Prosperous Era, true to its name, features opulent decorations that exude style without losing taste.
It’s still early, within working hours, so the bar is almost empty. Thus, upon entering, Titus Zane immediately sees Logan Ray, who is passed out drunk on the bar counter.
Even from just a silhouette, she recognizes him instantly.
A girl in a little dress stands next to Logan, one hand gripping his arm and the other constantly patting his back. Her face is close to his, murmuring something indistinct.
Titus Zane quickens her pace. In her rush to get here, she threw on a trench coat over her beige knit sweater and wore flat leather shoes. She seems slightly disheveled as she clutches her shoulder bag.
Yet, she cannot conceal the unique aura that innately flows from her.
"Logan, what’s wrong?" Titus Zane hastens to Logan’s side, holding his arm, her expression anxious.
"You...are you Titus Zane?" The girl in the dress scrutinizes her uncertainly.
"Yes," Titus Zane answers urgently, "What happened to Logan? Why is he so drunk?"
"Hello, I’m Ava Charles, I am the body model for Logan’s brother." Ava Charles smiles as she introduces herself to Titus Zane, extending her hand.
Upon hearing the term "body model," Titus Zane looks carefully at the girl’s face.
Her brows unconsciously furrow slightly, her heart tightening.
The girl appears young, around twenty years old, with soft, youthful features and especially her lips bear a clean, innocuous smile, exactly like the portrait Logan auctioned at the art exhibition.
"Can I call you Sister Titus Zane?" Although Titus Zane doesn’t respond, Ava Charles doesn’t find it awkward, lowers her hand, and continues with a smile.
"Oh, sure." Titus Zane responds dismissively, lowering her eyes, her heart already devoid of any distractions.
Her hands tightly grip the straps of her bag; had she not been concerned about Logan being unconscious, she might have fled already.
The most beloved painting of a woman, she would never sell it regardless of the price...
Those words from Logan at the art exhibition still echo in her ears.
She wants to flee, yet her feet seem glued to the floor, she can’t, nor does she want to leave.
"Sister Titus Zane, Logan was in a bad mood, and then he asked me to join him for drinks, and after that, he got this drunk," Ava Charles explains somewhat helplessly, her gaze occasionally returning to Logan, her clear eyes unable to hide her affection for him.
"Oh, I’ll call his family to come pick him up," Titus Zane’s expression becomes reserved again as she lifts her eyes, her cool lips curving slightly, formal yet distant.
As she speaks, she bends down to unzip her bag, but Ava Charles quickly grabs her wrist.
"What is it?" Titus Zane looks up again, this time the slight curve on her lips has vanished.
"Logan has been constantly calling out your name, so..." Ava Charles stutters, her expression pleading.
"Can you take Logan away,"
Seeing Titus Zane’s expression change, Ava Charles quickly modifies her request, her voice soft.
"Or perhaps, stay with him for a while."
Seeing the girl’s clear and sincere eyes, Titus Zane knows that she shouldn’t be involved with Logan anymore.
The more they hold on, the more pain they bring to each other.
If a long pain is no better than a short one, then let it be a quick and thorough pain.
She moistens her lips, just about to refuse, when Logan, still drunk and lost on the bar, turns and grabs Titus Zane’s arm.
"Don’t go, Titus..." Even in his drunken state, Logan immediately feels the presence of Sister Titus Zane.
"Please, don’t leave me..."