"It seems one of them has forgotten that we are still waiting for her."
Daniel's words burst out sharply, his eyes locked onto Leonid's, as if the full weight of responsibility rested on him.
"Wait, Daniel!"
Charlotte turned quickly, only to collide with his reproachful gaze. Her heart pounded with guilt, yet at the same moment, she felt frustrated by his severity.
"Just a minute, and I'll be back."
Daniel mimicked Charlotte's words, then rolled up the sleeve of his jacket, making her glance at his watch with annoyance.
"And now five minutes have passed. What were you thinking seriously? Trying to get rid of us?"
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
"Impossible! But five minutes… are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking while showing you my watch?"
Daniel lowered his sleeve and crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow challengingly.
"No… no."
Charlotte shook her head quickly, then added hesitantly, boldly pointing at Leonid:
"My lack of punctuality is my fault, but he's the reason for it."
Daniel turned nonchalantly, witnessing Leonid slowly raise his eyebrow, astonished that all the blame was being thrown at him.
"Now I'm the reason?"
Leonid asked, still surprised by Charlotte's boldness.
"Yes."
"Of course."
Daniel quickly picked up the thread and added:
"He's the reason for everything."
He smiled slyly, as if the opportunity had finally presented itself.
"He negatively influences your behavior…"
He continued in a low, creeping voice, like a whispering demon:
"Perhaps you should separate from him before he drags you into more mistakes."
With every word spoken, Leonid's eyelids gradually narrowed, and he slowly lowered his hand, frozen in midair.
The light blue of his eyes flashed with displeasure, making Charlotte shiver slightly, as if his internal annoyance reached them.
But his displeasure did not touch Daniel or perhaps Daniel tried to ignore it by all means.
He wrapped his arm around Charlotte's shoulders and pulled her close, brazenly challenging Leonid:
"The domineering attitude you're using no longer works, Leonid. Anyway, I'll take Charlotte with me now."
Then, with a mocking smile, he delivered his final line like a jab:
"Stay here with yourself, while we enjoy ourselves."
"How audacious."
Leonid muttered coldly, a sarcastic smile slowly forming on his lips.
Before Daniel could take a step back, he shook his head, as if to say 'no use,' and extended his arms to seize Charlotte's waist.
Firmly and gently, without causing harm, he pulled her close, adjusting the edge of her short dress with careful touches, returning it to its place.
Still surprised, her face painted with confusion and embarrassment seeping into her eyes, Charlotte felt warmth seep into her skin from his fingers.
"You dare mock me? That's ridiculous."
Leonid muttered, his gaze fixed on Charlotte's waist like his hands that had gently settled after adjusting her dress.
"Boy, I have limits to my patience."
Daniel flinched for a moment, a shiver running through his body after Leonid's sharp remark. Yet he quickly regained his composure and pulled Charlotte closer again, reclaiming her against all odds and wrapping his arms around her.
"Wait—?!"
Charlotte was startled, yet she did not push Daniel's arms away, which only increased Leonid's annoyance.
"Your patience, huh!"
Daniel smiled with feigned confidence, enjoying that she didn't refuse him, then wagged his finger challengingly:
"I don't care about your patience. Trust me, I can be even more audacious than you think."
"I almost agree with that."
Leonid's calm yet cutting endorsement came.
He rose, brushed his hands coldly, then stepped forward confidently, his sharp aura filling the space.
"Leo—"
Charlotte tried to call him.
"It's fine."
He cut her off in a low voice, with a hidden reassurance that he didn't intend to harm Daniel not yet.
Daniel tightened his arms around her shoulders as if realizing too late the predicament he had put himself in. Still, he held her in front of him like a shield.
"Why are you retreating?"
Leonid laughed lightly, provocatively, his eyes gleaming with mockery:
"You claim you're steadfast… but you tremble like a scared puppy."
"I'm not!"
Daniel shouted angrily, tightening his grip around Charlotte as if defying his fear.
"Listen, maybe you won this round, but I will never acknowledge you, as long as you haven't married her."
A cold smile appeared on Leonid's lips.
"Marriage? Fine. Actually… your words make me even more determined to marry her immediately, not later."
With one step, he was directly in front of Daniel, Charlotte trapped between them, suffocating in the narrow space.
"And secondly… you will acknowledge me, whether you like it or not."
Daniel gasped as if stabbed, staring at him in disbelief:
"This… is impossible!"
Leonid raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm:
"Impossible~?"
But before he could extend his hand toward him, a sharp voice interrupted:
"Leonid, stop!"
He looked down, meeting her fiery eyes filled with refusal.
"Step back immediately."
For a moment, he froze in place.
"Step back… me?"
He muttered in annoyance, a bitter feeling creeping inside him.
Despite his deep frustration, he took a slow breath and stepped back two paces, each step weighed down by wounded pride.
To Leonid, it was just an amusing game with Daniel, but in Charlotte's eyes, it looked like he was mercilessly bullying him.
"Daniel, I'll catch up with you shortly… let me just finish something with him."
"Alright… Lyudmila and I will be waiting for you."
Daniel turned quickly, nearly stumbling as he fled from under Leonid's oppressive shadow.
It was a pitiful sight having to run from that damned devil, as he saw him.
As soon as Daniel moved away, Charlotte raised a finger and tapped it against Leonid's chest.
"You deliberately embarrassed him!"
"I did not."
Leonid replied coldly, staring at her finger.
"Do you deny what I saw with my own eyes?"
Leonid smiled lightly, mockingly:
"You're exaggerating… this is how men test each other."
"You won't try that on him again. Is that clear?"
Charlotte stepped closer, her eyes tense, her fingertip pressing against Leonid's shirt.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment, then leaned slightly forward, his voice low but sharp:
"You treat him like a spoiled child… while he is a grown man."
"That's none of your business."
Leonid raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with provocation:
"None of my business?"
"Yes."
She spoke firmly and lowered her hand, signaling the end of the discussion.
Charlotte took a deep breath, trying to restrain her emotions, then added in a serious, final tone:
"Do me a favor… and don't you dare bully him again."
"Alright… as you wish."
Charlotte nodded silently, then turned to follow Daniel and Lyudmila.
Leonid remained standing by the sofa, his eyes fixed on her back amid the laughter and whispers of the crowd and the music.
He clicked his tongue in irritation, then sat down heavily, as if anger weighed down his shoulders.
His displeasure was not only with her words but with that look she had given Daniel a protective, sharp look, almost wrapping him in her arms to shield him from Leonid.
Jealousy made its way to his chest, flooding him with a bitter taste.
"The irony of fate…"
He muttered, bitterness on the tip of his tongue.
He had always looked at Daniel with condescension, with a hint of jealousy he would never admit but now he was a prisoner of his own envy.
It was real jealousy. Leonid felt ashamed of himself and covered his face with his hand.
"Is everything alright?"
Lyudmila asked from across the room, her tone curious.
"Yes… just a bit of guilt."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure? He looks really angry."
Charlotte responded with a silent nod, trying to end the conversation, but Lyudmila wasn't convinced. She turned to Daniel and stared into his ash-gray eyes so intently that he blurted out in denial:
"It's none of my business!"
Lyudmila smiled slyly:
"Really? Then why do I feel like you're the only one to blame?"
His face flushed, and he snapped irritably:
"You don't feel… you just accuse me."
"Alright, alright… I won't accuse you."
Lyudmila waved her juice glass, then turned to her friends and started a new conversation.
Amid the laughter and playful chatter, Charlotte's eyes drifted toward Leonid. He was still covering his face with his hand, completely indifferent to the surrounding joy and dancing.
A pang of discomfort and guilt crept into her chest.
Why had she reacted that way in front of him?
She lowered her chestnut lashes and sighed.
After a while, Daniel brought out the cake, decorated with two candles to match Lyudmila's age.
The two candles lit up the cake, and Lyudmila closed her eyes to make a wish before blowing out the tiny flames. Everyone clapped warmly.
The gifts piled up varied sizes, colors, and different ribbons while everyone busied themselves with congratulations.
Suddenly, Charlotte remembered she hadn't brought a gift.
Feeling guilty and embarrassed, she slowly stepped back, weaving through the crowd until she bumped into the wall… but wait, it wasn't the wall she hit.