Aurum Palace was the most luxurious restaurant in the city, its dazzling crystal lights casting a glow over every corner of the tables, creating an atmosphere that was both lavish and solemn. Tonight, this place was more than just the setting for a family dinner it was the stage for a meeting that could determine the future of two prestigious families.
Selena Hart wore a long, deep blue dress elegant, yet still gentle and soft. She sat beside her parents, occasionally glancing around at the lavish surroundings, feeling a flutter of nervousness. Ever since she was little, she had been raised in a proper, refined family and was used to social gatherings, but this time felt different. This was the official meeting with Ethan Voss's family the man she was about to spend her life with. The very same man she had secretly loved for seven years.
The restaurant doors opened, and steady footsteps echoed across the marble floor. The Voss family appeared, their presence commanding attention without any need for showmanship, causing other guests to quietly look up. At the front was Mr. Alexander Voss, exuding the dignity of experience, his gaze sharp yet gentle. Beside him was Mrs. Diana Voss.
And behind them, a tall figure with a cold, commanding presence walked with effortless ease, seemingly unfazed by the eyes on him—Ethan Voss. A man known throughout high society, not only for his powerful family background but also for his exceptional leadership and talent.
Selena felt her heart skip a beat, unable to look away from Ethan, the man she loved, standing right in front of her.
Both families settled at the table. Polite greetings and gentle conversation filled the room as the adults began discussing the wedding date.
Selena lightly clutched her dress and finally spoke, her soft smile trying to ease the tension:
- Ethan, it's been a while. How have you been?
Ethan lifted an eyebrow, his tone calm but icy, as if his words carried a deliberate distance:
- Fine.
Selena nodded, feeling the chill in his voice, and quickly tried to change the subject:
- Do you like this appetizer? This restaurant is quite famous, you know.
Ethan barely glanced at the plate in front of him, his voice flat and even:
- Good.
A chill ran down Selena's spine. She knew he wasn't the type to be friendly or easy to talk to, but this level of indifference still left her a little disappointed. Every answer he gave was short, detached, leaving no opening for conversation.
Watching him eat carefully without so much as a glance in her direction, Selena forced herself to keep smiling.
Selena swallowed the pang of disappointment. No warm glance, no soft smile, not a trace of care—Ethan Voss sat there like an unyielding, cold wall. She knew, with a sinking certainty, that everything between them was merely a family obligation, not love.
The party was gradually coming to an end. The sparkling crystal lights couldn't mask the underlying tension between them. Selena tried to smile, engaging in conversation with Ethan's family members, but Ethan's short, cold replies felt like invisible blades, cutting into her mood.
As the party came to an end, Mr. Alexander Voss turned his gaze to his son.
- Ethan, take Selena home. It's still early—you two should go for a walk together.
he said, his voice gentle with a hint of a smile, yet carrying an unmistakable undertone that left no room for refusal.
Selena flinched slightly, her eyes instinctively finding Ethan. He rose, shoulders straight like a wall, his expression unreadable.
- Of course,
he replied, his voice even, cold, and clipped, as if this were merely a task to be carried out, nothing more.
They left Aurum Palace. The city night sparkled under the streetlights, yet the air around them seemed drained of warmth. Selena followed Ethan, each of his steps carrying a chill that made her hesitate slightly.
At the parking lot, a sleek black Rolls-Royce Boat Tail waited.
He opened the door for her without a word, his gaze still icy. Selena quietly stepped in, settling into the seat, her hands neatly resting on her dress. After a moment, she turned toward him, her voice soft yet perceptive:
- You… don't need to take a walk. Just driving me home is enough.
Ethan glanced at her briefly, then nodded, his face remaining expressionless. His hands gripped the wheel, and with a press of the accelerator, the Rolls-Royce glided forward with power and elegance.
Leaning back against the seat, Selena watched the streetlights reflecting on the window, slowly coming to terms with a harsh truth: Ethan did not like her, and in the future, he never would.
The Rolls-Royce came to a stop in front of Selena's house. She drew in a quiet breath, ready to step out, when the phone on the dashboard rang. Ethan answered it without looking away from the road, one hand still firmly on the wheel, and put it on speaker.
A soft, sweet female voice floated through the car:
- Hey… can you come pick me up?
Selena froze, her heart skipping a beat. That voice gentle, warm, and full of affection—was completely different from the cold tone he had used with her all evening.
Ethan replied calmly, his voice even and measured:
- Mm… wait for me."
A sharp pang tightened Selena's chest. She looked at him, hoping for… something, anything but he didn't glance her way. She could feel the tenderness he reserved for that woman, a feeling she had never known in the seven years she had loved him.
She let out a soft, bitter sigh. Without a word, Selena opened the door and stepped out, her fingers trembling, carrying the ache of disappointment and the fragments of hope she didn't want to face.
The Rolls-Royce glided silently into the night, leaving her alone under the pale streetlights, each cold gust of wind seeming to drain the last warmth from her heart.