As Richard walked off the football field, his body still buzzing with the rush of his victory, he couldn't shake the bittersweet feeling that lingered. He had led his team to win the Deans Cup, scoring four incredible goals in one game, but it felt like a hollow victory. Despite all he had done, he was still seen as an outsider—someone they would never truly accept. The recognition from his teammates was fleeting, and deep down, Richard knew that no matter how many goals he scored, there would always be a distance between him and the others.His mind wandered as he made his way to the Velvet Restaurant, where he had agreed to meet Amelia. He had dressed up for the occasion, hoping that tonight might be different. Maybe, just maybe, he could make a better impression. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the pressures of the game were just the beginning, and now he had a new challenge waiting for him—Amelia.When he finally entered the restaurant, the elegant setting seemed to contras

Nathan’s hand shot out in a sharp, deliberate motion, a signal to the men outside the restaurant. He didn’t need to say another word. His expression was cold, calculating, as if this was just another part of the game—a game he was determined to win at any cost.A few minutes passed, but in those minutes, the air seemed to grow thicker, heavier. The hum of the bustling restaurant faded as Richard’s senses sharpened. He felt the weight of the room shift. A quiet, almost imperceptible tension filled the space around him. And then, he saw them. The men.They entered the hall with a quiet, purposeful stride—giants in every sense of the word. They were tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes that looked as if they had seen and done things most men could never imagine. Their mere presence sent a ripple through the room, silencing the conversations, drawing every eye to them. These were men who made their living on force, intimidation, and unflinching loyalty to whoever paid them. Richard’s heart be

It was at this moment that Richard realized the weight of his own words had escaped him, and he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had said something he shouldn’t have—something he wasn’t prepared to explain. He couldn’t afford to let Amelia think there was more to him than he’d let on."I didn’t say anything," Richard said, his voice a bit more reluctant than usual. "I was just… appreciating Mr. Thomas for coming to our rescue."He hoped his words would ease the tension, but the slight tremor in his voice betrayed him. Amelia’s eyes flickered with suspicion, but she let it go—she wasn’t sure what Richard had whispered, and he wasn’t offering any explanation.As much as she tried to focus on the situation at hand, the nagging curiosity gnawed at her. Why had Thomas shown up just in time to stop the men from attacking Richard? The coincidence was too perfect, too neatly timed. There had to be more to the story.Richard must have sensed her curiosity, for he glanced at her nervous

Richard had decided to spend some quality time with Amelia and her friends, hoping to take his mind off the weight of recent events. Amelia’s close friends, Vivian and Angela, were a lively duo, and Richard wasn’t sure what he had expected from this outing, but he was willing to try. It wasn’t often that he found himself in their company, and although their world felt different, he wanted to make the effort.As they settled into their seats at the restaurant, Richard was distracted by the comfort of food—something he could always rely on when he needed to think. He hadn’t been listening closely to the conversation between the girls, too engrossed in his meal. But when he noticed them gathering their things to leave, he hurriedly raised his head, wiping his mouth with a napkin.“What are you guys going to do?” Richard asked, his voice muffled with curiosity.Angela, who had always been quick to point out the slightest things, shot Richard a sly smile. “All you ever do is eat. Didn’t you

“Vivian, I remember you were the best at ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ back then. Let my hobby compete with you on that song. What do you think?” Sandra’s voice was laced with a hint of smugness, as though she had already won the moment she uttered the challenge.Vivian, usually composed, let out a soft sigh, though it was tinged with indifference. She gave Sandra a brief, cold look before responding. “Sure,” she said simply, without hesitation.Morris, on the other hand, observed quietly, but a slight shift in his expression revealed that he wasn’t as eager as Sandra. "When a Man Loves a Woman" was a well-known piece, but compared to the other more intricate works of piano literature, it was considered relatively simple. The melody, while beautiful, lacked the complexity of some of the other famous piano pieces. Yet, the ending could prove challenging for someone who hadn’t played it in a while.Vivian’s eyes darkened slightly as she thought about it. It wasn’t the type of piece she woul