The private entrance of the club opened as Adrian Sterling walked inside with Ryan.
The loud music from the main hall could be heard even from the private section, but Adrian barely reacted.
His hands were casually tucked into his pockets as he walked beside his younger stepbrother.
Ryan looked around excitedly.
“This place is nice.”
“You’ve been here before,” Adrian said.
Ryan shrugged.
“I forgot.”
Adrian gave him a sideways glance.
“How do you forget a place like this?”
“I forget many things.”
“Clearly.”
Ryan frowned.
“Why are you always teasing me?”
“Because you make it easy.”
They reached the private room where two men were already waiting.
The moment Adrian entered, Lucas Bennett stood up.
“Finally.”
Marcus Reed laughed softly.
“We were beginning to think Ryan kidnapped you.”
Ryan pointed at Marcus.
“I would never.”
Lucas looked at him.
“You’re Ryan, right?”
Adrian nodded.
“Ryan, these are Lucas Bennett and Marcus Reed.
We went to school together.”
Ryan smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
Lucas shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you too.
I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
“Good things, I hope.”
Marcus smiled.
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
Ryan looked suspicious.
Adrian walked past them and sat down.
“Ignore him.”
Ryan immediately followed.
“See?
This is what he does.”
Lucas laughed.
“Some things clearly haven’t changed.”
They settled down with drinks, and after a while, the conversation naturally turned toward family.
Ryan sighed dramatically.
“Do you know how many times my father and his wife have told me to quit entertainment?”
Adrian looked at him.and replied “they are sure looking for way to take the company” He knows his father and stepmother very well.
“just add they are foolish.”Ryan leaned back.
“They keep saying I’m wasting my time and should enter the family company as if I don’t know what is on their minds.”
Lucas looked curious.
“Your father and stepmother?”
“our father and stepmother.
Ryan said
“Your mother..
Adrian interrupted
Ryan rolled his eyes at him and continue explaining to Lucas “Charles Sterling and Vanessa Sterling.”
Adrian chuckled.
“They’ve been disturbing you about it for a while.”
“Exactly!” Ryan complained.
“Every time I visit, it’s the same speech.”
He imitated his father’s serious voice.
“You’re old enough now.
You should learn how to manage the family business.”
Then he switched to a softer voice.
“Entertainment isn’t a permanent career, Ryan.”
Lucas burst out laughing.
Ryan glared at him.
“It’s not funny.”
“It is a little.”
Marcus smiled.
“So what do you tell them?”
“I tell them I don’t want it.”
Adrian picked up his glass.
“Ryan has never been interested in the family company.”
“I like music.”
Ryan’s expression became serious for a moment.
“It’s what I actually enjoy.”
Adrian nodded.
“Then keep doing what you enjoy.”
Ryan smiled.
“See?
My brother understands me.”
Lucas looked between them.
“You two are surprisingly close.”
Ryan immediately put an arm around Adrian’s shoulder.
“Of course we are.”
Adrian pushed his arm away.
“Don’t get comfortable.”
Ryan laughed.
Meanwhile, in another private room, Lillian and Ethan sat across from each other.
The conversation had become more relaxed.
Lillian rested one hand beneath her chin.
“What’s something you dislike?”
Ethan thought for a moment.
“People who are too weak-minded.”
Lillian raised an eyebrow.
“That’s a strange answer.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t like people who lie.”
Ethan smiled.
“Then we’re similar.”
Lillian didn’t notice the slight irony in his expression.
“What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?”
“Going out.
Meeting friends.
Parties.”
“You don’t like quiet places?”
“Not really.”
Lillian nodded.
“That explains why you chose a club.”
He laughed.
“What about you?”
“I like fashion, watching movies, drawing sometimes.”
“You’re an actress.
Do you enjoy acting?”
“Yes.”
“Even though you’re not very famous yet?”
Lillian looked at him.
“I’m still working toward that.”
Ethan nodded.
“Ambitious.”
“I think everyone should have something they’re working toward.”
He smiled.
“That’s true.”
His phone suddenly vibrated.
Ethan glanced down.
A message from Serena Blake appeared.
Serena: Are you with her?
He stared at the screen for a second before replying.
Ethan: Yes.
Serena: How is it going?
Ethan glanced at Lillian.
Ethan: I’ll call you later.
He locked his phone and placed it facedown.
Lillian noticed.
“Work?”
“Something like that.”
She nodded and continued talking.
Ethan listened, but his thoughts were somewhere else.
He had no intention of falling in love with Lillian.
As far as he was concerned, this marriage was a business arrangement between two families.
And if getting physically close to Lillian helped secure the marriage and make the contract easier to finalize, he was willing to use whatever advantage he had.
His phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a message from his family.
Family: Take this date seriously.
The Moore family is important to the agreement.
Make sure you secure the contract and don’t ruin this opportunity.
Ethan stared at the message.
A cold smile appeared on his face.
So that’s what they want.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Lillian was still talking, completely unaware of what was going through his mind.
Ethan looked at her.
She was beautiful, polite, and weak.
he doesn’t like weak women.
He can only accept because of the deal.
“Are you listening?” Lillian suddenly asked.
Ethan looked up.”Of course.”
“What did I just say?”
He paused.
Lillian narrowed her eyes.
“You weren’t listening.”
Ethan chuckled.
“Sorry.”
She shook her head.
“You really are something.”
Across the club, Adrian sat with Ryan, Lucas, and Marcus.
Ryan was telling another exaggerated story while Adrian listened quietly.
The music outside grew louder.
The night continued around them.
And in the other room, Ethan lifted his glass toward Lillian.
“To getting to know each other.”
Lillian smiled and lifted hers.
“To getting to know each other.”
Their glasses touched.
For Lillian, it was simply another step toward understanding the man she was supposed to marry.
For Ethan, it was business.
what do you think?