She pulled a cigarette from her bag, lit it, and took a practiced drag.

Her eyes held a trace of confusion and sorrow. For more than two years, she had first completed her studies in Noridia in record time, then traveled to countless cities. In truth, Tridell was the last place she ever wanted to return.

Yet by a strange twist of fate, her internship had sent her as its representative to Miss Joyce’s birthday party.

’I never wanted to come back. I told myself I’d never see him again, that I’d forget him. And yet, when I got the notice, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. Maybe... maybe he’s still rooted so deep inside me that I can’t pull him out.’

Just then, the phone in her bag began to ring.

She pulled herself from her thoughts and took out her phone. Seeing the name on the screen, her brow furrowed slightly as she swiped to answer. "Brother?"

"Amelia, I heard you’re back in Tridell. Why don’t you come home for a visit? Mom and Dad miss you a lot, too."

"I’d rather not. Just tell Mom and Dad that I miss them a lot, too."

"Amelia, even if you want to keep your identity a secret, that doesn’t mean you can’t even come home."

"I know what you mean, Brother. I’ll make time to see Mom and Dad once my internship is over. That’s it." Without waiting for Aiden to reply, Amelia hung up the phone.

She opened the car window, tossed the cigarette butt outside, turned the key, started the car, and drove away.

「At eight-thirty, the banquet officially began.」

The opening dance was led by Aria Joyce of the Joyce Family and Jason Lockwood of the Lockwood Family.

Seeing Aria and the others begin to dance, Leo Joyce smirked. He took Tiana’s hand and led her to the center of the grand hall. Bowing slightly, he kissed the back of her hand and said in a devilishly charming voice, "Tiana, tonight, you are my most beautiful princess."

At his words, Tiana’s face flushed crimson. She gave Leo a shy glare, pretending to be displeased. "Tonight’s most beautiful princess ought to be Aria." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Leo straightened up and pulled Tiana into his arms. "My sister’s an old hag," he whispered dismissively in her ear. "She and ’beautiful’ don’t belong in the same sentence."

"Huh? An old hag?" Tiana was clearly taken aback by the term. ’How could a woman as proud and beautiful as Aria be an old hag?’

"What else would she be? An arrogant old hag, at that. But you have to keep this between us. It’s our little secret." As he spoke, Leo gave Tiana a conspiratorial wink.

Tiana felt her heart start to pound—THUMP-THUMP-THUMP. Blushing, she lowered her head and buried her face in Leo’s chest, falling silent.

’Every time she was with Leo, she felt like she was going to have a heart attack.’

Jason Lockwood and Aria Joyce finished one dance and immediately began a second. This time, Jason seemed to deliberately steer Aria toward Leo and Tiana. As they brushed past, Jason’s cold eyes narrowed, and a chill smirk touched his lips. "Young Master Joyce, let’s switch partners, if you don’t mind!" As he spoke, Jason executed a swift spin, pushing Aria toward Leo. Leo’s brow furrowed as he caught his sister, while his other hand guided Tiana into Jason’s arms.

Tiana Grayson and Jason Lockwood had never met, let alone known each other. Forced to dance with him now, she instantly forgot all the steps. In just a few seconds with Jason, she had already stepped on his foot three times. Her face flushed as she apologized in embarrassment, "I’m so sorry! So sorry! I’m just too clumsy. Why don’t you find someone else to dance with?"

"Miss Grayson, am I so terrifying?" Jason Lockwood’s face darkened as he asked in a harsh tone.