"I told you so," sneered the man in an army-green baseball jacket and black cap, watching the hoodie-clad guy approach with mocking eyes.
"This girl clearly wasn’t your usual bar fling, but you just had to try your luck," he said, taking a sip of his drink before raising an eyebrow and delivering another cutting remark.
Got shot down hard, didn’t you?"
The others at the table—men and women alike—burst into laughter at his words.
Mr. Logan never learns until he hits a wall."
"Did you see how those two women walked off? Didn’t even spare him a second glance!"
Who’d have thought even Mr Logan could strike out?"
"Especially that second woman—looked like she was from the south.
Not just her style, but her whole vibe was different from the girls here in the capital.
The man in the black hoodie, his expression darkening under their jeers, let out a cold laugh before they could finish.
"Different or not, they’re all the same in bed.
And tonight, I’m damn well proving it."
Logan drained his glass and slammed it onto the table with a heavy thud.
"Finish this drink, then come with me to check her out."
The men instantly caught his drift.
Exchanging knowing glances, they broke into sly grins.
"Well, well, looks like our Logan has taken a real interest," one of them drawled. "Rare indeed.
After this round, let’s all accompany Logan for a visit," another chimed in.
"That beauty’s gonna be thrilled once she finds out Logan’s got his eye on her."
"Guess we’ll be calling someone else ’sister-in-law’ tomorrow."
Amid their raucous banter, the women beside them stayed silent.
A closer look revealed a mix of expressions—some smug, others indifferent, a few even uneasy.
These men were all heirs to wealth and power, their families either influential or filthy rich.
Even if things went south with that woman, they’d walk away unscathed.
You girls head back first—just put everything on Logan’s tab."
After downing their drinks and murmuring a few words to their companions, the group filed out of the bar. Upstairs on the second floor...
Taylor and Calvin observed the movements of the young men below with keen eyes.
"Those brats clearly have no respect for anything—utterly clueless about the real world," Calvin remarked, shifting his gaze to Taylor with a narrowed glance.
"So, what do you say?
Should we follow them?"
For once, his tone lacked its usual teasing edge.
Taylor remained silent, instead leisurely refilling his glass from the bottle in his hand.
His dark, hooded eyes lingered on the swirling liquid, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
The early autumn night wind carried a biting chill, deepening the quiet solitude of the evening.
Nora shivered slightly as the cold air hit her, sharpening her senses.
"Voilet, it’s hard to get a cab around here.
We’ll have to walk a bit," she said.
"I know," Voilet nodded, taking a couple of steps before suddenly stopping. Her delicate brows furrowed in frustration. Nora gave her friend a puzzled look.
A shadow of melancholy and frustration crossed Voilet’s delicate features.
"I left my phone in the taxi on the way here."
She had hailed the cab through a ride-hailing app, and without her phone, there was no way to contact the driver.
Nora let out a sigh, her slightly intoxicated eyes narrowing with regret.
"This is my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged you out here."
She had drunk a bit too much tonight and, worried about getting home safely alone, had called Voilet to pick her up.
"It was my own carelessness. How is this your fault?"
Voilet caught the guilt in her friend’s voice and softened, a gentle smile gracing her refined, elegant face.
"Don’t go blaming yourself for everything."
"Was there anything else important in your phone?"
Like IDs or other documents.
"No," Voilet shook her head.
She had only brought her phone when she visited Taylor Corporation that afternoon.
"That’s good then," Nora felt a slight relief in her heart.
"Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to get a new number."
Voilet had kept the same phone number all these years, clinging to that stubborn hope deep inside.
"No need to restore the old one.
Let’s just get a new one," Voilet lowered her head as a breeze swept a loose strand of hair across her face.
Her tone was casual, laced with a hint of self-mockery.
"After all, there’s no point in keeping it anyway."
Taylor wouldn’t call her again.
Hearing the melancholy in her friend’s voice, Nora’s heart ached.
She tightened her grip on Voilet’s arm.
"Voilet, have you ever thought about telling Taylor the whole truth?
Maybe then, there’d still be a chance for you two."
The curve of Voilet’s lips twisted into something bitter.
But she had no idea how to even begin. After all, her initial intentions in approaching him hadn’t been pure.
Sensing Voilet’s despondency, Nora squeezed her arm gently.
"I’m fine," Voilet tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her voice calm and detached.
"It’s all in the past now."
Taylor had already moved on with someone else.
There was no turning back.
All she could hope for now was that he might still lend a hand to save Ace, if only for the sake of their shared history.
A dull ache pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she tilted her head slightly upward, blinking against the sting.
The warm glow of the lights caught in her glistening gaze, scattering like fractured starlight.
Nora’s words of comfort lodged in her throat, unspoken. In the end, all she managed was a quiet murmur.
"Our Voilet is so wonderful.
You’ll definitely meet someone even better someday."
But in Voilet’s heart, no one could ever compare to him.
Not wanting to worry her friend, she forced a weak smile, lips parting to reply— When suddenly, a familiar voice spoke up from behind her.