As Hailey Tang smiled, her eyes caught something unexpected in the mirror—a tall man had silently appeared behind her.
She froze as her gaze collided with Ethan Yu's deep, unreadable eyes. The smile on her lips faltered, completely forgotten.
His dark eyes also paused for a moment.
It was just a fleeting glance, like a glimpse of a phoenix in flight, but in that instant, her radiant beauty and that unguarded smile stirred something deep within him.
Unknowingly, a flicker of heat flashed in Ethan Yu's usually cold gaze as he looked at her.
"President Yu…" The makeup artist and staff immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing him.
Ethan gave them a slight nod, but his eyes never left Hailey's reflection in the mirror.
Sensing the tension in the air, everyone smartly excused themselves, leaving the room quiet and still—only the two of them remained.
Hailey avoided his gaze without hesitation. She rose gracefully, clutching her jewel-encrusted evening clutch, then turned to face him.
"Let's go," she said lightly. "I'm ready."
Ethan glanced over her from head to toe. His voice, usually cold and commanding, seemed a little softer tonight. "You already know how to act tonight. I don't need to repeat myself, do I?"
Hailey gave him a pointed look and deliberately replied, "And if I play my part well, will you finally divorce me?"
His expression instantly chilled, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint. "If it weren't for you, would this ridiculous rumor even have started?!"
"It's just a little misunderstanding," Hailey said nonchalantly, "and maybe it's not a bad thing—it gets people used to the idea. We'll be divorced sooner or later anyway."
Ethan's brows furrowed slightly, his gaze clouded with uncertainty.
He found himself increasingly unable to understand her. Was she serious about wanting a divorce?
Her sudden shift in attitude was baffling. Maybe she was just playing hard to get… maybe she was acting.
But whatever it was, he was determined to find out.
Still, for now, her current attitude suited him just fine. Even if it was all a performance—as long as she stopped clinging to him, that was enough.
He didn't dwell on the faint, inexplicable unease stirring in the depths of his heart.
"Let's go," Ethan said, extending his left arm toward her.
Hailey acted as if she didn't understand his gesture and walked past him on her own.
No way was she going to take his arm.
But she'd barely taken a few steps when disaster struck—her heels were far too high, the narrow stiletto too thin. Suddenly, her ankle twisted beneath her.
"Ah—" Hailey let out a startled gasp, bracing for a fall.
In that split second, before she could hit the ground, a strong arm encircled her waist.
In an instant, she was pulled into a firm, broad chest that smelled clean and masculine—a scent so familiar, it was etched into her bones and soul.
It was his scent.
It was the scent that haunted her memories, that made her heart ache with longing every time she remembered it.
And now, it hit her all over again—that raw, unfulfilled ache she thought she'd buried.
She recoiled like she'd been burned.
Shocked, panicked, she pushed him away with all her strength.
Ethan stumbled back a step, caught off guard, his eyes flickering with a rare trace of confusion.
His fingers still held the lingering sensation of her soft, warm body.
That moment—when he'd suddenly wrapped his arms around her and felt her soft curves against him—he had felt something stir inside him.
But before he could make sense of it, she'd shoved him away.
And now, along with the surprise, he felt… a flicker of disappointment.
"I'm fine," Hailey said as if nothing had happened. She straightened up calmly, her expression cool and composed. "Let's go."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
He stepped forward and once again offered his arm. "Since you can't walk properly, just hold on to me."
This time, Hailey didn't argue.
She obediently slipped her hand around his arm and let him lead her out.
The banquet hall was already buzzing with guests.
Most of them were high-ranking executives and employees of Dongfang Corporation, but there were also several invited VIPs and notable figures from various industries.