and quietly exited the office.

Once the door clicked shut, Matthew raised his head and murmured, "Nelly Albright."

A faint smile curved on his lips.

…

Back in her tiny rental apartment, Nelly sneezed violently. She rubbed her nose and muttered, "Who's bad-mouthing me behind my back?"

Just then, her phone rang.

"Hello?" Nelly answered groggily.

"Nelly! Do you know what time it is? Today's Ms. Tyrant's class! Are you actually skipping it?" her best friend Clover yelled over the phone.

"Wait, what? Oh no!" Nelly bolted upright, suddenly flustered and scrambling.

"Now you're panicking? What were you even doing earlier? Seriously, what's wrong with you?" Clover scolded, clearly exasperated.

Nelly paused, remembering how she had rescued someone last night. She glanced at the couch, but the man was gone. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

"He's gone," Nelly mumbled.

"What? Who's gone?" Clover asked, confused.

"A cat," Nelly lied quickly. No way was she dumb enough to reveal the truth.

"Get to class right now! Ms. Tyrant isn't going to let you off easily!" Clover continued yelling.

"Okay, okay, I'm on my way," Nelly replied good-naturedly.

After hanging up, she began hastily gathering her things.

"This is all that guy's fault! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be late. Now Ms. Tyrant's going to chew me out. Ugh, what rotten luck," she grumbled while rushing to get ready.

By the time Nelly finished getting ready, it was already 10:00 am. Grabbing her bag, she sprinted toward Bronwich College.

Getting into Bronwich College to study jewelry design had been her lifelong dream.

When she arrived, she was immediately summoned to the office by her professor, Miriam Lear—also known as "Ms. Tyrant" among the students.

"H-Hello, Ms. Lear," Nelly greeted sheepishly.

Miriam was a slender woman in her 40s. She was dressed in a sharp business suit and had a pair of glasses perched on her nose.

She slammed a test paper onto the desk. "Nelly, look at your math score!" she berated. "It's bad enough you did so poorly, but now you're skipping class too? What do you have to say for yourself?"

Nelly blinked innocently and tried to defend herself. "Ms. Lear, I had my reasons."

"Whatever your reasons, bring your parents in," Miriam said, uninterested in her excuses.

Nelly gave a wry smile. "They’re busy."

"Then tomorrow. Nelly, I'm saying this for your own good. If you don’t improve in math, you'll regret it in the future," Miriam said sternly.

"I understand. I'll have my parents come tomorrow," Nelly replied reluctantly with a nod.

"Good. You may go now. Correct every mistake on this test."

With the test paper in hand, Nelly left the office. As she headed downstairs to find Clover, she spotted someone she didn't want to see.

The woman wore a pale yellow dress paired with several-inch-high heels. Her loose hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her lips were painted red. From head to toe, everything she wore screamed luxury.

At the sight of her, Nelly instantly turned to leave.

"Nelly, wait for me!" Giselle Loftin's saccharine voice called out behind her.

Nelly couldn't suppress a shiver at the voice but kept walking without a pause.

"Stop right there! Didn't you hear your sister calling you?" shouted another woman in a white dress.

"Exactly! How rude can you be?" chimed in a girl in pink.

Nelly scoffed inwardly.

Who were they calling rude?

From as far back as she could remember, Giselle had been the one snatching everything she loved. She'd stolen her father's affection, framed her countless times, and turned him against her.

There was a time when Giselle had stolen something from a neighbor and blamed Nelly, crying crocodile tears. Her father had believed Giselle, and Nelly had borne the punishment.

Nelly couldn't understand why, despite her efforts to avoid conflict, Giselle seemed determined to make her life miserable.

"Casey, Sandra, don't say that. I'm sure Nelly has her reasons," Giselle said tearfully.

Nelly was used to Giselle's theatrics and remained silent.

"Giselle, you're just too kind. That's why Nelly keeps walking all over you," Casey Zenon said.

"Yeah. You try to talk to her nicely, and she ignores you," Sandra Pittman added.

Pleased by their remarks, Giselle smirked secretly before continuing her act, saying innocently, "No, Nelly must just be in a bad mood. Don't blame her."

"Giselle, are you done yet?" Nelly asked sharply.

"What's with that attitude? Giselle is so kind to you, but you're still ungrateful," Casey snapped.

"What a low-class brat," Sandra mocked.

Nelly unflinchingly laid a trap as she asked, "Crazy, who are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you!" Sandra spat back.

"Oh," Nelly replied with feigned realization, "so you admit you're crazy."

When Sandra realized she'd walked right into it, her face twisted with rage as she glared at Nelly.

"You bitch! How dare you insult me!" Sandra screamed and lunged at Nelly, grabbing for her hair.

Casey and Giselle stood by, enjoying the spectacle.

Giselle felt a surge of triumph. "Mark my words, Nelly. I'll ruin you," she thought smugly.

"Stop it!" a furious voice rang out.

Nelly and Sandra finally let go of each other. Nelly's neck bore a visible scratch, while Sandra's face was marked with several scratches courtesy of Nelly's nails.

Chapter 5

Clover rushed over, her face etched with concern as she checked Nelly's injuries.

"This is blatant bullying!" she roared angrily.

"She started it!" Sandra retorted, defending herself.

"Clover, don't misunderstand. This is all my fault," Giselle said weakly.

"Why are you apologizing, Giselle? You did nothing wrong," Casey said, disgruntled.

"Giselle, quit your act. Nelly moved out ages ago. What more do you want? If you dare lay a hand on her again, you'll answer to me," Clover said sullenly.

Sandra and Casey faltered at her words.

Everyone on campus knew Clover had the powerful Reagan Group backing her, and it was a force not to be trifled with. Although their families owned a company too, it was nowhere near comparable.

Giselle silently cursed Clover but kept her perfect, gentle smile intact. As always, she had to play the role of the sweet, kind girl to become the campus belle—a title that was rightfully hers.

And yet, year after year, it was Nelly who won that title.

"Let's go, Clover," Nelly said calmly.

Clover nodded.

Just as they were about to leave, Giselle hurriedly called out, "Nelly, wait a second."

"What now?" Nelly asked, not bothering to turn and look at her. She was done with this farce.

"Dad wants you to come home tonight. He says it's been a while since you've had a meal together. Oh, and my fiancé will be joining us too," Giselle said shyly.

Clover tugged lightly on Nelly's sleeve.

Nelly hadn't been home in over two months. Was her father finally asking her to return now?

"Fine. I'll be there tonight," Nelly replied before leaving with Clover.

After the two left, a subtle, knowing smile appeared on Giselle's face.

"Giselle, isn't your fiancé Nelly's boyfriend? I bet she has no idea yet," Sandra said gleefully.

"I wonder how she'll feel tonight when she finds out she's been played like a fool," Casey added smugly.

"Even though Romeo chose me, I still feel guilty toward Nelly," Giselle said, her face painted with regret, though a sly glint shimmered in her eyes.

"Don't think that way," Sandra reassured her. "If Romeo chose you, it means you're the one he loves."

"Exactly! Stop overthinking. And don't be so nice to Nelly anymore; she's not worth it," Casey chimed in, shaking her head with obvious disdain.

"Thank you both," Giselle said with a sweet smile.

…

Clover was cleaning Nelly's wound, her expression serious, while Nelly sat there pouting adorably.

"Honestly, are you still a child?" Clover teased as she tried not to be charmed by Nelly's cuteness. Then, she asked worriedly, "But seriously, are you going home tonight?"

Nelly nodded. "Yeah, he's still my dad, after all."

"Strange. Since when did Giselle have a fiancé? Did you know?" Clover asked, her curiosity piqued.

"How would I know? We'll find out soon enough," Nelly replied with a shrug.

"Oh, by the way, how are things with Romeo lately?" Clover asked with a teasing grin.

"He's been busy, so I haven't gone to see him," Nelly answered, a cheerful smile lighting up her face.

Clover flicked her forehead lightly.

"Ow! What was that for?" Nelly pouted again, her face radiating cuteness.

Clover couldn't help but laugh. "Let's head back to class."

"Okay," Nelly agreed with a nod.

…

Time flew by, and before Nelly knew it, evening had arrived. She returned home as planned.

Standing in front of the villa, she couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place.

The villa exuded luxury, unmistakably the residence of the wealthy.

Tall fences were entwined with vibrant roses and thorny vines. Expensive outdoor furniture adorned the garden, where sunlight filtered through and cast a dappled glow that enhanced the sense of opulence.

When Nelly opened the grand doors, an even more lavish sight greeted her. The grand hall was resplendent with its imposing decor and gleaming ornaments, a testament to the wealth of the homeowner.

"Ms. Nelly, you're back," the butler, Elias Lance, greeted warmly.

"Elias," Nelly replied in her soft, sweet voice.

"Please come in, Ms. Nelly," Elias urged, smiling kindly.

Stepping inside, Nelly saw her father, Stanley Loftin, laughing and chatting animatedly with Giselle.

"Nelly, you're back," Giselle said brightly.

"Come on in! Your sister's fiancé will be arriving soon," Nelly's stepmother, Hilda Hayes added joyfully.

Ignoring them both, Nelly walked straight to Stanley. "Hi, Dad."

"Nelly, where are your manners? Why didn't you greet your mother and sister?" Stanley reprimanded sternly.

Nelly let out a bitter laugh and replied in a low voice, "I have only one mother, and she has passed away. She didn't give me a sister."

"You insolent child!" Stanley bellowed. It wasn't the first time Nelly had been on the receiving end of such words.

Meanwhile, Hilda shot Giselle a subtle glance, and Giselle immediately caught on.

"It's fine, Dad," Giselle piped up gently. "Mom and I don't mind."

"See, Nelly? You should learn from your sister," Stanley said, gesturing approvingly toward Giselle.

"Mr. Loftin, Ms. Giselle's fiancé has arrived," Elias announced as he hurried inside.

"Invite him in!" Stanley said quickly.

Giselle stepped over to Hilda, and the two exchanged a knowing look as they awaited the guest.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. and Mrs. Loftin."

A smooth, warm voice reached everyone's ears, followed promptly by the appearance of a good-looking man with a fair complexion and delicate features.

His charm was a unique blend of gentleness and elegance, making him effortlessly captivating. Any woman would feel her heart skip a beat at the sight of him.

Suddenly, a sharp crash echoed through the room, and everyone turned toward the noise.

Nelly's hand had slipped, sending her glass shattering to the floor. She stood frozen, her face a mask of shock and disbelief as she stared at the man.

Watching Nelly's reaction, Giselle slowly walked to Romeo Jenner's side. Linking her arm with his, she said happily, "Nelly, meet my fiancé."