There was no time for hesitation. To navigate this situation, I had to be as cordial as possible—regardless of my true feelings.“Hello, Mr. Miller.”I forced a smile and took the hand he offered. The moment our skin touched and I tried to pull away, he gripped my hand firmly. I froze, but before I could react, Nathaniel released his hold.“I’m pleased to meet you like this.”Speaking in a lower tone than usual, he let go of my hand. His long fingers lingered, tracing my palm in a deliberately suggestive caress—like a brand’s burn, the memory of his touch burned on my skin. I looked up instinctively, and his gaze traveled slowly over my body: from my palm up my neck, across my chest, down to my waist, as though his purple eyes were stroking me. I held my breath. My heart pounded madly, my core flushed with heat. Surely it was the alcohol—there could be no other explanation. Absolutely not.“Prosecutor.”His thick lips parted in a whisper that slid into my ear.As if in revelation, I noticed the woman standing beside Nathaniel. Our eyes met, and she tilted her head with a faint, businesslike smile. She held naturally onto the arm he didn’t lean his cane on—leaving no doubt she was his partner tonight. Her tall frame, red-gold hair, and evening gown marked her unmistakably as a model. Even in heels she was only slightly taller than him, and in every way perfectly suited to Nathaniel—even down to that enigmatic smile.“Ah, did you two already know each other?”The host’s overly emphatic question snapped me back. Everyone around was staring at us. When I looked at Nathaniel again, he stood expressionless, eyes fixed on me. Unchanging, as always.The same inscrutable look.I shook myself out of the trance. What was I doing?“Yes, of course.”I answered the host calmly.“One cannot claim to work in law without knowing Nathaniel Miller, right?”I smiled politely and turned back to Nathaniel, adding at the right moment:“I didn’t expect Mr. Miller to know a junior prosecutor like myself, though.”Nathaniel’s already narrow eyes grew even narrower. He clearly understood my implication. My hope had been simple—and whether he would grant it was another matter. After all the distance I’d tried to keep, would he now shatter it with a single comment? My mind reeled—only to hear Nathaniel speak in a measured voice.“Ah…”His low sigh drew every eye. Yet he fixed his gaze solely on me and continued:“It just so happens. …How unexpected to meet here.”The trailing implication was palpable. The host could so much as nod, and my pretense would collapse—so I planned to slip away before any catastrophe. Unfortunately, calamity here was not limited to the host.“Oh, come now—must you both do this? You already know each other quite well. Is today really your first meeting?”A sudden voice halted me as I tried to turn away. The very person I’d hoped to evade—the villa’s owner—chimed in theatrically, glancing between me and Nathaniel.“You’ll be opposing each other at trial soon, won’t you? It’s the case that’s been in every headline, after all. What was it… right: Smith vs. Davis.”As soon as he spoke the names, I struggled to maintain my composure. I hurriedly swept my hair aside and ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) dipped my head.“Yes, I was the prosecutor on that case.”Deliberately using past tense, I managed a polite smile.“Regrettably, I cannot discuss the case at this gathering. I trust you all understand.”“Oh, I see.”The host’s visible disappointment made me wonder what he’d been hoping for. Clearly, he wished for some scandalous tidbit. Better not indulge his curiosity—I stepped back.“I’m sorry I have nothing more to share about the case.”I tried to withdraw, but he pressed on.“Surely you can tell us something—you’re the lead prosecutor, after all. Just a little, enough to spark interest without undermining the trial.”His eyes gleamed with fascination. I felt disgusted: a brutal murder turned mere gossip to him. I knew there were many like this, but to see it in person was different. Had this been a private setting, I would have shamed him and left—but not here, not without risking offence to the Prosecutor General who’d invited me. I resolved to handle it with utmost courtesy.“I’m sorry, but details of the case are confidential. And since Mr. Miller is still handling it, internal policy prevents me from speaking further.”I offered a conciliatory smile. Thankfully, others began to chip in.“That sounds reasonable—best not discuss it here.”“No need to spoil a lovely gathering with that talk. Let’s return to lighter topics.”“What were we just talking about?”“I believe we were discussing that new golf resort in Canada…”The conversation shifted smoothly, and I exhaled in relief, raising my glass to sip. Then I noticed Nathaniel’s partner covering her mouth to whisper something. Nathaniel leaned down to listen and suddenly laughed—silently but wholeheartedly. The sight unnerved me. They looked like any ordinary couple sharing a private joke—hardly the portrait of a dangerous Alpha.No—completely at odds. That dissonance made my skin crawl. What was happening here?“Ah, Abilene, you look especially radiant tonight. It’s an honor to see you here.”A man had approached her. She returned his greeting with the same practised smile she’d used on me. Their brief handshake ended as her hand returned to Nathaniel’s arm—an unmistakable claim of possession. He didn’t react; simply watched them with amused detachment. At that, I quietly slipped away and joined another cluster of guests far from Nathaniel Miller. I gave polite nods and murmured agreement, passing the time as best I could—though their talk of investments and such meant nothing to me. Endure and smile; that was all I could do.The tedium stretched on.As night deepened, the party truly began. Guests shed their formal attire for something more relaxed, dancing and drinking with far more freedom than before.Of course, I remained the only one not enjoying myself. Unfamiliar with such gatherings—and frankly hopeless at mingling—I felt more out of place than ever.

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