Parting Under the Moonlit River

Nora Reynolds forced herself to calm down, stepping out from the shadowed corridor. She suppressed her irritation as she typed on her phone, heading toward the gala hall—truthfully, she just wanted to avoid everyone, but clearly that wasn’t an option tonight.

When Nora reached the main ballroom, Adrian Cole and Vivian Lane were already gone.

Ryan Brooks was still trying to keep Ethan Blake from leaving, asking why he was running off so quickly.

“You never invite me to those dinners with Ron,” Ryan complained.

Ethan was silent for a moment, then opened his eyes again, sharp as a blade.

Ryan sighed. “Fine. Once I start my new job, we’ll see each other even less.”

“At least you’re back now,” Ethan said. “Compared to before, we’ll definitely meet more often.”

Ryan grinned. “Then next time, can you at least invite me to one of those meetings?”

“Pay the protection fee first,” Ethan replied with a smirk.

Ryan bared his teeth. “You’re such a hustler.”

Ethan clapped him on the shoulder, still with his back to Nora. “I’ve never actually hustled you out of any money.”

Then Ethan left. Ryan cursed under his breath before turning back and spotting Nora.

“You came?” he asked.

“I saw your message,” Nora replied.

Ryan handed her a beautiful blue velvet box. “Brought this back from a Christie’s auction.”

Nora opened it. “You even thought of me while you were overseas?”

Ryan smiled warmly, towering over her, and ruffled her soft hair.

“Our parents are both trying to set us up,” he said gently. “What do you think about that?”

Unlike Adrian, who was always tense and guarded, Ryan was gentle and composed. His soft-spoken manner and steady temperament soothed the hurt left on Nora’s heart by Ethan’s earlier words. She smiled.

“With your friend here just now, it wasn’t convenient to talk. But yes, I agree to date you, Ryan.”

Ryan’s smile deepened. “This is your little gift, Nora. Thank you for accepting me.”

Nora had never been coaxed so tenderly by a boyfriend before. Her nose stung with sudden warmth.

“Love goes both ways,” she said softly. “Next time, I’ll get you something.”

“Deal,” Ryan said, blinking playfully.

The gala ended close to midnight. Daniel Reynolds strode up to her, his long legs eating up the distance, brows slightly raised.

“I heard you’re going to date Ryan Brooks. Is that true?”

Nora looped her arm through his and smiled. “What do you think, big brother?”

Daniel frowned, his sharp features hard. “In theory, fine—but in practice, I still need to see what kind of man he is.”

Nora nearly laughed. Daniel was clearly on high alert. Then, he suddenly changed the subject.

“Nora, did you date anyone while you were overseas?”

Daniel’s expression was fierce, giving off the vibe of a father interrogating a wayward child.

She gave a nervous laugh. “Brother, did you hear something?”

Daniel let out a cold chuckle. “I heard something tonight that made Mom and Dad furious. How dare someone spread rumors about you?”

He gave her a sidelong glance, letting his words hang. Nora felt her chest tighten under the pressure.

“So?” Daniel pressed. “Did you or didn’t you?”

“No,” Nora said quickly, gritting her teeth.

She cursed Adrian silently in her heart—this troublemaker! It was bad enough he didn’t know who she really was, but to spread rumors to her father?

Just as Nora was about to escape, Daniel grabbed the sash of her dress.

“Stand still!” he barked.

“Mom and Dad want to see you. Come with me!”

“Nooo, Daniel, please—”

With Nora’s status in the Reynolds family, even the smallest ripple could trigger a full family meeting. Soon, she was sitting alone, facing the entire family.