To the Lane family, my only worth lay in marriage.

The man suddenly fell silent.

"You can’t even lie to make me feel better?"

Feeling angry, I kicked at his shoulder and chest, but it only made me more frustrated.

"Why are you so damn hard? Are you hiding metal plates under your skin?"

The muscles beneath my foot tensed even more.

I thought I heard a low chuckle.

But before I could react, he wrapped his warm, calloused hand around my ankle.

"Yeah," his voice was hoarse as he coaxed me. "I’m built solid. Don’t hurt yourself."

I refused to let it go.

With a sigh, he said, "They’re wrong. You will always be worthy of love."

"Then why don’t you love me?"

"Because I like you."

I tilted my head up.

He leaned down.

Then, a soft, lingering kiss landed on his thumb, which was gently pressed against my lips.

"I don’t want to lie to you. I like you, but I’m not sure if that like is enough to call love. I don’t even know if I’m capable of loving someone."

His voice was serious and careful as if he had thought deeply about every word.

Drunk as I was, I considered his answer for a moment before asking, "Then when will you be able to love me?"

"Maybe… tomorrow."

And just like that, I was satisfied.

Grinning, I dug into my bag and pulled out a hair tie, forcefully looping it around his wrist.

Then, in my best attempt at a fierce tone, I ordered, "You’re not allowed to take it off! And you’re definitely not allowed to like anyone else!"

The delicate pink-and-white crystal flower caught the moonlight, reflecting a soft shimmer in his dark eyes.

His usually indifferent gaze softened, his lowered lashes concealing the faint amusement flickering beneath them.

In a quiet voice, he murmured, "There is no one else. And there never will be."

Feeling satisfied, I fell asleep without a care.

By the time I woke up the next day, I had forgotten everything.

Even when bits and pieces of that night eventually resurfaced, the only thing I remembered clearly was the phrase ‘I like you.’

And naturally, I assumed the person who said it was Nathaniel.

After all, he was the only one who had ever indulged my whims.

So, no matter how reckless or outrageous he became later on, I convinced myself that he was just lashing out—angry at his family for taking away his freedom.

It wasn’t because he didn’t love me.

But now, the memories I had long buried came rushing back like a tidal wave.

The once-blurred figure from that night slowly merged with the man standing before me now.

And all at once, I realized that the one who whispered “I like you” that night had never been Nathaniel at all.

…

Liam abruptly changed the subject.

Since we were in public, I wisely chose not to press further.

Instead, I silently followed him into the car.

He hesitated for a brief moment before getting in, as if something was on his mind—but in the end, he said nothing.

Alec, ever perceptive, wordlessly raised the partition.

After a stretch of silence, I spoke casually.

"So, what made you decide to come back, Mr. Reid?"

Liam kept his eyes fixed ahead. "There are some matters I need to take care of."

"What kind of matters?"

Liam fell silent.

"Let me put it another way—are you back for business or personal reasons?"

The moment the words left my mouth, his fingers, resting on his knee, tensed instinctively.

A second later, he schooled his expression into indifference.

"Both."

"Then in those personal matters… is there one in particular—"

I leaned in slightly, my gaze naturally dropping to his wrist, hidden beneath his sleeve.