Romance

A doorman opened the heavy door for me. Wearing the designer dress Alistair had picked, I slowly walked into the lobby.

I had spent five years hiding who I was and toned down my presence to protect Zane's pride while staying by his side. Because I had helped him from the shadows, it felt like ages since I had been able to truly be me.

"Your daughter is so pretty, Mr. Gibson."

As compliments filled the air, I made my way toward the beaming Zane. 

Dad had always kept me out of the public eye to protect me. Zane had hinted once, asking for my photo. He even teased that he wouldn't mind if I were ugly.

Zane thought that dating me would be his golden ticket to success, but his delusions were destroyed after he saw my face.

"Hi, Mr. Holt."

Zane's expression fell apart slowly, his face turning pale like he had seen a ghost. "What are you doing here, Eliza? How are you still alive? That's

Zane completely broke down. "How is this happening?"

He froze for a second, then looked at me with bloodshot eyes. "We spent five years together, and you pretended to be someone else the entire time, Eliza?"

I was at a loss for words. After everything, he still had the nerve to blame me. "I begged my dad to meet you and talk about marriage, Zane. But you said we were freeloaders who spent all day with our hands out, and that you didn't have the time."

He looked totally crushed for a second, but after a brief silence, his eyes lit up like a madman. "That's not true."

He scrambled over on all fours and grabbed my ankle. "I love you, Liz. We have five years between us. I don't believe you can just walk away that easily. You still have feelings for me, don't you? Otherwise, why would you let me come meet Mr. Gibson today?"

I shook off his hand, frowning in disgust. "You don't love me, Z

Meanwhile, Zane pulled up to Lume and parked out front. He stopped himself from grinning, checked his outfit one last time, and got his head together before opening the door.

But before he walked in, a deafening roar tore through the sky. A helicopter with Gibson Group's logo suspended in mid-air.

The cabin door opened, and a sharp-looking middle-aged man came down the rope ladder. That person was none other than my dad, Paul, Gibson Group's chairman.

Just then, dozens of black luxury cars pulled up to the entrance. Bodyguards in black suits smoothly got out and lined up behind Dad.

Zane took in the scene with envy and greed. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he thought that the Gibson heiress wasn't bluffing—Paul really did show up.

Thinking it over, he couldn't hold back anymore and stepped forward. "Hello, Mr. Gibson. I'm your daughter's boyfriend. My name is…"

But Dad didn't even look Zane's way. He just walked right past Zane with his bodyguards and headed into the club. Holding his hand out, Zane was left standing there alone, feeling like a fool.

Zane swallowed his frustration and trailed behind Dad with a respectful expression, telling himself that that was just how the big players acted. People at the top always appreciated humble talent. Zane just needed to show him his skills.

Lume was one of the Gibson family's businesses. Every VIP from the headlines was there, gathering around Dad and buttering him up.

After working his way inside, Zane carefully offered his business card. "You might have missed me earlier, Mr. Gibson. I'm Zane Holt, Ellie's boyfriend."

Dad stopped smiling and took the business card before finally turning his attention to Zane. "Mr. Holt?"

Zane responded, "Yes, Mr. Gibson. I wouldn't dare act important around you. I'm just lucky your daughter looks my way. That's the only reason I get to be here. We're supposed to meet up with you at Lume today, but I haven't seen her yet."

Dad remarked, "She's still taking care of a few personal matters. But back to what you mentioned earlier—are you my daughter's boyfriend?"

Thinking back to those intimate texts with the Gibson heiress, Zane felt a little more confident and straightened his back. "Yes. We may have started online, but we're truly in love. What we have is deep and real."

Dad asked, "Really? My daughter has high standards. Plenty of excellent suitors came and went, but she chose you, Mr. Holt. You must have something truly special."

He sported a smile Zane couldn't read. All Zane could do was double down on being humble and careful. "If I have any edge, it's simply that I care for her deeply."

Dad nodded thoughtfully, but his eyes stayed locked on Zane's face. "Loving her is all it takes, huh? My silly daughter values loyalty above all else. If she found out that someone lied to her, she would pay it back ten times over—no matter how much it pains her."

The words made Zane uneasy. Reading nothing from Dad's tone, he quickly promised, "You have my word. I'll love her forever and never lie to her."

"In that case, we should sit down and really talk things through."

Zane broke into a wide grin, the last bit of worry vanishing with Dad's words. It looked like he was on the fast track to success.

Keeping his cool, Zane waited for about ten more minutes.

Just then, a voice came from a few steps away. "Isn't that her car? She's here."

"My daughter is here."

Dad sounded genuinely pleased. Hearing that, Zane turned his eyes to the entrance, too.

A doorman opened the heavy door for me. Wearing the designer dress Alistair had picked, I slowly walked into the lobby.

I had spent five years hiding who I was and toned down my presence to protect Zane's pride while staying by his side. Because I had helped him from the shadows, it felt like ages since I had been able to truly be me.

"Your daughter is so pretty, Mr. Gibson."

As compliments filled the air, I made my way toward the beaming Zane. 

Dad had always kept me out of the public eye to protect me. Zane had hinted once, asking for my photo. He even teased that he wouldn't mind if I were ugly.

Zane thought that dating me would be his golden ticket to success, but his delusions were destroyed after he saw my face.

"Hi, Mr. Holt."

Zane's expression fell apart slowly, his face turning pale like he had seen a ghost. "What are you doing here, Eliza? How are you still alive? That's impossible. What the hell are you? Are you a ghost?"

His voice shook, words spilling out as he sta

Chapter 6