Sophie Sheridan's life was quite dramatic.
Even though she was his biological daughter, her father favored her stepsister... The Sheridan Heiress was a woman of immense pride; she abandoned her family before they could abandon her.
Lianne Lianne said, "Right now, your father is probably in the ancestral hall, performing his daily ritual: Has the young miss admitted her mistake? And the butler replies: No!"
Sophie Sheridan burst out laughing.
After paying the bill and leaving the restaurant, both were in high spirits, so Sophie Sheridan suggested they go to a bar.
Lianne Lianne had no objections.
They went to STAR Bar, an old establishment that was spacious, had a great atmosphere, and served excellent drinks. As night fell, neon lights and a cacophony of sounds flooded every corner.
A bartender was casually greeting customers from behind the circular bar. Lianne Lianne and Sophie Sheridan sat down at the counter, each ordering a low-alcohol specialty cocktail.
Sophie Sheridan said, "I don't think I've ever seen you wear green before."
Lianne Lianne was wearing a black skirt and a green blouse today. The green was like a lush forest, making her skin look even fairer, like flawless white jade.
"Is there something wrong with other colors?" The clothes in Lianne Lianne's closet were mostly simple, understated tones.
"Of course not! You look great! It's just rare to see you in such vibrant colors like red or green."
Sophie Sheridan's phone, which was on the bar, started ringing. It was a call from her lab. She gestured to Lianne Lianne and found a quiet spot to answer it.
On the lower level, the house band and the fervent crowd on the dance floor moved in time with the flashing lights.
Lianne Lianne sat at the bar, her fingertip swiping across her phone screen as she checked the NASDAQ and the SSE Composite Index.
The loud, energetic music had changed its style three times, but Sophie Sheridan still hadn't returned. Lianne was just about to text her to see what was up.
Just then, a message from Sophie Sheridan came through: "Lia, change of plans! Come up to the second floor for karaoke! I'm waiting for you at the entrance!"
You could feel the karaoke fiend's excitement just from the text.
Lianne Lianne went up to the second floor. Worried she might get lost, Sophie Sheridan had walked over to the top of the stairs to wait for her.
Sophie Sheridan linked her arm with Lianne Lianne's, leading her down the dimly lit corridor.
"I just ran into an old friend who's returned from abroad. A childhood playmate. He was sent overseas in high school and just got back recently."
"I know they say it's a delight to have friends come from afar, but you have way too many of them," Lianne Lianne said. "How many is that now? The third one, right?"
Sophie Sheridan laughed. "You can never have too many friends!"
They entered a VIP room, hidden away in a discreet corner of STAR Bar.
The room was spacious. A man sat on a sofa with his back to the door, one arm draped over the backrest. His well-defined fingers held a cigarette, which he tapped ash from every now and then... He looked leisurely, utterly relaxed and casual.
Lianne Lianne found him strangely familiar. Before she could figure out why, Sophie Sheridan had already pulled her down onto a sofa on the other side.
"Quinn Preston, this is my junior, Lianne Lianne." Sophie Sheridan introduced her old friend.
Quinn Preston wore a pair of glasses on his nose. He had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a scholarly air about him.
He was the Crown Prince of the Pierce Family, who owned Zenith Bank. He had been sent abroad by Mr. Preston at seventeen and had only recently returned to the country.
Lianne Lianne offered a polite smile. "Hello."
Quinn Preston quickly sized her up and was about to greet her when Evan Caldwell, from a sofa on the other side, suddenly stood up and exclaimed in surprise:
"Isn't that Ethan's sister, Little Lia!"
The moment he spoke, the sounds of drinking and revelry in the private room instantly vanished.
Everyone's gaze turned to Lianne Lianne.
Almond-shaped, ink-black eyes, a delicate, high-bridged nose, and features as exquisitely defined as a meticulous Gongbi painting. Her eyes and lips naturally curved up at the corners, giving her a wonderfully sweet look even when she wasn't smiling.
Whether by her surface features or her bone structure, she was stunningly beautiful.
Seth Sinclair sat on the sofa, his long legs crossed lazily. His gaze swept nonchalantly over Lianne Lianne, his eyes dark, cold, and intriguing.
"Ethan's sister..." someone heckled. "Second Young Master, is this your sister, or your wife?"
Sister or wife?
As the teasing remark faded, Seth Sinclair flicked the cigarette between his fingers, turned his head, and let his unfocused gaze fall on Lianne Lianne. His voice, magnetic and pleasant, carried a lazy, low chuckle.
"I'm quite curious myself. Is this my sister, or my wife."
The soft spotlights in the room illuminated the man's handsome, chiseled face, lending a roguish, almost wicked, edge to his smile.
Not many people knew about Lianne Lianne and Ethan Sinclair's relationship.
Evan Caldwell only knew that Ethan Sinclair was 'keeping' a young woman, and he'd only gotten to know Lianne Lianne in the past few months from attending social gatherings.
Before Lianne Lianne could speak, Evan Caldwell immediately jumped in, telling Seth Sinclair, "Little Lia is Ethan's sister, so of course, she's your sister too."
"The way you're treasuring her, I'd say she's Mr. Caldwell's sister!"
The crowd roared with laughter.
After the joke, the room once again filled with the sounds of drinking and playful banter.
Evan Caldwell called a waiter over to bring out the good liquor the Second Young Master kept here.
The waiter glanced furtively at Seth Sinclair. Seeing that the listless Second Young Master didn't object, he complied.
'Sometimes, silence is the best form of crisis management. When people don't get the drama they're looking for, they quickly lose interest and move on.'
Once everyone's attention was no longer on her, Lianne Lianne, with a perfectly composed expression, greeted Seth Sinclair. "Mr. Sinclair."
Distant yet proper, neither servile nor overbearing.
Seth Sinclair lifted his eyelids to gaze at her, his jet-black eyes lazy and unreadable.
'Her accent has a faint, almost imperceptible Tauris lilt, like fresh rushes.'
'The surname 'Lianne' seems to be more common over in Tauris.'
With this in mind, Quinn Preston asked Lianne Lianne, "Have you ever spent time in Tauris?"
Lianne Lianne accepted the drink Evan Caldwell handed her, thanked him, and then said to Quinn Preston, "No."
After a pause, she added, "My father is from Tauris. He settled in Imperia later on, so my speech has more or less retained some of his Tauris habits."
Sophie Sheridan took a sip of her drink, a look of realization dawning on her. "No wonder your voice always sounds so gentle and refined, even more pleasant than a broadcaster's. It's the Tauris accent!"
"Isn't the Tauris accent all whiny and cutesy?" Evan Caldwell asked, tilting his head.
Sophie Sheridan said, "That just shows your ignorance. That's a stereotype. You should go do some field research when you have time and get rid of those preconceptions."
Evan Caldwell grinned roguishly. "Why do field research when we have a perfect example right here in Little Lia?"
Quinn Preston and Sophie Sheridan, as old friends reunited, had a lot to talk about. They chatted about research projects, the Zenith Group headquarters, and the story of the Heiress's fall from grace.
"It's all thanks to Lia supporting me. Otherwise, I'd be penniless and homeless by now." Sophie Sheridan, ever straightforward, threw an arm around Lianne Lianne's shoulders.
A faint smile touched the corners of Lianne Lianne's eyes. "That's only because you're worth it."
Evan Caldwell unwrapped a deck of playing cards and called Lianne Lianne and Sophie Sheridan over for a game.
Lianne Lianne calmly glanced around before taking a seat.
To her left was Seth Sinclair, leaning casually against a single armchair.
As Evan Caldwell shuffled the cards, he chattered on, "Little Lia is a great card player. Ethan always has her play for him."
Seth Sinclair lifted his gaze, his eyes resting loosely on Lianne Lianne's face. "So, you're a great card player," he said nonchalantly.
Lianne Lianne smiled sweetly. "You flatter me, Mr. Sinclair. I only know the basics."
It was a seamless reply, one that should have left no room for criticism. And yet...
Seth Sinclair looked at her, a smile playing on his thin lips. Without batting an eye, he said, "What's this? Am I not worthy of being called 'brother' by you?"