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?"

meal, responded, "Why would you think

had caught him off

always tagging along like a loyal puppy, and yet, he's dismissed me outright. To be with Thalassa, he even denied

Lysander, Rosalind was understandably downcast, eager to vent her

of self-pity and

Lysander's

sister, which is why romance hasn't blossomed. It's not a matter of your worth but rather the absence

and

smile dancing on her

lively yet intelligent gaze, David's heart skipped a beat, prompting him to avert

moment, he felt an unexpected shyness, unable to

a lively intelligence, seemed to

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