Even if Jeffrey Cox and the others were clueless, they'd still at least heard the name Vertex International from their families, elders, or peers. They'd all been warned— sometimes sternly-not to cross the wrong people, and to mind their relationships. And Emily Blair was exactly the kind of person they'd been told never to offend. Jeffrey Cox couldn't process what had just happened.

A moment ago, Emily Blair had been nothing more than the daughter of a chauffeur in their eyes—someone beneath their notice. Now, in the blink of an eye, she stood revealed as the founder of Vertex International, with a fortune and achievements that eclipsed them all.

The sting of humiliation was sharp.

It was never easy to watch someone you once looked down on rise so far above you. Anyone would feel the sting.

Emily Blair curled her lips in a faint smile.

Tristan Davis reached for her arm, his voice low. "So, that's how you managed during all those years with the Lane family?"

Emily's gaze dimmed, her voice quiet. “It's all in the past.”

Tristan let her words hang in the air, saying nothing for a moment.

Just when she thought he'd dropped the subject, his voice dropped even lower, rough with feeling. "I don't think it is."

Emily's lashes fluttered. "What?"

Tristan looked down at her, those pale blue eyes catching hers. "I mean, I can't just let it go. I'll remember all of it."

She opened her mouth. "Tristan-"

He leaned closer, prompting gently, "Go ahead."

Her expression grew complicated, her eyes flickering with something unspoken.

"...It's nothing."

She turned away, masking her emotions. "Let's get inside."

Tristan gave a quiet assent.

Emily arched a brow at the silent group. "Any more questions? If not, I'll be heading in."

Everyone glanced at each other, uncertain, no one daring to speak.

Jeffrey Cox, face burning, turned away awkwardly, tightening his fists again and again. In this moment, he was nothing like the arrogant figure he'd been just minutes before—more like a paper tiger doused with water, all bluster gone.

Head down, Jeffrey stepped aside to clear a path.

The others quickly followed suit, wordless, making way for Emily and Tristan to pass through together.

Emily raised an eyebrow and said to Tristan, “Let's go.”

She slipped her arm through his, and together they walked calmly through the crowd.

"Sorry..."

As they passed Jeffrey Cox, Emily caught a muted voice.

She paused and turned, glancing at him. “Hmm?”

Jeffrey clenched his fists, lifting his eyes to hers. His gaze was fierce but desperate, his words stiff. "I said, Emily-sorry. I... I hope you won't hold my earlier words against me."

Emily drew out her reply, her tone airy. "Well, that depends on my mood."

A flicker of uneasy smiles passed through the group.

With those crisp words, Emily tightened her hold on Tristan's arm and strode toward the Lane Estate.

The Lane Estate's grounds were sprawling, and it took Emily and Tristan a good while to reach the grand entrance.

Tristan glanced around, lowering his voice. "So, you lived here for a few years?”

Emily spoke softly. "Four, maybe five years. Not long before I moved out."

He was silent for a moment. "Did you really move out?"

She caught the implication and let out a wry laugh. “Fine, I was kicked out. It's embarrassing, so let's not go there.”

He didn't press further.

Emily shook her head, smiling, and pointed to a swing beneath the old tree.

"That swing wasn't here before. When I lived at the Lane Estate, the tree wasn't so tall. There used to be a stone table and benches underneath. Sometimes, I'd sit out here to study."

Tristan glanced at the spot. “Really? Any other memories?"

Emily smiled gently and shared a few selected stories from her childhood at the estate-things she could bear to recall, things that didn't hurt too much.

Tristan listened in silence for a long while, then asked quietly, "And what about you and Andrew Lane? Is that something you can't tell me?"