For a moment, Olivia just stared at him, disbelief evident in her eyes.

"He was introduced to everyone as my uncle," Louis continued, his voice carrying a trace of bitterness, "but that was just to shield him from ridicule."

Olivia’s expression softened.

She reached out and lightly patted his shoulder, her touch gentle.

"I’m sorry," she said quietly.

Louis shook his head.

"It’s fine," he replied, though his clenched jaw suggested otherwise. "If anything... he probably wanted to test how serious we are."

A faint scoff escaped him.

"Or maybe he was just jealous," he added. "Trying to stir trouble... get under my skin... and mess things up between us."

Olivia rolled her eyes.

"He can keep dreaming," she said bluntly.

The moment those words left her mouth, the tension in Louis’s face eased instantly.

A smile spread across his lips.

"Yeah," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Maybe he wanted to make me jealous... but he crossed the line the moment he tried to get close to you."

Olivia simply grinned.

Meanwhile, in a brightly lit shopping mall, the atmosphere was completely different.

Adriana walked beside Peter, her eyes scanning the stores around them.

They had decided to take a small vacation, something to clear their minds, to breathe a little.

As they approached one of the stores, a man in his late thirties stepped out.

The moment his eyes landed on Peter, his face lit up with recognition.

A broad smile spread across his lips as he walked toward him.

"Young man," he called out warmly, "what are you doing here?"

Peter’s face instantly brightened.

"Uncle Eugene!" he exclaimed, stepping forward and pulling the man into a quick hug. "What are you doing here?"

Eugene chuckled, patting his back.

"I came to check on the shop reports," he replied.

Then his gaze shifted. It landed on Adriana.

His eyes lingered for a second longer than necessary before a charming smile appeared on his face.

"And who might this young lady be?" he asked smoothly.

Peter didn’t hesitate.

"This is Adriana," he said proudly. "My girlfriend. We’re getting engaged soon."

The change was immediate. The smile on Eugene’s face vanished as if it had never existed.

His expression turned serious, almost cold.

He looked at Adriana once, then back at Peter.

"There are some things we need to discuss," he said quietly.

Peter frowned slightly but nodded.

They stepped aside.

Eugene’s expression darkened.

"You need to understand something," he said, his voice low and firm. "It’s fine to date someone beautiful... but marriage is different."

Peter’s brows furrowed. "What are you trying to say?"

Eugene’s gaze sharpened.

"You should marry someone of equal status," he continued. "How can you even think of getting engaged to someone like her?"

Peter’s fists clenched slightly.

"She’s not... suitable," Eugene added coldly. "Just one look is enough to tell she doesn’t come from the same background. Even the clothes she’s wearing... they’re not on our level."

A cold anger surged through Peter.

"Uncle," he said, his voice dropping dangerously, "don’t you dare disrespect Adriana."

Eugene let out a short laugh.

"Oh? Now you’re protecting her?" he mocked. "Have you even thought about the consequences? What will your father say? What about the family?"

Peter straightened, his expression firm. "If you’re worried about my dad," he said, "then don’t be."

Eugene narrowed his eyes.

"He already gave me permission," Peter continued. "In fact... he likes Adriana so much that he said he wouldn’t accept anyone else as his daughter-in-law."

A deep frown settled on Eugene’s face.

"This girl is smarter than I thought," he muttered.

Peter’s expression hardened.

"Just because you had a bad experience doesn’t mean everyone is the same," he said firmly. "Adriana is not like that."

The moment those words were spoken... Eugene’s expression changed.

His eyes darkened instantly, a sharp glare directed at Peter. In fact, there was a time when Eugene had truly believed in love.

Once, long ago, he had fallen for a girl from a humble background.

"I’ll never leave you," she had once whispered, her voice trembling with sincerity.

At that time, he had believed her without a single doubt.

But everything shattered the day his mother intervened.

His mother had offered the girl ten million dollars.

Ten million. And just like that, everything changed. The girl didn’t hesitate.

She took the money. She walked away. No hesitation. No guilt.

Eugene could still hear her voice from that day.

"Men like you," she had said, her lips curling slightly, "will never find true love."

Those words had clung to him like a curse. From that moment on, something inside him broke.

Even when he met women he found attractive later, something always felt off. He couldn’t trust them. He couldn’t believe them. Every smile looked fake, every promise sounded hollow.

’They’re all the same,’ he had convinced himself.

Slowly, that belief twisted into resentment.

He began to despise women from humble backgrounds, thinking that his mistake had been choosing someone "beneath" his status.

’If I had chosen someone of equal standing... none of this would have happened,’ he would often think bitterly.

And so, he stopped believing in love altogether. Dating? Fine. Marriage? Never.

Now, standing here, listening to Peter defend Adriana so firmly...it irritated him.

No. It unsettled him.

’He’s walking down the same path I did,’ Eugene thought, his jaw tightening.

Peter, however, had already made up his mind.

"Anyway," he said, his tone steady, "I’m going back to Adriana."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.

Adriana had been waiting patiently, her fingers loosely clasped together. The moment she saw Peter returning, her face lit up with a gentle smile.

But when her eyes shifted to Eugene... her expression cooled.

There was something in his gaze, something unfriendly, something probing, that made her instinctively withdraw.

’So be it,’ she thought calmly. ’Even if he’s an elder, that doesn’t give him the right to belittle me.’

A faint defiance settled in her posture. ’If he tries anything, I won’t stay silent.’

Eugene noticed. And that dismissiveness... it reminded him painfully of the girl from his past.

For a brief second, anger surged inside him. His gaze shifted to Peter.

’He’s going to get hurt... just like I did,’ he thought grimly.

That thought alone made his decision.

"I’m coming with you," Eugene said suddenly.

Both Peter and Adriana frowned.

"Why?" Peter asked, confusion evident in his voice.

Eugene let out a light sigh, as if burdened.

"I need company," he said. "Being alone is troublesome... especially when women keep throwing themselves at me."

Peter stared at him, utterly unconvinced. Still, he hesitated. Eugene was a respected elder.

And more importantly, he had helped Peter many times in the past.

Refusing him outright didn’t feel right. Adriana noticed Peter’s dilemma immediately.

She gently touched his hand, her fingers warm and reassuring.

"It’s okay," she said softly, giving him a small nod. "He can join us."

Eugene’s lips curved into a faint smile. But before things could settle...

Peter added firmly, "On one condition."

Eugene raised an eyebrow.

"You don’t insult Adriana," Peter said, his tone serious. "If you do... You leave immediately."

For a brief moment, silence lingered. Then Eugene nodded.

"Fair enough."

But deep inside...

’Manipulator,’ he labeled her coldly.

’Otherwise, why would my nephew act like this toward me?’

Of course, in his mind, there was nothing wrong with his own behavior.

...................

Soon, the three of them entered a women’s clothing store. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

They browsed casually at first, moving through sections, but eventually drifted toward the women’s section.

Adriana picked out a few dresses, three, then four, holding them up thoughtfully as she examined the fabric between her fingers.

Eugene watched her, a faint mocking smile forming.

’So eager,’ he thought. ’Just like the rest.’

His gaze shifted toward Peter, who was standing beside her, helping her choose.

"Look at her," he said meaningfully. "She’s picking so many. If you told her she had to pay, she’d probably cut this down by half."

Peter laughed, "Uncle, you are misunderstanding her."

Eugene, however, seized the moment.

"How about we test that?" he said smoothly.

Peter looked at him with a grim expression.

Eugene continued, his tone calm but calculating.

"I’ll give her ten shops that I own," he said. "All under her name... if she agrees to spend an entire day with you while you pretend you have no money."

Peter’s expression stiffened.

For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes. He remembered.

The way Adriana had once been happy when she got to know about the shops that his father had gifted her.

’Now is a good chance to earn her a few more shops for free.’

"Alright," he said confidently. "Deal."

Because he did know her. Their relationship had always been balanced.

Every meal, every trip, every expense was fifty-fifty.

Sometimes he paid more, sometimes she did.

And whenever there was a difference, she always tried to make up for it the next time.