Nora went downstairs with Daniel.

The young men at the mixer were all top-tier, from prominent families.

She hadn’t expected Adrian to be here too.

When he saw her, he strode over, grabbed her hand. “Nora, this isn’t the place to make a scene. Leave now.”

She pulled free. “And why should I?”

“You didn’t come here following me?”

She laughed. “You think too highly of yourself.”

“This is a Reynolds family event — don’t tell me you’re claiming to be one of them?”

She snorted. “I never said that.”

“If you want a divorce, let’s argue at home, not—”

“Who’s this guy bothering you?” Daniel appeared, draping an arm around her shoulder.

The sight made Adrian’s face darken. He grabbed Daniel’s arm. “Take your filthy hand off her!”

Daniel released Nora and slapped Adrian across the face.

The sound echoed in the hall.

“Who the hell are you to interfere with me and my sister?”

“Sister?” Adrian’s eyes widened.

Nora knew he’d never believe it.

“Daniel, I’ll handle this. Go greet the guests.”

Daniel patted her shoulder. “Fine. But tell me the whole story later.”

Adrian’s expression turned ugly. “How is Daniel Reynolds your brother? Who are you really?”

“My cousin. We’re close. And I came here to see my cousin tonight.”

Then she gave him a cold look. “Aren’t you here for the social mixer too?”

He hesitated, then said, “The company wants to work with Chairman Reynolds. I came to talk business.”

“Then wait here. I’ll look around.”

Adrian grabbed her arm again. “Don’t wander off. Leave.”

Before Nora could curse him out, a delicate hand tugged Adrian’s arm.

“Adrian, let’s go. Don’t keep Chairman Reynolds waiting.” Vivian slipped her arm through his.

Seeing her, ignoring Nora completely — classic Vivian.

Nora’s contempt solidified. If anyone wanted this man, they could have him.

Adrian let Vivian cling to him, glowering. “This isn’t a place for you. Don’t make the Reynolds family throw you out.”

Even now, it was all about him.

Nora scraped her manicured nails across his hand. “Get lost.”

“You should be grateful I warned you,” he said darkly, rubbing the scratch. “Knowing someone here doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want.”

“Mr. Cole,” Nora sneered, “my life isn’t yours to control.”

Vivian gasped. “Adrian, your hand’s bleeding! Nora, how could you be so cruel? Even if you divorce, you should remember his kindness.”

Nora’s eyes gleamed coldly.

Vivian was already talking as if the divorce was done. Clearly she had been waiting for this.

Nora crossed her arms. “Exactly. Since we’re divorcing, Adrian has no right to tell me what to do.”

Adrian clenched his fists. “Nora! Stop being unreasonable!”

“Congratulations,” she said with a mocking smile. “I wish you two a lifetime of happiness — rats and snakes together.”

He raised his hand to strike her, but she dodged, laughing. “Dare to hit me now, Mr. Cole?”

Vivian scowled. “I can’t believe a doctor would speak so viciously.”

“When the heart is dirty, everything sounds dirty,” Nora said coldly.

Adrian’s face was grim. “We’ll talk when we get home.”

Nora sneered. Who wanted to talk to him?

Vivian sniffed, still smug. “Don’t take offense. The Reynolds family isn’t like ordinary families. You don’t want to provoke them.”

Nora ignored her and walked into the crowd.

She moved with the natural grace of a society heiress. Even after five years away, the guests recognized her immediately.

“Look at you, Nora. You’ve grown into a fine young lady. That baby fat is all gone.”

“That’s right — Nora’s at the perfect age for marriage. Robert and Linda’s daughter must be both beautiful and talented.”

“If my son weren’t already married, I’d introduce him to you!”

At five-foot-six, Nora stood in the center of the tall uncles and aunts, feeling like a true jewel in the palm.

She hadn’t felt this loved since marrying Adrian.

With Adrian, she had learned that love could never match the warmth of family.

Her eyes glistened. On impulse, she blurted out:

“Uncle Xue, I heard your nephew graduated from an Ivy League school, just got his PhD last year, and moved back to New York City?”

Uncle Xue froze, then broke into a smile. “Nora, are you interested?”

She grinned playfully. “Do I sound like I’m joking?”

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare. You don’t need to go through me — Ryan Brooks is here tonight.”

“Really?”

“Look across the room.”

Following the direction pointed out, she saw two tall men talking. Both were striking, though in very different ways.

Normally she wouldn’t recognize Ryan, but she’d heard of him. He had visited their home years ago.

The man in gold-rimmed glasses turned, looking about thirty, refined and elegant.

When he saw her, he smiled warmly. “Nora?”

He still remembered her nickname after all these years — that surprised her.

“Ryan,” Nora greeted him with a bright smile.

But when she looked up, she met a pair of deep gray-brown eyes — an entire galaxy staring back at her.

She momentarily forgot her purpose.

But Nora was no stranger to society events. She quickly composed herself and smiled politely. “Hello.”

Ethan’s eyes briefly glittered before going cool again.

She was styled and dressed beautifully, soft as a rabbit — completely different from last night.

And she clearly didn’t remember him.

For some reason, Ethan felt disappointed.

He didn’t nod, just glanced at Ryan. “Is this your childhood friend?”

The teasing lilt in his tone was unmistakable.

Ryan pushed his glasses up. “Don’t say nonsense, or Nora will think you’re spreading rumors.”

Nora blinked, then extended her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Miss Reynolds, single, here tonight because I’m open to a match with Ryan.”

“Matchmaking.”

Ethan repeated the two simple words, somehow making them sound rich and deep, like a cello’s first note — but the next second his tone turned sharp, almost mocking.

Nora frowned slightly.

Handsome as he was, this man clearly came with arrogance in spades.

Nora Reynolds kept a polite smile on her face, but in her heart, she had already decided this man would be difficult to get along with.

Even if he was Ryan Brooks’ good friend, he was no exception.

Lifting her dress slightly, Nora brushed past Ethan Blake, leaned down just enough, and lightly clinked her glass against Ryan’s. Her eyes shimmered, bright and lively. The reflection on Ryan’s glasses flickered — at first, he thought it was just the tilt of the wineglass catching the light, but as he squinted, he realized it was the glint of the crystal hairpin in Nora’s hair and the diamond brooch pinned to her chest.

Perfectly matched.

Ryan’s heart sped up, his gaze lingering on Nora with an unexpected sense of loss.

Despite all the people he had met over the years, seeing Nora at that moment still made his heart skip — he couldn’t escape the pull of it.

But Nora was completely oblivious to his stare. To her, Ryan was still the same as ever — proper and serious, like an old-fashioned scholar, clueless about romance.

But that was fine. This glass-clinking was just politeness on her part. She curved her lips in a small smile.

“Let’s catch up one-on-one next time if we get the chance.”

There were two layers of meaning to those words. Ryan caught the first — that Nora had things she couldn’t say in front of Ethan today. But there was another layer, one he missed completely, though Ethan understood it perfectly.

This girl wore her likes and dislikes plainly on her face.

Even though a faint displeasure rose in his chest, Ethan, who had perfected the art of hiding his emotions, didn’t show it. He watched Nora’s retreating figure — her back straight, her waist slender — like a young willow tree that somehow bloomed with the dangerous beauty of a rose.

A rose with thorns — delicate on the outside, resilient within. And if picked… how sweet would it taste?

Even after she was long gone, Ryan’s gaze followed her until a deep, cool voice suddenly sounded at his ear.

“You like her.”

It wasn’t a question — it was a statement.

After so many years of brotherhood, they could read each other with a glance. There was no need for Ryan to hide it. He chuckled softly.

“You caught that? What do you think of Nora?”

“She’s called Nora?” Ethan’s low, slightly raspy voice pressed the words, carrying a strange texture.

Ryan hooked an arm around his friend’s shoulders. “Yeah. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly. In his mind, he saw a flash of last night — Nora curled against him as they slept. He could still feel it. Yes, she was very soft.

“Lives up to the name.”

Oblivious Ryan didn’t catch the double meaning. He just thought Ethan was complimenting Nora’s delicate, gentle nature and became immediately excited.

“I want to marry her. Think we’d be a good match?”

Ethan’s gaze cut sideways, giving Ryan a deep, unreadable look.

“If Ryan Brooks takes a wife, he ought to treat her like the rarest of treasures.”

Ryan grinned. “Exactly. You know me too well.”

Ethan’s eyes glinted.

“You sure you really know her?”

“It’s been years since we last met,” Ryan said easily. “But we’ll have time to get to know each other again.”

“Then I wish you luck.”

Ryan didn’t hear the chill in Ethan’s voice. He thought it was a simple blessing, clinked glasses with him, and felt more excited than ever.

A little while later, Ethan excused himself to go to the restroom, leaving Ryan behind.

Out in the garden, Nora sat on a white swing, becoming dinner for the mosquitoes.

She was lost in idle, wandering thoughts. A few big red welts had already formed on her pale arm, but she hadn’t noticed — not until the swing behind her, which had been still, suddenly moved.

The sudden weightlessness made her cry out.