Chapter 4

My meeting with Liam Kingston

was arranged at a quiet, upscale Italian restaurant.

I had prepared myself to deal with a flippant rich kid.

But to my surprise, the man who walked through the door was refined and understated.

When he saw me, he seemed even more nervous than I was,

his ears tinted crimson, his eyes a little evasive,

not at all like the seasoned veteran of flirtation the rumors painted him to be.

"Miss Hayes… hello, I'm Liam Kingston."

He stood up,

pulling out my chair for me, his movements slightly stiff but sincere.

Throughout dinner, the initial awkwardness quickly dissolved.

He spoke eloquently, with unique insights, knowledgeable in both art and business.

Occasionally, if I looked at him a bit too long, he would blush slightly, shy as a college student fresh out of school.

The rumors and reality were worlds apart.

"I thought…" I began, choosing my words carefully.

"You thought I was an uneducated playboy?"

Liam finished my sentence, smiling wryly.

"My family's business is complex, and my father hasn't been well. Some people… they prefer to see me as a good-for-nothing."

He didn't elaborate, but the meaning was clear.

When we parted, he stood by his car, looking at me very earnestly: "Miss Hayes, I… I like you very much."

"If you don't object, I'll have my parents formally propose to the Hayes family tomorrow, may I?"

His directness and solemnity surprised me.

Looking at his sincere and slightly anxious eyes,

I nodded: "Yes."

It was late when I returned to the Hayes mansion.

I tiptoed upstairs, but as I passed the master bedroom area,

I heard sounds that made my cheeks burn coming from a slightly ajar door.

A mix of a woman's soft moans and a man's heavy breathing.

It was Damon's room.

And that female voice… it was Serena.

My footsteps faltered. My blood seemed to turn to ice instantly,

then rapidly warmed, leaving only a dull numbness.

Just as I was about to quietly leave, the door creaked open from inside.

Damon was only loosely wrapped in a bathrobe, his belt undone,

his chest still bore faint, tell-tale red marks.

He saw me outside the door, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, which quickly turned back to casual nonchalance.

He gently closed the door behind him, shielding the intimate scene within.

"You saw?" He lit a cigarette, leaning against the doorframe.

"Serena and I are together now. Let's just put the past behind us. This time, I'll protect her, truly."

He exhaled a smoke ring, looking at me through the haze, his voice low.

"Autumn Hayes, just give up. I apologize for the past, but please don't upset Serena anymore."

A corner of my heart twinged, but it was quickly enveloped by a wave of coldness.

I met his gaze,

a calm smile on my face, and spoke in a cold voice.

"Damon, you're overthinking it. Who you're with, what you do, it has nothing to do with me."

My composure clearly angered him.

His eyes darkened. He suddenly stepped forward,

grabbing my wrist, his grip so tight my bones ached.

"Nothing to do with you? Autumn Hayes, who are you trying to fool? I'm telling you, Serena and I are already engaged."

He stared into my eyes, each word landing like a blow, as if to embed itself in my heart.

"The wedding is in three days."

He suddenly forced a humorless smile.

"Considering what we once had… if you still feel anything from back then, then come witness my happiness for yourself."

He was testing me, retaliating.

He was using this method to flay the last shred of my dignity.

I yanked my hand free, leaving distinct finger marks on my wrist.

I stepped back, creating distance, my smile still serene.

"No need, Damon. Your happiness has nothing to do with me. Let's just go our separate ways and leave each other in peace."

With that, I turned and walked away, not looking back at his expression.

The next day, my father indeed called me into his study,

his face beaming as he informed me that the Kingston family had formally proposed.

The wedding was set for three days later, a rare auspicious day.

But then his expression clouded: "Autumn, there's something… Serena and Damon's wedding is also set for the same day."

"You know, Damon has been like a son to us for years, and Serena, our dear Serena, has always been a delicate flower... having two daughters get married from the Hayes household, it would be a bit much to have two grand affairs."

"So, your wedding… it would be best if it were a bit more private, simpler. Would that be alright with you?"

His tone was consultative, but his eyes held no room for dissent.

I gripped the beautiful invitation from the Kingston family,

looking at Liam Kingston's name, so different from what I remembered.

I smiled faintly: "Of course, I have no objections."