"What were you thinking?! It''s Sophie''s biging-of-age party, and you bring a durian cake?" Jenna was fuming, practically ready to throttle Adler right then and there. "What''s the big deal? Let Ms. Sophie have a taste too," Adler said, nonchntly handing out boxes of cake to everyone around.


    Sophie nced down at the box in her hands, utterly taken aback. Never in a million years did she expect to get a durian cake at her own party.


    Just then, Adler checked his watch and announced, "Enjoy, folks! I''ve got to dash!"


    "Hold on! Where do you think you''re going?" Jenna snapped, clearly displeased. "Colby''s back from his overseas studies! I''m off to pick him up," Adler replied.


    The mention of Colby''s name made Sophie freeze.


    "Colby?" she echoed.


    "Yeah, Colby! Didn''t you two hang out when you were kids?" Adler asked, puzzled.


    Colby... The name rang a bell.


    "Colby''s my cousin, Sophie. You really do have a terrible memory," Jenna reminded her from the side.


    Sophie''s surroundings seemed to fade away. Colby... Somehow, this name felt important, like he meant something to her. Why couldn''t she remember?


    "Sophie! What are you daydreaming about?" Her parents'' voices jolted her back to reality. She turned to find Joseph and Ruby beside her.


    Her gaze thennded on James, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of recognition. It was as if she''d met him before, but she couldn''t quite ce it. It was a fleeting, mysterious feeling.


    "This is my son, James," Ruby said as she introduced him. "You''re about the same age. James, say hello."


    "Ms. Sophie," James greeted, his eyes meeting hers as he extended a hand. "May I have the honor of a dance?"


    "...I''m not great at dancing," Sophie admitted, mostly because she wasn''t used to dancing in heels.


    "No worries, I''ll guide you," James assured her with a smile.


    swneve


    Andrew, ying the role of the serious adult, chimed in, "Go on, Sophie Dance with James. Don''t embarrass your mom, the dancer."


    "Alright, alright!" Sophie sighed, reluctantly cing her hand in James''s.


    James led her gracefully through some simple steps. She''d danced with others before, but there was something uniquely intriguing about dancing with James. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Have we met somewhere before?"


    "Have we met somewhere before?"


    The words tumbled out of both of them simultaneously, prompting a shared chuckle.


    "Sorry, I thought it was just me," James said with a gentleugh.


    Sophie blushed slightly, "I thought I was just imagining things."


    "Ms. Sophie, are you engaged?" James asked, changing the subject.


    "Yes," Sophie replied, "My mom said my brother and I have been betrothed since childhood. It was always going to happen." "The eldest from the Aldridge family?"


    "Yeah!" Sophie couldn''t help but gush. "My brother''s incredible. He runs thepany smoothly and is always so caring. He''s never lost his temper with anyone. He''s the one I lean on the most."


    "Being the most reliable doesn''t always mean he''s the one you love the most," James noted thoughtfully.