“If there’s no space for both of us, then it’s best that we both leave. Perhaps our presence is not needed,” Amelia said, her voice colder than she intended, though her eyes betrayed the uncertainty she felt.She had already started to turn away with Richard when Lady Hamilton’s voice cut through the air.“You can’t possibly leave now, Amelia,” Lady Hamilton said, a hint of concern rising in her tone. “You know this gathering is meant to be a reunion between the two families. It’s an opportunity for you to reconnect with Emily, and leaving would be seen as disrespect to the family that invited us.”Amelia froze at her words. She had not anticipated this pushback, but she had never liked the feeling of being tethered to these social obligations. She just wanted Richard by her side, away from the tension and the games they were all playing.Richard, who had overheard the exchange, felt a twinge of discomfort. The last thing he wanted was to cause a rift between Amelia and her mother, esp

Jackson felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as Mr. Curry made his request. The older man’s eyes gleamed with expectation, as if the most expensive wine in the restaurant was a mere trinket he could demand, as if it were something Jackson owed him. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on Jackson's chest. He didn’t have that kind of money to throw around, especially after covering the bills for the entire family. The most expensive bottle of wine in the restaurant would cost nearly $500,000—far beyond what he could afford.The silence stretched, as Jackson mulled over the predicament. He didn’t want to appear weak, but how could he possibly honor this request? He knew what it would mean if he didn’t.Emily, who had been watching him closely, didn’t take kindly to the hesitation. To her, Jackson was supposed to be a man of wealth and power, a man who could satisfy any request, no matter how extravagant. This moment, this opportunity, was just another chance to prove her point—to eve

In the eyes of the others, Jackson's decision to stay behind alone was a clear sign of responsibility. Despite the awkwardness of the situation and the inconvenience, he had chosen to handle the mess caused by Mr. Curry’s accident. It spoke volumes about his character.The one in stark contrast to Jackson’s calm sense of responsibility was Ethan.Richard had been completely silent since the vase had broken, his stillness almost unbearable. His failure to take any action, to speak a single word, stood out like a sore thumb. Lady Hamilton, already irritated by her son’s silence, couldn’t hold back her growing disappointment. Her gaze was sharp as she stared at Richard, her expression a mixture of frustration and regret.Her voice cut through the tension, a reprimand aimed squarely at her son. “Although Richard doesn’t have any money, Mr. Curry just got into an accident. I didn’t ask you to help out, but why are you still standing there, not saying a word?” She couldn’t hide the bitternes

“Pay you back for the vase?”Emily stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing. The words took a second to sink in, and when they did, a heavy wave of disbelief and disappointment washed over her. She turned her gaze to Jackson, still sitting quietly, looking more like a stranger than the man she had once trusted.Her disappointment in Jackson grew, not just because of the vase, but because she now realized that he had been lying to them from the start. He had claimed to know Mr. Titus, yet this was not the man who had been so cordial to them earlier. If Jackson had really known Mr. Titus, then why was Mr. Titus treating him with such indifference now? Why was he acting as though Jackson didn’t even exist?Emily’s mind began to shift rapidly. She had been considering ending things with Jackson for a while, but now it seemed inevitable. There was no way she could stay in a relationship with someone who had lied to her so easily, who could not even take responsibility for something as sim

“The vase that he smashed at the restaurant today seems to be quite expensive,” Lady Hamilton said with an anxious tone, her voice tremoring slightly with the weight of the news. “Emily and Jackson have been detained by the people at the restaurant. We’ve just arrived there now.” She ended the call abruptly, the phone still in her hand as the gravity of the situation settled in.Amelia, hearing the urgency in her mother’s voice, hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with a mix of worry and disbelief. She turned slowly toward her room, her steps uncertain. After a beat, she called out softly, “Richard, I have something to do. I need to go out for a while. Just wanted to inform you before I leave.”Richard, looking up at her from the couch, blinked as if just processing what she said. His voice was filled with curiosity, but tinged with concern. “Why are you heading out so late at night?”Amelia’s face tightened with both impatience and frustration. She wanted to go immediately, but sh