A soft chime signaled a new notification. Andrew had sent money, but the amount was only a thousand dollars. It wouldn't even cover the cost of a luxury dress.

Rosalyn ignored the transfer and decided not to accept it. In her mind, she was already thinking of a reason to avoid the event. Until everything settled, she didn't want to cross paths with Nathan.

Yet, before the ball, Nathan called Rosalyn himself to extend the invitation, and Andrew insisted that she go.

With no other option, Rosalyn pulled out a gown she had kept tucked away for a long time. She brought it to a boutique for adjustments and slipped into it once more.

Nathan had given the dress to her five years earlier, and its staggering price alone made it something she'd tucked away after only wearing once.

Back then, her figure had been slimmer, so the dress didn't sit quite right on her frame. Now that her figure had filled out, the details of the gown stood out more.

By evening, the banquet hall at the Harvey Group's hotel gleamed with luxury and elegance.

Rosalyn entered alongside Andrew and then quietly slipped away to a secluded spot. Even so, she couldn't escape Nathan's notice.

"You have two hours left. Before that time runs out, you need to tell Andrew everything about your past with me," Nathan said as he gently swirled his wine, the scent adding to his composed presence.

Rosalyn angled her body away from him and tightened her hand at her side.

Nathan's brow lifted slightly as he looked her over from head to toe. "You're wearing the dress I bought for you back in the day? I figure it is hardly worth keeping."

"I just picked something to put on," Rosalyn answered in a sharp tone.

A faint smile crossed Nathan's face when he caught the look of displeasure on hers. "If it bothers you that much, then just get rid of it. Why keep wearing something you hate? You're only making things harder for yourself."

His remark cut deeper than she expected. That dress, no matter how plain it seemed, wasn't something a mere thousand dollars could replace.

Silence was all he got in return. Taking a few steps toward her, he studied her expression and finally caught the irritation she tried to hide. "I'm only speaking the truth. So why are you reacting like that?"

A sharp reply was already at the tip of Rosalyn's tongue, but before she could speak, Andrew's overly eager voice came from behind.

"Mr. Harvey! I'm sorry I didn't greet you earlier!" Andrew moved toward Nathan with respect, nearly breaking into a jog.

As he stepped closer, he kept offering compliments. "Everything Evergreen Company has achieved is thanks to the Harvey Group. You have my word, Mr. Harvey, I won't disappoint you."

He reached out his hand, expecting a handshake, yet Nathan showed no intention of responding at all.

With a hint of awkwardness, Andrew pulled his hand back and asked, "Did you arrive by yourself tonight?"

Before anyone could respond, a sudden stir broke out near the entrance of the hall.

All eyes turned at once. Julia stepped in, drawing attention the moment she appeared. She acknowledged the attention with a soft smile while her gaze moved across the room. It passed over Nathan without pause, yet stopped for a brief moment when she noticed Rosalyn standing in the corner.

Her fingers tightened slightly. The gown Rosalyn wore was instantly familiar to her. It was a limited DreamHue piece from five years ago, with only a handful ever made.

At that time, her source mentioned that Nathan had purchased one for a steep price. She paid little attention to it then and never imagined it would appear before her today.

As Julia approached Nathan, her expression lost a hint of warmth. "Have you handled the issue already?"

The question caught Nathan off guard. His eyes briefly shifted to Andrew, who was still trying to impress him. Without another word, he took hold of Julia's wrist and led her away to a quieter area. "What issue?"

"Did it slip your mind already, or did you never treat it seriously?" A sneer crossed Julia's face as she cast a look toward Rosalyn in the corner. "I don't like that woman."

A soft laugh left Nathan as he looked unconcerned. "Since when did you start paying attention to other women around me?"

From the moment they got engaged five years ago, Julia had always been clear about her intentions. What she wanted from Nathan was his influence within the Harvey family and his sharp business mind. Competing with other women had never interested her.

Mockery filled her expression. "Why would I bother with her? But the one being captured with you was her, wasn't it?"

She almost chose harsher words, yet stopped herself because of where they were.

"Yep," Nathan admitted, a teasing note in his voice. "You've asked so many questions, yet you still say you don't care?"

"Nathan, I'm your fiancée!"

"You may be my fiancée, but I don't concern myself with the men around you."

"You..." Julia's temper erupted, and she almost lifted her hand.

Their tense exchange began to draw attention.

Even from a distance, Rosalyn noticed something was off and glanced their way. She knew Nathan well enough to recognize his usual playful attitude, and it was easy to tell Julia wasn't pleased.

Back when Rosalyn stayed by Nathan's side, she endured very little, since she always followed his lead.

"Nathan, this is the last time I'm warning you." Julia steadied herself, though her voice still shook. "This marriage arrangement benefits the Harvey family the most, so don't treat me the same way you treat other women. I'm not one of them."

As soon as she finished, her gaze drifted toward Rosalyn, yet it landed on Andrew instead.

With a hopeful smile, Andrew stepped forward. "Miss Sutton, would you give me the honor of a dance?"

The floor had already been cleared, and the music began to play.

Julia was ready to decline, but the moment she saw Nathan turn away without a second glance, a trace of defiance surfaced. "Of course," she agreed.

Relief showed on Andrew's face. As he stepped back, he called out to Nathan, "Mr. Harvey, I'll take the lead for now, but please look after my fiancée. She's not used to events like this and feels a bit uncomfortable. Thank you."

Without waiting, Andrew guided Julia onto the dance floor.

Nathan paused where he stood. The chill in his expression faded, replaced by a subtle, playful look. He then walked straight toward Rosalyn. "Your fiancé asked me to take care of you."

Rosalyn retreated a few steps. "I'll be fine on my own. Thank you."

By now, several guests had shifted their gazes over.

Rosalyn had no intention of turning the banquet into a spectacle. Even though discomfort twisted in her chest, she forced herself to remain composed.

Nathan, however, behaved as though he hadn't heard her words. Without hesitation, his arm slid around her waist and drew her straight into his embrace.

Their bodies ended up pressed close together, the closeness impossible to ignore.

The sight immediately stirred whispers among the surrounding guests.

Julia had barely stepped onto the dance floor when the disturbance reached her ears. She turned to look, and the coldness in her gaze deepened.

"Mr. Harvey." Rosalyn spoke through clenched teeth as she shot Nathan a sharp look.

Nathan's face showed nothing unusual. His arm loosened slightly as he stepped back, creating a small space between them. "My apologies. I'm not very experienced dancing with others. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable, Miss Carter."

Despite his words, a faint curve touched the corner of his mouth, a detail only Rosalyn noticed.

The words he spoke clearly held another meaning meant only for her. To everyone else, however, he looked both commanding and polite.

To Rosalyn, the situation was maddening. Yet, resisting him here would lead nowhere. Creating a scene by pushing him away would only draw more attention.

Nathan said in a low voice, "Just behave and dance with me. If I'm in a good mood, I might let you off the hook."

Heat rushed to Rosalyn's face as anger surged inside her. Dozens of insults crowded her mind, yet none of them reached her lips.

In the end, she lowered her head and stopped struggling. Her movements followed the music, but each step felt stiff and empty.

Suddenly, a faint breath brushed against her ear. "Dancing with me bothers you that much?"

His words carried a teasing tone, and his breath came so close that it almost touched her earlobe.

Rosalyn forced herself to stay calm. She lifted her head and answered through clenched teeth, "Of course not."

The music faded soon after.

Taking the chance to break away, she spoke quickly. "Excuse me. I need to go to the restroom."

She avoided looking at Nathan, though she could still feel the intensity of his gaze following her.

Without turning back, Rosalyn walked away at a fast pace.

Once inside the restroom, she took out her phone and sent Andrew a message. "I'm not feeling well. I think I should leave early."

Andrew's call came through promptly. "What's wrong? Are you upset because I asked you to dance with Mr. Harvey? I only asked Miss Sutton to dance because I wanted to talk with her about some business matters. I was afraid you'd feel awkward standing alone, so I asked Mr. Harvey to keep you company. I should've asked how you felt first. I'm really sorry."

His tone grew heavier with each word, filled with genuine regret.

Rosalyn couldn't bring herself to blame him. "I'm not angry with you. I really just feel—"

Andrew cut in, "Honey, could you stay until the banquet ends? Just this once. Please."

She didn't quite understand why he cared so much about her staying. Still, she couldn't find a convincing reason to refuse. After a moment of hesitation, she sighed quietly. "Alright."

Later, Rosalyn found a secluded corner and unlocked her phone. She typed out a message to Andrew several times, editing it again and again. In the end, she still couldn't press send. Something like this couldn't be explained through a message. It had to be said face to face.

Finally, she chose to send a short message to Nathan instead. "I'll tell Andrew everything, but he isn't with me right now. Give me a little time."

To her surprise, Nathan actually agreed.

A quiet sense of relief washed over Rosalyn, and the tightness in her chest eased for a moment.

But when the banquet finally came to an end, Andrew was nowhere to be found.

She tried calling him several times. No one answered.

Left standing at the hotel entrance, Rosalyn watched as the guests slowly dispersed into the night.

A cold breeze swept through the area.

Just then, a luxury car rolled to a smooth stop in front of her.

The window lowered, revealing Julia's refined face. A hint of fatigue showed beneath her usual composure. "Miss Carter, where did your fiancé disappear to?"

Rosalyn could clearly recognize Nathan inside the dimly lit car. His eyes remained locked on her, steady and intent, like a hunter waiting for its prey.

"He... had something he needed to handle," Rosalyn answered. "I'll head home on my own."

"Let us give you a ride." Nathan spoke without hesitation. Before she could respond, he stepped out of the car and walked straight toward her.

Unease rushed through Rosalyn's chest. Only a short distance away, Julia was still watching. What exactly was Nathan planning? Had he really become so bold?