"K-Kyle?"

Kyle froze at the sound of her voice before turning around. Just as he expected, Amanda stood there with her eyes wide.

Letting out a quiet sigh, he said, "Amanda... this is my brother’s secretary, Lara. And Lara... you surely know her."

The woman gave a faint bow in greeting. "Good evening, Heiress Maylith."

Amanda’s attention flickered toward the woman for only a moment before she stepped forward, took Kyle’s hand, and held it firmly.

"Let’s go somewhere else. I need to talk," she said, already pulling him aside.

Kyle offered Lara an apologetic smile and allowed himself to be led away.

When they reached a quiet corner, Amanda finally stopped and turned to fix his collar herself.

Kyle chuckled at her frown and the way she kept brushing her wrist against his collar, as if trying to wipe Lara’s scent off him.

He glanced around before resting his hands on her waist. "What was the plan? Dressing up this stunningly... do you want me on my knees in front of everyone?"

Amanda blushed faintly and lowered her gaze, her hands settling against his chest. "You like it? I didn’t wear black today though."

"That’s still my favorite on you, true. But the way you look today makes me want to prevent others from looking at you."

Her blush deepened, and a soft smile formed on her lips.

Looking up, she said, "You look quite dashing today."

Kyle leaned back and glanced at himself. "You’ve already seen me in this. Didn’t have time to get something new."

Given Kyle’s height, finding well-fitting clothes, especially formal ones, was never easy.

"It doesn’t matter. When you dress like this, it becomes hard to decide whether to just admire you or hold onto you so no one else dares come close."

Kyle chuckled again, the low vibration of his laughter warming her heart and drawing her smile wider.

Then he asked, "Did you talk to your father?" Amanda had caused quite a scene in front of his friends. He wouldn’t call her actions unreasonable, but her father’s embarrassment and frustration were just as understandable.

"No, but I know I can sort things out. He isn’t actually upset with me." She paused, then flinched slightly. "Did you talk to him earlier?"

"Yes. And I must say, he’s a very nice man. He even made it clear how sure he is about our relationship."

Amanda’s eyes sparkled. "Is that so... well, he has always been an understanding man."

Kyle hummed, his gaze drifting again and again to her soft lips, watching the way they moved, quietly tempting him.

After yesterday, she has ignited the flames he has somehow suppressed.

He asked the system, ’Mind checking if we’re being watched?’

[Using God’s Eye....]

[Yes, host. A certain pair of eyes is fixed on you. At your three o’clock.]

Kyle let out a low hum and turned his head... and there he was.

"Haah... this guy is unbearable," Kyle muttered under his breath.

Amanda followed his gaze and spotted Ethan in the crowd, surrounded by a few women trying to get his attention. Yet the blond man kept glancing their way, so often it became obvious.

"Do you... want to come to my room?" Amanda asked softly.

"Nah, that would cause a scene. Anyway, you said you wanted me to meet someone."

Amanda looked up at once. "Oh, yes. Come with me." She caught his sleeve again and led him deeper into the mansion.

Kyle felt a flicker of concern about how their closeness might look, but her father already knew about them. And if his own family questioned him, he would deal with it somehow.

Amanda guided him into a quieter space that resembled a small reception hall. A few guests sat scattered around, engaged in low, polite conversations.

She led him to an isolated corner where a blond girl sat, sipping her soda through a straw.

"Kyle... this is Melissa. My cousin and my best friend." Then she turned to the girl. "And Melissa... this is Kyle."

Kyle nodded. He had heard about this cousin from Amanda before.

Amanda rarely left town, and whenever she did, it was to meet her. Melissa had been by her side since childhood, one of the few people around whom Amanda could truly be herself.

Kyle greeted her with a slight nod. "Hello, Miss Melissa. I am Astortia Kyle."

"I know. And I hate you," Melissa replied flatly before returning to her drink.

Slurp Slurp

Both Amanda and Kyle stiffened at her blunt confession.

Kyle glanced at Amanda, wondering if he had met this girl before and somehow offended her.

Amanda, meanwhile, took the seat beside Melissa and protested, "Why would you say that, Milli? Kyle is a good person. I’ve told you so much about him, and yet you say this."

"Yes, that’s exactly why," Melissa said. She finished her drink, then added, "You only talk about him on calls. That’s why. Hate."

She reached for another glass, but it was a little too far, so Kyle handed it to her.

She looked up at him and gave a small nod. "Plus twenty affection, but still in the negatives."

Kyle gave a wry smile. What kind of creature was this?

Amanda groaned. "You’re not making any sense. Kyle, please sit down first. She’s just joking."

Kyle nodded and took a seat beside Amanda.

Melissa glanced at him, then said, "His legs are long."

Amanda smacked her hand. "Don’t look at him like that." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Melissa’s lips curved ever so slightly on one side, a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Amanda shook her head in resignation before saying, "I wanted you two to get along. You know... Kyle has always been there for me, just like you."

As she spoke, she turned to him, her hand finding his.

Kyle met her gaze with the same warmth.

Melissa abruptly broke the moment. "Is it true that she’s always in the top three during semester exams?"

Amanda flinched, while Kyle chuckled. "That’s completely untrue. Amanda isn’t even in the top ten."

"Kyle!" Amanda protested.

"Hmph... what’s the point of lying to me when I never trusted you?" Melissa narrowed her eyes.

Kyle shook his head. "She tries her best, but a few subjects ruin her overall standing."

"You said a few, yet she only has five subjects," Melissa replied, leaning forward slightly as she looked at him. "Do you mean all of them?"

Kyle pressed his lips together, barely holding back his laughter.

"Ugh... now you both are bullying me," Amanda groaned, though she wasn’t truly upset.

After that, the conversation flowed naturally, without any awkward pauses.

With Amanda as the bridge between them, most of their topics revolved around her.

Melissa came across as a silent observer, someone who spoke rarely but struck sharply when she did. She would stay quiet for long stretches, only to break the silence with a single line that left the room in laughter.

Not long after, someone came to call Amanda, saying her mother was looking for her.

"I’ll be back in a minute." With that, Amanda left the two of them alone.

Now... things might become a little awkward. Without Amanda to keep the conversation alive, silence might settle in—

"As I thought, I hate you."

—or so he thought.

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.