The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet

In the cutthroat world of business, it's your skills that count. Trying to cozy up to others only cheapens your worth.

Lydia was about to retort, "Then why, when you dine with me, do you flash that smug grin, Ethan?"

But the words caught in her throat before they could escape.

She could already foresee Ethan's response, claiming his demeanor shifted solely because it was her he was with. Such spontaneous declarations of affection were her kryptonite.

Lydia fell silent, opting instead to dive into her meal with gusto.

Noticing her fervent focus on the food, Ethan presumed she was genuinely famished and chose not to disturb her further, leaving only the sound of their chewing to fill the charged atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in another booth...

David and Rosalind sat opposite each other, enveloped in a similarly romantic ambiance.

Rosalind idly pushed around the food on her plate, voicing her melancholy thoughts, "Do you think I'm truly off-putting?"

David, leisurely enjoying his meal, responded, "Why would you think that?"

He was puzzled. Rosalind's sudden invitation to dinner had caught him off guard; only upon arrival did he realize she sought a confidante.

Having missed her chance with Lysander, Rosalind was understandably downcast, eager to vent her frustrations.

"I've pined for Lysander for years, always tagging along like a loyal puppy, and yet, he's dismissed me outright. To be with Thalassa, he even denied any romantic involvement with my sister Harper right in front of her. It's my lack of spine that's dragged her into this mess too."

Rosalind pouted, a mix of self-pity and annoyance coloring her tone.

"If only I had been more assertive, perhaps won Lysander's affection, then Harper wouldn't have suffered alongside me," she continued.

David set down his fork, fixing her with a serious gaze, "Don't think like that. Love can't be forced. Lysander probably sees you more as a sister, which is why romance hasn't blossomed. It's not a matter of your worth but rather the absence of a romantic destiny between you. You'll find someone who loves you deeply, in time."

David's words were comforting, and Rosalind liked hearing them.

Her mood visibly lifted, she leaned in, a playful smile dancing on her lips, "And when do you suppose this person will show up?"

Caught by her lively yet intelligent gaze, David's heart skipped a beat, prompting him to avert his eyes.

In that moment, he felt an unexpected shyness, unable to meet her gaze.

Her eyes, brimming with a lively intelligence, seemed to hook his very soul.

David, still avoiding eye contact,

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"And when is 'one day'?" Rosalind pressed.

David, still unable to meet her gaze, shook his head, "I can't say."

"I hope it's not when I'm all old and gray. That would be tragic," Rosalind lamented.

"It shouldn't be," David replied.

"Do you think... it could be you?" With a slight lean forward, hands braced against the table to close the gap between them, Rosalind ventured the question.

David caught the hint of her perfume as it wafted over, her words striking him like Cupid's arrow right in the heart.

His heart stalled, then thumped wildly in response.