[LINA]

    It became obvious almost immediately—Robert wasn''t here to mend his broken relationship with Daniel. He was here for me.

    The way he introduced Dan, with a rehearsed air of pride, made it clear that his true intention was to present his legitimate son as a more ''worthy'' suitor for me than Daniel Foster.@@@@

    Talk about a loving father.

    "My son here graduated at the top of his class," Robert continued, clearly boasting for my benefit. "He''s my successor, smart, accomplished, and quite the gentleman. Not to brag, but he holds a double degree. He''s truly the pride of our family."

    I had no doubt he is your son. You have the same pride and arrogant on your face.

    Dan leaned forward slightly, his gaze settling on me. "Hello, Lina," he said, his voice low and smooth, laced with a deliberate charm. "It''s a pleasure to meet you."

    His eyes gleamed with something more than just politeness. They held an unmistakable glint of interest, a subtle invitation that made Daniel''s jaw tighten.

    But I simply smiled—a smile that didn''t quite reach my eyes. "It''s a pleasure to meet my boyfriend''s brother as well," I said, deliberately emphasizing the word brother with a sweetness that made Dan''s confident expression falter ever so slightly. The smile on Robert''s face also flickered, a brief crack in his polished demeanor.

    It was clear as day—Robert and Dan weren''t here for Daniel. They had no interest in mending familial ties. They were here because they saw me as a golden opportunity, a way to elevate their status even further.

    I had encountered enough people like them to recognize their intentions at a single glance. And judging by the way Robert kept boasting about Dan''s accomplishments, it seemed their plan was to steal my attention from Daniel and redirect it toward Dan.

    I saw how Daniel frowned for being ignored and I placed my hand into his squeezing them. "Thank you for the compliment, Dan. Though, I must admit, Daniel''s support has been invaluable. He has brilliant ideas and plans in real estate—so good, in fact, that I can''t help but steal a few for myself."

    I laughed a little. My words were a subtle but sharp reminder that Dan wasn''t the man standing by my side—Daniel was.

    Robert''s eyes narrowed slightly, though he quickly masked his displeasure with another forced smile. "Ah, yes, Daniel has certainly grown into quite the capable young man."

    Despite his words, it was painfully obvious that Robert didn''t see Daniel as capable of anything—at least, not compared to Dan. But my stance threw a wrench into whatever scheme Robert had in mind.

    A small smirk played at the corner of my lips as I leaned back in my chair. I could see through Robert''s intentions as clearly as glass, and I wasn''t about to let him or his golden boy undermine Daniel.

    This wasn''t just a casual dinner—it was a power play. Robert wanted to dangle the wealth and prestige of the Gill name in front of me, hoping I''d reconsider my relationship with Daniel.

    Too bad for them, I wasn''t easily impressed. And Daniel? He wasn''t the kind to just lean back and be ignored.

    "Looks like it''s clear you had no real intention of meeting me—you just wanted to meet my girlfriend," Daniel said coldly, his voice steady but sharp. "We''ll take our leave now. Thank you for the meal."

    Except the meal hadn''t even started. I blinked in surprise as he abruptly stood and grabbed my hand.

    Robert frowned, rising from his seat with a look of disapproval. "Is that how you speak to your father?"

    "You''ve never been a father to me. Let''s keep it that way."