Liam’s eyes locked onto mine like a target. The tension in the room thickened, heavy enough to touch.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice clipped.
“I’m here to see you,” I replied calmly, clutching the ck box a little tighter. “I came to return this.”
I extended it toward him. “I can’t keep it. It’s too much.”
He didn’t move.
“You don’t have to really,” I added, more gently this time. “And I don’t feel right epting something so… expensive.”
He stared at the box like it offended him.
“I gave it to you. That’s the point,” he said finally. “You don’t return a gift.”
“I’m sorry. I have to this time. It’s way too expensive.”
“Keep it.”
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“No.”
:
He muttered curses under his breath. “Let’s not do this”
288 Vouchers
We went back and forth, me trying to hand it over, him refusing with rising frustration, until Sophia let out a softugh from the couch.
“Oh my God,” she said, shaking her head. “Now I get what Jay meant.‘
“Remind me to smack him when i see him,” I groaned. “What has he been telling you?”
She widened her eyes innocently. “Huh? Nothing. Ignore me.”
<i>“</i>1
Liam shot her a look that could’ve turned water to steam. “Sophia, I’ve warned you to stop listening to Jay’s gossip.”
Sophia just sipped her iced coffee clearly thriving on the chaos.
Finally, she stood and walked over, gently resting a hand on my arm.
“Emily, listen. You didn’t ask for that piece. You didn’t beg for it or scheme to get it. He gave it freely, right?”
I hesitated. “Yes…”
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:
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“Then there’s no harm in keeping it. It doesn’t make you obligated or owned. If anything, you‘ re doing both of you a favor by not wasting the gesture.”
I nced between her and Liam. He stayed silent, tension written in the set of his jaws and the weight in his eyes.
I exhaled. “Fine. I’ll keep it.’
<i>” </i>
Sophia smiled like she’d just settled a trade war. “There we go. You owe me one brother dearest.”
Liam nced at his watch. “I have to go. Meetings.”
He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to Sophia’s head. “I’ll be backte. No funny business. You’re not allowed to throw any parties.”
“No promises.”
He turned to me, said nothing, just gave a curt nod, then disappeared through the hallway and out the door.
The silence he left behind felt less suffocating.
Sophia flopped back onto the couch with a satisfied sigh. “That was entertaining. Ten out of ten for tension. You guys really go at it.”
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:
I sat beside her, still a little dazed. “You two are close.”
“Liam and I? Yeah. He’s one of my favorite brothers.”
“You only have two.”
She grinned. “Still counts.”
I hesitated, then added quietly, “He treats you differently. Softer. Kinder.”
Sheughed. “He is kind, I promise.”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
288 (Vouchers
Sophia nudged me yfully. “He’s not as cold as he seems. He just doesn’t trust easily. But once you get past the wall, he’s actually a softic.”
I arched a brow. “I’m not seeing it.”
“You will,” she said, suddenly serious. “There’s a reason he acts like that with you. You throw him off his rhythm.”
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:
I opened my mouth to ask more, but she changed the subject. <fn40c5> This text is hosted at FιndＮovel</fn40c5>
“So, do you have anything going on tonight?”
I blinked. “Tonight? No. Just a quiet evening at home, probably.”
“Boring,” she dered instantly. “You’reing out with me.”
Iughed. “What?”
288 iVouchers
“I need to dance, drink overpriced cocktails, and yell at a DJ. We’re going clubbing.”
“I see why he warned you not to throw a party now,” I said,ughing. “I don’t even have anything to wear.
<i>“</i><i>1 </i>
“I have a closet that would make your jaw drop. Trust me.”
“I am not sure about this…”
She looked at me, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Please say yes.”
I tried to resist it. But there was something about her energy that pulled me in.
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“Okay,” I said finally, praying I wouldn’t regret it. “Let’s do it.”
288 Vouchers
Sophia did more than just convince me to go clubbing, she made me spend the entire day in Liam’s house.
And honestly? It wasn’t half bad.
With Liam away for work, the mansion felt lighter. Less cold. Sophia kept meughing, dragging me around the house like a hyper tour guide. We explored everything, including the indoor cinema.
When it was time to get ready, she led me upstairs to her room.
And wow.
It was massive. Just like something out of a luxury fashion spread. Cream walls with blush undertones, high ceilings with soft golden lights dripping from a modern chandelier. One wall was all windows, casting sunset across the plush ivory rug.
Her bed was king–sized, canopied in gauzy silk with a rose–gold frame. There was an entire corner dedicated to vanity and makeup, and another wall held her walk–in closet,plete with sliding ss doors and color–coded racks of heels and designer dresses.
“This space is huge. Do you like…live here permanently?” I asked, still spinning slowly as I took everything in.
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1 288 Vouchers
Sophia flopped dramatically onto her bed. “Ugh, no. I still live with our parents. Can’t move out. Last–born curse.”
I smiled. “Seriously?”
“They’d be miserable without me” She said with a wink. “They’re away on summer vacation. Family tradition. They still go every year, even though the rest of us are too busy.”
“You don’t go with them?”
“Sometimes. This year I had weddings. I was in Spain for one and just never flew back.”
She pped her hands. “Enough family talk. We have a mission.”
<i>” </i>
I barely had time to react before she pulled me into her closet like a girl on a mission. The next thirty minutes were a blur ofughter, trial outfits, near wardrobe malfunctions, and a full face beat so precise it could be on a red carpet.
By the time she was done, I barely recognize myself in the mirror.
My skin glowed. My cheekbones popped. My lips were a glossy, dangerous red. And the dress she gave me?
A little outside myfort zone.
Midnight ck. Body–hugging. Backless. With a thigh–high slit and a neckline that made my
reflection blush.
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I turned, tugging at the hem. “Sophia, I cannot wear this.
She arched a brow. “Why not?”
“I feel so exposed.”
“Exactly. That’s the whole point.”
“Sophia, please. Something more appropriate.”
“It’s a club, babe. Not Sunday school. Show them what mama gave you.”
I rolled my eyes but finally gave in. “Fine.”
“Yeahhhh.”
1 288 Vouchers
A ck car waited outside, the driver already holding the door open. I barely had time to catch my breath before Sophia shoved me in.
The ride was just as wild as the girl beside me,
She turned up the music and danced in the back seat like it was a moving club. She sang loud, off–key, and every exaggerated move had meughing until my stomach hurt.
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It was impossible not to smile around her. Her energy was electric, infectious, like she didn’t carry a single ounce of shame.
By the time the car pulled up to the front of the club, my cheeks ached fromughing.
Then I looked out the window and my heart skipped.
The building towered above us in moody blue lighting, its exterior lined with velvet ropes, a minimalist gold sign glowing like a secret. ck SUVS and high–end cars pulled up one after another. Cameras shed. Security scanned faces. No lines, no crowds. Just exclusivity.
I’d heard about this ce.
The kind of club that catered to the 1% of the 1%. Celebrities, CEOS, heirs, the kind of people you read about on headlines, not stand next to in line.
Sophia noticed the shift in my face and smirked.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered, slipping her arm through mine. “You’re going to have fun.
Trust me.”
I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, heels clicking softly against the pavement.
I decided to let my guard down tonight to have fun, just once.
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Let tomorrow deal with the consequences.