It shouldn''t have happened-or so he thought.


    Lysander quickly noticed the silver-haired Jade standing protectively in front of M. His eyebrows furrowed instinctively, a flicker of realization crossing his eyes, mixed with surprise. He remembered that seven years ago, M and Jade had a falling out and had presumably severed ties. How were they back together now? Suppressing the irritation bubbling within him, Lysander descended the staircase, intending to greet Jade. After all, she was an elder with a formidable background, deserving of respect. But to his surprise, Jade merely cast him a cold nce before brushing past him, expressionless, and heading upstairs.


    M followed suit. Her demeanor was equally detached as she trailed after her aunt, ignoring Lysander entirely.


    "Lena..." Lysander called softly, reaching out to grasp M''s arm. She deftly avoided his grasp, leaving only the gossamer fabric draped around her arm to slip silkily through his fingers. He watched her retreating figure, a shadow of contemtion passing through his eyes.


    It was then he noticed something different. M wore a sleek ck evening gown that entuated her porcin skin, giving it an ethereal glow with a healthy pink hue. A shimmering fabric twined around her arms and cinched her slender waist, sparkling under the light. Around her neck, a delicate silver chain with star-blue sapphires glistened,plementing the elegant silver pin in her neatly arranged dark hair. Her face was radiant and beautiful, a blend of sophistication and simplicity.


    As she moved, the fabric draped around her waist swayed gently. Lysander''s gaze lingered on the tantalizing silhouette beneath the fabric, his throat


    constricting with the impulse to embrace her delicately soft waist. He knew all too well how supple it was.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Ryan, standing at the top of the stairs, sensed something was amiss. M and her entourage had already left, but Lysander remained on the stairs, lost in thought and unresponsive to Ryan''s repeated calls.


    "What''s up with you?" Ryan asked, eyeing Lysander suspiciously. "What were you staring at M for? Don''t tell me you''re going to betray my sister Giselle!"


    Ryan''s suspicion wasn''t unfounded. The way Lysander had been looking at M was unusual. It wasn''t the indifferent gaze one might have for a mere decorative wife, but it wasn''t exactly affectionate either. Neither scenario was eptable!


    Giselle and Lysander were the perfect match, while M, with her maniptive tricks, was nothing but trouble!


    Lysander didn''t bother answering Ryan. Instead, he started toward the second- floor suite.


    "Hey, I''m talking to you!" Ryan hurried after him.


    "Enough," Lysander snapped, exasperated by Ryan''s persistent questioning as they reached the Montgomery family suite. "Keep pestering me, and you won''t be wee in my suite anymore."


    "No way!" Ryan immediately slipped inside the suite.


    Lysander nced briefly in the direction of M''s suite before entering. He then turned to the slouched figure inside and asked, "Doesn''t the Lockwood family have their own suite? Why aren''t you sitting with your brother?"


    Ryan shuddered slightly. "Please, my brother''s been on a warpathtely. Every time he sees me, he wants to lecture me. I''m just borrowing your space to hide for a bit."


    "Besides, Giselle will being over after her performance. I haven''t seen her in days. What''s wrong with hanging out here?"


    When he noticed Lysander''s prating gaze, Ryan added in exasperation, "Come on, man, you''re not jealous, are you? You know full well Giselle isn''t into me. She''s head over heels for you, and that''s as clear as day."