Chairman Lancaster gazed at the young couple across from him and sighed.
"Since it has co to this, just get it done and over with," he said. "But, lissa—your dress is a little too short. You should change into sothing more proper. It looks like you’re going clubbing instead of celebrating an engagent party. Be decent is what I’m saying."
"Grandpa, don’t be so an to lissa. She’s perfect," Derek frowned, his eyes falling on lissa’s lap. "Though... she might, right, lissa?"
He looked up at her again, only to find her oddly distracted.
"lissa," he called once more, tugging her hand to bring her back to reality. "Are you okay?"
"Ah—of course." She forced a smile and turned to the chairman. "Thank you, Chairman. I’ll keep everything you said in mind."
"See, Grandpa?" Derek grinned. "lissa’s a good girl. She’ll listen and change before our dance."
"Huh?"
The small sound she made made Derek look back at her again.
"Grandpa said your dress is a little short. He may sound harsh, but he’s just looking out for your image," Derek said gently. "You’ll get used to him. He’s just... old and grumpy."
Chairman Lancaster glared at his grandson. "I’ll let that slide since it’s your engagent party. Now, off you go. Don’t keep people waiting. I need to leave before my bedti."
"Yes, Grandpa!" Derek almost saluted before helping lissa up. "Co on, I’ll walk you."
"Walk where?" she asked quietly.
He frowned. "Weren’t you listening? Grandpa told you to change because your skirt’s too short."
"Too short?" She looked down at her legs, then back at him. "But I always wear this length."
"lissa." Derek sighed, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "Grandpa doesn’t see you every day. So for him, it’s short. Just listen to him, okay? As long as he goes ho satisfied, he won’t make trouble for us. It’s just a dress. I’m sure you have plenty decent ones."
She pursed her lips. She loved this dress—it was expensive, custom-made, and she had saved it for this night. Still, since Derek was insistent and she wanted to please the chairman, she reluctantly nodded.
"Alright."
Derek walked her to where Jasmine and Lawrence were seated. The chairman had moved to another table for comfort, leaving them to handle the arrangent.
"Oh, what are you two doing here?" Jasmine bead. "Shouldn’t you be preparing for your dance?"
"Mom, I need to change first," lissa said with a polite smile. "And the chairman’s a bit tired, so could you and Dad move to his table?"
"Of course!" Lawrence nodded quickly. "Don’t worry about it, lissa."
"What’s wrong with your dress? It was beautiful," Jasmine asked, but lissa forced a short smile.
"Nothing, Mom. I just want to change for our dance."
"Do you need help?"
lissa shook her head.
"I’ve got it." She then turned to Derek. "Entertain the guests while I change, okay?"
"Sure."
With that, lissa walked away while Derek helped her parents move. Since this was the engagent party, the heads of both families were supposed to sit together. They simply couldn’t argue with the chairman to sit in his arranged seats, so they had to adjust.
*****
anwhile, as lissa made her way through the exit, she couldn’t help but glance around nervously.
"I saw him," she whispered. "Or... did I?"
Her stomach churned. Could she have imagined it? Of all people, why would she think she’d seen Hudson?
"Don’t be ridiculous," she muttered. "He couldn’t even get in here."
She looked around again, her heartbeat steadying when she didn’t see him. There was no way Hudson could have entered without an invitation. She’d made sure this engagent was exclusive. The security would never let anyone in without clearance.
"See? You’re overthinking," she told herself quietly, a small smile forming as she exhaled. "He’s not here. He has no reason to be here."
But just as she turned to continue walking, she froze.
Her gaze landed on Celestine, who was chatting casually with a few guests. But lissa’s attention wasn’t on her. It was on the man standing near her, his back turned.
Her breath hitched. No. No, that can’t be—
Then, the man turned slightly, revealing his side profile. lissa’s blood ran cold.
Hudson.
It was him.
He was here.
And he was talking to Celestine.
"What... what is he doing here?" she whispered in horror, her heart hamring violently. "How did he even get in?"
Her thoughts spiraled. The night had been perfect so far—aside from the chairman’s critique about her dress—and now this?
Did he co here to ruin everything for ?
Her hands clenched into trembling fists, panic tightening her throat. She stood frozen, unsure whether to run, hide, or confront him.
"lissa? Why are you still here?"
Derek’s voice startled her. She turned sharply to see him frowning, confusion written all over his face.
"lissa, what’s going on?" he asked. "You’ve been acting strange. Is sothing wrong? Is it the dress?"
"N-no," she stamred. "It’s not that."
"lissa," Derek said softly, taking her hand. "I know Grandpa can be harsh, but rember—we represent both the Lancaster family and NL Group. He’s just protecting our image. Even if the dress looks perfect on you, sotis we have to make little sacrifices."
Conflict flashed in her eyes. She wanted to tell him the truth—that there was an intruder, soone who could destroy everything—but she couldn’t. If she did, Derek would ask questions she didn’t want to answer.
"I know," she murmured. "You’re right. I’ll go now."
But instead of moving, her gaze slid back toward Celestine and Hudson. Derek followed her line of sight.
"Why are you looking at them?"
"Huh? Ah, well..." lissa forced a smile, stepping closer. "Derek, do you know who that man with Aunt Celes is?"
"Who? That guy?"
"Mhm."
Derek glanced back casually. "He’s her plus one."
"What?" lissa’s brows shot up. "Hud— I an, that man is Aunt Celes’s plus one?"
"Yeah, why?"
lissa’s heart pounded harder, her stomach twisting. When she looked again, Celestine and Hudson were both staring right at her, smiling.
But Celestine’s smile wasn’t warm. It was amused. Knowing.
He told her... didn’t he?
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