CHAPTER 107: SARAH AND RYAN’S DANCED MADE DRAKE JEALOUS

Lucas’s words completely cracked Toby up.

She covered her lips, cheeks flushed from stifling her laughter.

Laura pouted in displeasure.

"How could you embarrass me like this in front of my best friend?

Now how am I supposed to show my face around him?"

Toby immediately blinked playfully.

"Don’t worry about it.

I already know how you feel about my brother anyway."

At the mention of his brother, Lucas’s gaze shifted to Toby’s face, his expression unreadable.

Previously, Toby had only seen Lucas in magazines and news articles.

This was the first time she had ever been this close to the idol he admired so much.

Toby’s face instantly flushed the crimson as he extended his hand.

"Hello, Mr. Lucas.

I’m Toby.

I’ve heard so much about you—it’s an honor to finally meet you!"

Seeing Toby’s bashful expression, Laura giggled.

"Look who’s talking!

Now that you’re face-to-face with my brother, you’re practically starstruck!"

Toby blushed even harder, her cheeks burning as she glanced at Lucas.

Her eyes sparkled with admiration, her head slightly lowered in shyness.

"Since you’re Laura’s good friend, you’re practically like a little sister to me," Lucas said smoothly.

"Our family has always been a bit spoiled—sometimes she speaks without thinking.

Don’t take it to heart."

With just one sentence, he firmly established the distance between himself and Toby—a clear rejection.

Truly, Lucas was a master of delivering a lethal blow without shedding blood.

"Oh, it’s nothing...

We were just joking around... Of course I wouldn’t take it seriously!"

Toby forced a smile, but her expression faltered.

The rosy flush on her cheeks faded into the pallor, her pink lips pressed tightly together.

Suddenly, the piano music in the grand hall shifted to a familiar melody—one that Toby had played at nearly every performance.

All eyes turned toward the grand piano at the center of the room, curious to see who was playing.

Beauty’s gaze was also drawn by the gentle notes.

The melody, the silhouette—both achingly familiar.

For a moment, she froze.

Memories of that sweltering summer flooded back—the amusement park, the ice cream.

She hadn’t seen that familiar figure since that day.

Later, she learned from Hannah that Samuel had been sent to Germany for further studies.

After that, they lost touch completely.

And now, unexpectedly, he was back.

"That’s some impressive piano playing.

To reach this level at such a young age—truly remarkable!"

Sarah murmured, her lips curling into a faint smile as her eyes lingered on Samuel.

She had practiced piano diligently as a child, once dreaming of becoming a renowned pianist herself.

Yet here she is now, in a career utterly unrelated to music.

Life was full of regrets, big and small.

But perhaps it was these very regrets that made life anything but ordinary.

As the final notes faded, Samuel rose from the piano bench.

His deep, calm voice carried across the room.

"Mr. Drake, this piece is for you—a birthday gift.

May everything go your way."

Drake smiled in response, though a trace of bitterness flickered in his eyes.

To have everything go one’s way in life was far too much to ask.

All one could hope for was a clear conscience.

Was he truly without guilt?

His thin lips curled into a smirk as his gaze landed on a familiar yet distant figure in the far corner.

Sensing the intensity of his stare, she looked up just in time to see Drake avert his eyes and lean down to whisper something to Samantha, who responded with a faint blush.

A perfect match—handsome man, beautiful woman.

They truly belonged together.

What was she, compared to them?

"Sarah, shall we dance?" Ryan extended his hand with effortless grace, his chin slightly raised and a subtle smile playing on his lips.

Beauty couldn’t help but notice how striking Ryan was—the kind of guy with those effortlessly cool single eyelids that would have made him the heartthrob of any school, the undisputed crush of every class.

Sarah hesitated for a brief moment.

She had no desire to become the center of attention at this gala, even if she had arrived with an escort.

Keeping a low profile was more her style.

Beauty nudged her shoulder playfully.

"Come on, Sarah, don’t tell me you’re going to turn down such a sincere invitation from the dashing Ryan?

That’d be downright cruel."

"You little—" Sarah sighed in amused exasperation.

With so many eyes on them, she couldn’t very well embarrass Ryan by refusing.

Smiling, she accepted his hand, and the two made their way to the dance floor.

Just then, she spotted Drake and Samantha stepping forward to dance as well.

Her footsteps faltered—should she keep going, or turn back?

"What’s the matter?

Trying to make a run for it?"

Ryan lowered his head, his lips nearly brushing her ear as he spoke in a husky whisper.

Sarah’s cheeks instantly flushed pink.

After a moment of silence, she lifted her gaze to meet his and grinned.

"Me?

Run away?

As if!

It’s just a dance—bring it on!"

"Now that’s more like it."

Ryan’s laughter was deep and smooth, almost like a radio host—comforting and effortlessly charming.

As the music swelled again, Sarah placed her hand lightly in his palm, feeling the warm dampness of his skin.

Their bodies swayed and twirled in perfect sync with the rhythm.

Back in school, they had often partnered for ballroom dancing.

Even after all this time without practice, their movements still flowed together seamlessly, as if no time had passed.

Meanwhile, Drake and Samantha had taken notice of them.

Drake shot Ryan a cold, disdainful glance before turning his attention back to Samantha.

But his mind was elsewhere, and his distracted steps kept landing on her toes, making her wince in pain, her forehead creasing as she fought back tears.

Awkward footwork, a restless heart, and the weight of everyone’s attention—Drake suddenly realized just how far he had drifted from Sarah.

A surge of frustration rose within him.

He abruptly let go of Samantha’s hand, his sharp brows furrowing in irritation.

"What’s wrong?" Samantha could read his thoughts, but she still gazed at him with a faint smile, her pink lips pressed tightly together, her heart pounding with unease.

She was terrified that Drake would abandon her right then and there—in front of all these people—just to chase after Sarah.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he merely rubbed his temples with a detached expression.

"Probably had a bit too much to drink earlier.

Feeling a little off.

I’ll step out for some air.

You and my parents can handle things here."

Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Watching Drake’s retreating figure, Samantha bit back the urge to call out to him.

She lowered her head in frustration, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

"Why does it always have to be about Sarah?

What does she have that I don’t?"

The music blared around her, the dance floor alive with movement.

No one heard her bitter whisper, gritted between clenched teeth.

No one noticed the lone figure standing amidst the crowd.

Without Drake by her side, she no longer shone as brightly.

A self-deprecating smile tugged at her lips.

Then she looked up—and there was Sarah, swaying gracefully in Ryan’s arms.

The two murmured to each other, their intimacy making them look like a perfect couple.

Samantha’s fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

Her eyes burned, as if scorched by flames.