A woman in a light purple dress stood behind them with a confused expression. "What brings you here, Lucas?"


    "Nothing in particr," Lucas replied curtly, releasing Melody.


    The woman approached Melody and sized up thetter with a smile. "That dress is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. I was told it had been reserved when I tried to order one. Who would''ve thought that I''d see it or someone here."


    Melody knew that Lucas had chosen an expensive dress, but she did not think that it would be that limited. "I''m just borrowing it for the evening," she exined.


    The woman smiled faintly. "I see."


    Something in the woman''s natural-sounding tone seemed to make Melody a little uneasy. There was a subtle hostility that Melody could not quite ce her finger on. They had never met before, so that beckoned the question of why the woman was showing such animosity toward her. A sudden thought urred to her, and she nced at Lucas with a brewing suspicion that he was the reason.


    "Lucas," the woman shifted her attention back to Lucas. "Grey suitsplement your best features. Why are you wearing ck today?"


    The familiarity in how she addressed him hinted that they had known each other for quite some time. Melody observed their unspoken rapport with curiosity as she wondered what history those two had. "ck is more formal," Lucas replied sinctly. It was clear from his tone that he felt differently toward that woman.


    As Melody studied the elegantly dressed woman, something in her memory seemed to click. That woman seemed to have been someone whom she had seen on the big screen before. Then, it hit her. "Wait a minute! You''re the actress, Ste Lybeck!"


    "Yes," Ste confirmed with a more genuine smile. "Today''s my birthday celebration, and I''m so d you could make it."


    It turned out that the extravagant event was Ste''s birthday party which Lucas had been invited to celebrate.N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    Melody did not know that was the case and felt a little awkward. After all, she was a guest by association with Lucas.


    "You don''t seem very familiar. Which family are you from?" Ste was implying that she did not know Melody at all and was curious why a stranger would be at her party.


    Her question left Melody feeling increasingly awkward as she turned to Lucas and said, "I... I came with Lucas."


    "Oh?" Ste''s gaze drifted back to Lucas. "Is she your date?"


    Melody recalled Lucas'' displeasure when she introduced themselves to Sherman as friends, so she made a point to uphold the facade of his elegant wife and took a step forward to introduce herself. "Miss Ste, we''re "


    "Friends," Lucas interjected curtly and cut her off before she could borate.


    Melody was stunned, but she had a rough idea of why he might have acted that way and tactfully kept silent.