A solitary night drifted by; then came the following day.

When Lilah awoke, she braced herself for the aftermath, only to be pleasantly surprised. Strangely, she felt perfectly fine. It seemed her alcohol tolerance had received an unexpected upgrade.

As she sat up from the bed, a jolt of astonishment coursed through her when she noticed a man reclining on her couch. “Ah!"

Gerard's slumber was disrupted by her cries, and he slowly opened his eyes. His voice carried a husky, drowsy tone as he mumbled, “You're up."

"Why... Why are you at my home?" Lilah wondered aloud.

"Yesterday, you had a bit too much to drink; that's why I brought you back here," Gerard explained.

Lilah remained puzzled and inquired, "But why are you still here?"

"You had quite a bit to drink, and I was concerned something might happen to you during the night," Gerard replied in a husky, sensual tone, attempting to sound casual.

Lilah clenched her hands into fists, and just as she was about to speak, he strolled over, settled on the edge of the bed, and his profound gaze ensnared her. He asked, "The person you fancy, who might it be?"

“Why... Why do you ask this?" Lilah inquired, her voice trembling with a touch of vulnerability.

"Give me a reason if you want me to give up, at least," Gerard responded, his tone flat; beneath that facade, he harbored a deep sense of pain. Lilah felt a stabbing sensation in her heart; for a brief moment, an urge to reach out and comfort him washed over her.

She longed to ease his distress.

However, rationality prevailed over emotion. “It's not your problem.

The person I like is a remarkable man."

“Even better than me?" Gerard pressed, unconvinced.

"To be precise, he is the best in my eyes," Lilah clarified, her words masking a hint of cruelty.

She couldn't bring herself to meet Gerard's eyes, sensing the hurt in his gaze. Her eyes turned red, and she uttered in a hoarse voice, "I need to get changed. You should go home. Thank you for last night."

Gerard rose and silently left.

Lilah sighed, convinced that Gerard must be disappointed in her. In a peculiar way, this outcome felt better. It meant she wouldn't have to bear the weight of guilt.

After freshening up, she headed straight to the office.

The atmosphere in the morning meeting brimmed with tension.

Everyone was well aware that the coveted location they had set their sights on had been snatched up by Xavier Jewelers.

“The Xavier Jewelers are pushing their luck too far. They're bullying us, thinking our CEO is young," one person remarked.

"Ha, they'll face the consequences sooner or later! Miss Phillips is from the headquarters," another announced.