Chapter 80

The spotlight finally moved on. Once the glare had faded, Elise lowered the hand she had raised to shield her eyes and took in the ballroom around her. Every woman nearby seemed to be looking at her with some mix of envy and jealousy.

She had only come because Adrian had asked her to. She hadn't expected to be picked to dance with Mu Chuan.

Judging by the faces around her, plenty of women would have been thrilled. Elise, on the other hand, had no interest in dancing at all.

Qi Yaqiu watched her with barely concealed fury. Elise could be clueless, sure, but how did she get this lucky? Of all people, why had the spotlight landed on her? Was she some kind of lottery champion?

Mu's gaze held on Elise, an unreadable glint in his eyes. He had no interest in dancing with the editor-in-chief. He'd known Elise would be here, and had quietly asked the organizers to make sure the spotlight found her.

He hadn't dared tell her how he felt. He didn't want to scare her off. If it looked like an accident, she wouldn't suspect that he'd arranged it.

He stepped toward her and dipped his head in greeting.

Elise gave him an awkward smile. To her, Mu was only a friend, and the idea of dancing with him made her uneasy. But everyone was watching. If she refused him in front of the room, she'd embarrass him.

After a brief hesitation, she let out a resigned breath. Fine. It was only a dance. It wouldn't kill her.

Mu smiled and extended his hand, palm up, with practiced courtesy.

Elise started to place her hand in his. Another hand shot between them and closed around her wrist, pulling her away from Mu.

She looked up, bewildered. Adrian was gripping her wrist, his eyes cold. He looked genuinely angry.

“Even if they picked her, shouldn't you ask whether she wants to dance with you?” Adrian said to Mu, his smile icy. “What if she'd rather dance with me?”

Theo had talked some sense into him. Maybe Mu had been playing him the whole time. Adrian had promised not to compete with Mu for Elise, but the moment he saw Mu about to take his sister onto the dance floor, he couldn't stay put.

A man would put one hand on a woman's waist and hold her other hand. They'd be close, looking into each other's eyes. What if Mu got the wrong idea?

Adrian couldn't stand it.

If anyone had a right to dance with Elise, it was him. Who did Mu think he was, some wolf waiting to carry off his little sister? Adrian wasn't about to let that happen.

“Bro,” Elise murmured. His grip was too tight.

She'd already decided to accept Mu's invitation and save him the embarrassment. Then Adrian had stormed in.

The sound of her voice made Adrian loosen his hold at once, though his expression stayed stern. This time, he really was angry. Even Elise couldn't bring out his usual easy grin.

A ripple of shrieks went through the crowd.

“Is that Adrian Whitmore?”

“Oh my God, it's really him! I heard he was coming, and I was so excited, but I couldn't find him anywhere!”

“How can he be that handsome? I'm dead!”

“Adrian, look at me! I've loved you for years!”

The scattered squeals swelled until the whole ballroom was buzzing.

“Why is he holding another girl's hand? Let her go!”

“My eyes are actually turning green.”

“So he stopped her from dancing with Mu? Who is that girl?”

“She gets to feel his hand? I want to know what it feels like too!”

Adrian's sudden appearance was enough to draw every eye. Then people noticed how he held Elise's wrist and stood half in front of her, shielding her with his body.

Julian had scrubbed every photo and personal detail about Elise from the internet. She hadn't trended in ages, and people had short memories. No one in the crowd recognized her.

Mu heard the commotion and let his smile fade a little. He kept his voice mild. “You misunderstand. The hosts decide who dances with whom tonight. Everyone at this fashion gala is expected to follow the rules.”

He paused, then added, “Besides, she's my friend. Now that she's been chosen, maybe it's fate.”

Adrian nearly spat the word shameless at him. Did Mu think he was stupid? It didn't take a genius to figure out who had arranged for Elise to be picked.

Qi was stunned. Elise had been lucky enough to get the dance with Mu, and now Adrian had stepped in to stop it?

She knew who Adrian was. He was always trending, even when all he posted was a selfie. He was a top celebrity.

And Elise knew him?

That wasn't even the strangest part. Mu was famously indifferent to women. He'd barely looked at Qi before, yet now he'd come over to take Elise's hand. Adrian challenged him, and Mu still wouldn't back down. He'd even said something about fate.

Was he saying it was fate for Elise to dance with him?

Qi clenched her purse. Jealousy rose in her so fast it almost hurt. Did Mu care about Elise that much? What were they to each other?

Adrian's chest tightened. He forced himself to take a steadying breath. He had lost the last round because he hadn't kept his head. He wasn't going to let Mu dance with his sister this time.

“Even if that's the host's rule,” he said, “what if the woman they picked doesn't agree? Are you going to force her? Elise is my dance partner tonight. I'm not letting her dance with some random guy.”

Elise blinked. Had her brother just called Mu a random guy?

She knew the brothers competed for her attention, but why were they all so hostile toward Mu?

Adrian continued, “If you don't respect her choice, then forget I said anything. But if you do, ask her. Between you and me, who would she rather dance with?”

Mu raised an eyebrow, then frowned slightly. Adrian wasn't as foolish as he'd seemed. He knew how to frame the question around respecting a woman's choice.

Mu looked at Elise. She seemed confused and troubled, as if she wanted no part of this.

His palm had grown damp. He wasn't sure she'd choose him.

Qi could hardly believe what she was seeing. Mu looked almost humble. Mu, the distant head of the Mu family, who usually acted as if women didn't exist, was nervous?

Seeing a crack in Mu's composure lifted Adrian's mood. The chill left his face, and he turned to Elise with a bright smile. “Ellie, tell him. Me or him?”

In his head, the answer was obvious: him. He was sure Elise liked him so much. She'd given him a gift no other brother had received. When he got upset, she comforted him and called him her second brother in that soft voice.

Adrian and Mu both stared at Elise, their eyes bright with expectation.

Elise could only stare back. Could she choose neither?

She didn't want to dance. She'd only considered dancing with Mu to spare his feelings. Now Adrian had jumped in too. And dancing with her own brother felt even stranger. If she did it, Adrian's fans might tear her apart tomorrow.

Either choice was a trap.

Qi gripped her purse, standing closest to them and hearing every word. Adrian Whitmore or Mu Chuan? She'd have been thrilled to pick either one. Why did Elise look so miserable? Did she have any idea how lucky she was?

Elise tried to answer. Several times she started to speak, then swallowed the words when she saw their hopeful faces.

Maybe the emcee?

“I choose...” she began.

A quiet laugh interrupted her. Someone rested a hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring pat. Elise turned, and her eyes lit up.

Her third brother was here.

Theo. Her rescuer. Compared with Adrian, Theo was the sensible one, the brother who could handle a mess without turning it into a bigger one. Now that he'd arrived, she was safe. She wouldn't have to choose between the two men.

Theo wouldn't act like Adrian.

He lifted an eyebrow and glanced from Mu to Adrian. “Is it really that hard to choose?”

Elise wanted to cry. Yes. It was.

Theo's eyes warmed at her mournful face. He chuckled. “Then why not add me to the choices?”

Elise stared at him, stunned. Had he just said he wanted in too?

She'd thought he'd come to rescue her. She'd been wrong. Completely wrong.

Adrian nearly jumped. “Why are you getting involved?”

Was Theo bored? Since when did he meddle in things like this?

Adrian had been sure Elise was about to choose him over Mu. But against Theo, he wasn't so confident. Theo was the brother whose favorite food Elise remembered. She couldn't even remember Adrian's.

Theo glanced at Mu and gave him a cool little smile.

“Wait, who is that?” someone in the crowd whispered. “He looks familiar. Is he a celebrity too?”

“That's Theo Whitmore! Fin!”

“Who?”

“You don't play games? He's a legend in esports. Nobody can touch him.”

“I've watched every match! Mom, I actually got to see Fin in person. He's so handsome!”

The ballroom erupted again, even louder than it had when Adrian appeared. The organizers exchanged bewildered looks.