“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.

The movement was so sudden Nora had no time to react. Luckily, her hands instinctively grabbed the swing’s frame, but her mood soured instantly.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

She spun around, cheeks flushed, only to meet a pair of deep, starry eyes glinting with mockery and mischief.

It was Ryan’s friend.

Nora’s mind was clear. She looked straight at Ethan, her gaze cold.

“Sir, I don’t believe we’ve met.”

The man said nothing. Colored lights from the fountain reflected on his sharply cut face. In those few seconds, his lips curved coldly, and he pulled something from his suit pocket like a magician — a necklace.

At the sight of it, Nora instinctively reached for her neck.

But she had forgotten — she’d blacked out drunk the night before, and only discovered at home that the necklace Adrian Cole had given her was missing.

At the time, she had only felt a brief pang of regret. Now, seeing it again, she reached for it almost immediately. But Ethan’s long arm lifted it just out of her reach, holding it high above his head.

Deliberately taunting her.

That moment, Nora realized his hostility toward her wasn’t without reason — but she had no idea what that reason was.

“Where did you find it?”

Ethan realized then that Nora didn’t remember him.

He closed the necklace in his fist, lowering it slightly. Nora instinctively stepped closer, trying to reach it. As she moved around him, her eyes caught sight of a small red mole at the base of his neck.

And in an instant, the memories came flooding back, her face flushing pink.

“Remember now?”

Her hands froze. The next second, she trembled with shame.

Those hurried, chaotic memories surged back as if they had just happened.

The one that stood out most was when his lips brushed the hollow of her waist. Even in her hazy state, her entire body had turned pink — not out of bias, but because this man clearly knew what he was doing.

He was good at playing games.

And very good in bed.

Seeing him again only made that impression stronger.

Not wanting to get entangled with him further, Nora drew back abruptly.

“Forget it. If you like it, you can have it.”

She turned to leave.

“Another man gave that to you?” Ethan’s voice came from behind.

Nora froze, her fingers clenched tight — but she didn’t answer.

What business was it of his?

“Miss Reynolds, a one-night whim and now you don’t want to take responsibility?”

His voice turned even colder, like a chill that cut through bone.

Nora spun around, furious.

“Watch your words.”

Yes, that night had been unforgettable — but not enough for her to endure this kind of arrogance.

“So you do remember.” Ethan’s voice was deceptively mild.

Nora’s temper flared.

“Tell me what exactly it is you want.”

His gaze was anything but innocent.

“If Miss Reynolds is willing, I don’t see why we can’t continue this… mistake of a relationship.”

Nora let out a laugh, her eyes narrowing.

“We barely know each other. Are you joking, Mr. Blake?”

Ethan’s tone was grave.

“I think last night is something you’ll never forget.”

Nora snapped, “I can’t give you anything official. Stop joking.”

She still planned to start something with Ryan — everyone else could step aside.

Ethan’s fingers hooked under her chin lightly. There was no real force, but the pressure was suffocating.

And he smelled of expensive cologne — sharp, luxurious, intoxicating.