She's one of the daughters of the Liu's family,the adopted or the real heiress ?
Amid the glittering crowd, Sally's voice rang out, sharp and shrill.
"I am the real Liu! She's the fake!"
The media and guests froze, cameras flicking toward the sisters. The murmurs of the crowd swelled, but Rose didn't answer. Feeling the suffocating press of the hall, she quietly slipped away, searching for a breath of fresh air.
She didn't notice the figure behind her until a low voice broke the silence.
"It's suffocating, being in such a crowd, isn't it?"
Rose turned sharply. Her eyes widened. Standing there—calm, composed, and impossibly striking—was Rhaegon Hale. Before she could react, he stepped closer and gently caught her hand.
"I—" Rose began, but he stopped her with a small, reassuring smile.
"You've got something on your hand," he said softly, brushing it away. "And a strand of hair—here." His fingers adjusted the loose strand from her temple.
From the angle of the bushes, a hidden photographer snapped furiously. To the outside world, it looked like a stolen kiss.
"I'm Rhaegon Hale," he said, extending his hand.
"I'm Rose Liu," she replied, voice low and gentle.
"Are you scared of me?" he asked.
Rose shook her head, attempting to pull away.
"Will anyone come looking for you if you're lost?" he added. The question startled her; she knew the answer was no, and yet it left a flutter in her chest.
Before she could respond, he caught her again, steadying her. Their proximity was intimate, electric—a moment of unexpected closeness in the chaos of the party. Rose broke away, heart racing, and ran back toward the hall. Rhaegon allowed himself a small, knowing smirk before returning to the crowd.
Inside, Mr.Cole, a renowned lawyer, took the stage, speaking of his firm's accomplishments. Rose's eyes lit up. She had studied law on her own, her programming skills allowing her to save significant funds and invest secretly. Despite Naomi's insistence that she would achieve nothing, Rose had quietly become a self-made success. Listening to Mr.Cole, she imagined herself on that stage someday—recognized, respected, unstoppable.
As the party reached its peak, Naomi stepped forward to announce Rhaegon's betrothal to a Liu daughter. Grandpa Phillips, however, held up his hand to halt her before she revealed the name. He did not want to pressure Rhaegon in front of the media.
Rhaegon froze. He already knew he was betrothed, yet his expression remained unreadable. The hall buzzed with murmurs and curiosity. Naomi's eyes gleamed, satisfied with the drama, and she gave Sally a subtle thumbs-up.
The next morning, Rose hurried to Dametriu's bakery, handing over money she had saved to help him hire additional workers.
"The news… it's all over," Dametrius said, bewildered. "Is it true? Is Sally getting married?"
Rose nodded. "Obviously."
He offered her a small, worried smile, betraying the concern he tried to hide. Rose felt a pang—he cared for her more than anyone, and she feared losing his quiet devotion.
That evening, chaos awaited at home. Two sharp slaps landed across her face—first from Sally, then Naomi.
"Enough!" Mr. Martin thundered.
Naomi spoke:"You're so jealous of her! Always trying to steal the spotlight. First you try to claim the position of true heiress, now you try to steal her suitor!"
Sally, seething, threw magazines and newspapers toward Rose, each featuring photos of her and Rhaegon.
"It's not what it looks like!" Rose tried to explain.
"How dare you lie to me!" Sally hissed, stepping forward.
"It's okay," Mr. Martin intervened, "let's wait and see what the Hale family says."
Naomi's eyes glinted with dissatisfaction. "Now everyone thinks you're his betrothed."
Rose's gaze fell blankly on the photos. She knew defending herself would achieve nothing; nobody would believe her words. With a quiet sigh, she began to climb the stairs. Before she disappeared into the sanctuary of her room, she turned toward Mr. Martin.
"It's not what it looks like. It's not what it seems," she murmured.
Later, as the mansion settled into uneasy silence, Mr. Martin retreated to his study. His mind wandered—not to the chaos downstairs, but to rose, the girl whose resemblance to him was impossible to ignore.
Grandpa Philip stormed into the office and flung a stack of newspapers, magazines, and photographs onto Rhaegon Hale's desk.
"Explain this!" he thundered. "You're betrothed to Sally Liu, yet here you are—flirting openly with Rose Liu!"
The glossy pages scattered across the table, each headline screaming scandal, each image frozen at an angle meant to deceive.
Asher leaned back in his chair, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. "Brother, you're quite impressive. Betrothed to one woman, yet effortlessly charming another. Truly skilled."
Rhaegon sat calmly behind his massive desk, eyes flicking over the photos only once before he leaned back, unbothered.
"These pictures were taken from the wrong angle," he said coolly. "They misrepresent the entire situation." Then, after a brief pause, he added, almost absentmindedly, "Besides, I think I prefer Rose. She's… calm."
Silence crashed into the room.
"What exactly do you want, Rhaegon Hale?" Grandpa Philip roared, clutching his chest. "Are you trying to give me high blood pressure?!"
Rhaegon's lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile—but his eyes remained sharp, thoughtful, already calculating his next move.
Uncle Louis, who oversaw the health division of the corporation, crossed his arms. "I told you, Dad—Rhaegon is still immature. He needs more time. Let me handle the office in his place until he's ready."
Rhaegon's gaze hardened. "Uncle Louis, I don't believe it's your place to interfere in my personal or professional affairs. One way or another, the responsibility is mine—and I can handle the company just fine."
"You're as stubborn as your father," Uncle Louis snapped. "You never listen."
Rhaegon turned to his grandfather. "Grandpa, I'll handle the media fallout myself. I have a meeting to attend."
Without waiting for a response, he stood, straightened his suit, and left the office, his footsteps echoing as he headed toward the conference room.
Later, alone in his office, Rhaegon settled into his chair. His eyes drifted to a photograph resting on the desk. He picked it up, studying it quietly.
A faint smile touched his lips.
He said nothing.