The masquerade ball ended.
Ryan Lawrence cut through the crowd and walked straight toward Sophia Sullivan.
He ignored Ethan Sullivan standing nearby.
"Sophia," he smiled, his eyes curving into crescents. "Now you finally have time for me?"
Backlit by the fading lights, his youthful silhouette appeared less brash than usual, softened at the edges.
"You've stood me up more than once," he said with affectionate complaint, his tone tinged with playful hurt.
Tonight, he'd gone to some lengths to ensure Dr. Ian Gallagher left early.
Now only Ethan remained as an obstacle.
But it didn't matter—he and Sophia had an agreement.
"Only two or three times," Sophia removed her mask and carefully placed it in its case. "And I really was busy those times."
She glanced around, puzzled. "Where's Dr. Gallagher?"
At the auction, the two men had fought fiercely over the lotus pendant.
Yet now Ian was nowhere to be seen.
"Him?" Ryan blinked, his thick lashes fluttering with boyish charm. "He got an emergency call from the hospital and rushed off."
He'd already dug into Ian's background.
A top expert from MDH Pharmaceutical Research Institute, currently in A-City specifically to treat Emma Sullivan's condition.
Also serving as a visiting professor at Chuanfeng Hospital.
This gave Ryan room to maneuver.
A-City never lacked critical patients.
With minimal effort, he could keep Ian running in circles.
"I see." Sophia didn't suspect a thing.
She checked her phone and found Ian's message about an urgent case.
"Mr. Sullivan," she turned to Ethan. "I have some personal matters to attend to. You should head back first."
Night deepened around them.
She had changed out of her glamorous gown and now held the serpentine necklace in her palm.
"This should be returned to its rightful owner."
"Keep it for now." Ethan's voice was calm, his hands remaining at his sides.
His gaze swept over Ryan with undisguised disdain before settling back on Sophia.
"Miss Sullivan wishes to catch up with Mr. Lawrence—I shouldn't intrude," he leaned lazily against the doorframe. "But it's late. If drinking is involved, that might be unwise."
"If you need a ride, call anytime. I'll be waiting in the garage."
Sophia frowned slightly.
The necklace concerned her more.
"Mr. Sullivan, this was your mother's keepsake. It shouldn't stay with me."
She joked lightly, "If it gets lost, I could never repay you."
Though curious about its connection to her own mother's bracelet, she knew such heirlooms were priceless.
"It suits you," Ethan's eyes softened momentarily. "My mother was gentle by nature. She adored beautiful young women."
"Had she seen it on you, she would've been delighted."
"When my brother was born, she was disappointed for days—she'd hoped for a daughter."