After dinner, Sylvia stood up, ready to leave, but Reese gently slipped her arm through Sylvia''s.

"Sylvia, why are you suddenly marrying Yves? I thought you and my brother..."

"No, you got it wrong," Sylvia cut her off, not wanting Lester dragged into this

mess.

Reese looked around, then pulled Sylvia aside, lowering her voice. "Look, Yves is a decent guy, but his mom? Not so much. You can''t just look at the man-you need to check out the whole family. You should think this through. I mean, you could do way better-someone like my brother or even Mr. Rupert. You''re not exactlycking in options, you know?"

Sylvia felt a sharp pang inside.

Sometimes, she wished Reese would just unt her perfect life, give Sylvia a reason to hate her or at least keep her distance. But Reese''s confidence, her ease, just highlighted how out of ce Sylvia truly was.

Kids who grow up wrapped in love-they get praised even if their petals are a little uneven. What others call "showing off" is just Reese''s normal.

Sylvia pressed her lips together, swallowed the bitterness, and forced a calm smile, nodding.

She couldn''t even remember what Reese said next.

After they said goodbye, Yves called out to her.

"Sylvia, I''ve looked into everything about you. Just behave yourself and get ready to marry me I''ll treat you right."

"Mr. Hanson," Sylvia shot back, "I''m curious-since you don''t seem to like me at all, why''d you agree to marry me just because Ms. Winslet asked?"

Yves hesitated, his voice rough. He stepped closer, his shadow looming over her, eyes dropping down. "Guess it''s... your legs. They''re really something."

With that, he smirked, and walked off to the parking lot with Mrs. Hanson trailing behind.

Sylvia stood outside the restaurant, Yves'' words echoing in her ears. The night air suddenly turned cold, sending a shiver down her spine.

She pulled her coat tighter and started looking for a cab.

She''d barely taken a few steps when a car rolled up beside her. The window slid down halfway, revealing the sharp, chiselled lines of a man''s face.fnb3a1 For more chapters visit Find1Novel/fnb3a1

"Get in."

Sylvia gave him a look and kept walking. The car slowed to match her pace.

She finally snapped, "What? You dying to know how my little

matchmaking dinner went? It

great ''I''ll make sure to invite you to the wedding next week, happy now?"  s

"Cut the act," Rupert said, eyes narrowed.

"Oh, what, you''re an actor now, Mr. Rupert?" she shot back, rolling her eyes.

When his car blocked her path, she spun off into the pedestrian street.

She thought she''d lost him. No such luck-he got out and caught up in a few strides.

Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a narrow alley.

The old brick building was tangled in

dead ivy, its age worn into every

stone Sylvia tried to and to yankh her free, but Rupert pinned her the corner.  s

His eyes were dark and dangerous, his handsome face cold and intense.

He stared her down, voice low and tense. "Talk. I''ve got all night if you want to y games."

She struggled, but his grip only tightened.

Frustrated, she locked eyes with

him. There were so many questions, but right now, she needed to know.. one thing

something from her past

repeating itself now. " s

"You and Ms. Winslet-and the Hansons-you''re working together, aren''t you?"

"Yeah. How did you know? That''s not public info." Suspicion flickered in his gaze.

"So you just see me as—" Sylvia faltered, unable to say it aloud.

In that moment, Rupert''s phone rang.

Reese''s gentle voice came through, "Mr. Rupert, I...”

"I''ll be right there," he cut her off.

He turned to leave, then paused a few steps away, ncing back at Sylvia with a warning.

"Don''t say anything stupid."