He wore sunglasses and the silver cane beside him glinted coldly in the light.
"Mr. Thorne?"
The driver spoke up first, "Miss Aldridge, please get in the car."
The confined space made me hold my breath, afraid to make a sound and disturb him.
We drove in silence and it wasn't until the car stopped that I realized he had brought me to the Prescott Family's evening banquet.
I instinctively tried to pull away, but Quillon held my wrist firmly. "Miss Aldridge, I wouldn't want someone who can't let go of their past."
His deep voice lingered in my ear, almost overpowering, making it hard for me to resist.
"Lyra, what are you doing here?" I heard Lucian's voice behind me.
Turning around, I saw him and Astrid standing there.
The expression on Lucian’s face, once neutral, immediately darkened upon seeing me.
He fixed his gaze on the hand Quillon had firmly grasped.
I couldn't tell if it was just my imagination, but there seemed to be a flicker of frustration in his eyes.
“Help me.” Quillon swung his arm effortlessly, his cane tapping the floor with a sharp click.
I placed my hand on his arm as the rhythmic sound of the cane echoed through the space.
Quillon guided me forward to stand before them. “I've brought a small gift, just a gesture of respect.”
Quillon’s simple words were enough for him to place the gift directly into Astrid's hands.
Before Astrid could even thank him, he had already stepped into the venue.
The way he moved, so skilled and confident, made it hard to believe he was blind.
Lucian grasped my hand tightly and, in a low voice, asked, “You’re wearing such high heels. Are you planning to run in them?”
I furrowed my brows, confused by the sudden question, wondering what exactly was behind his words.
But when I turned around to look at Quillon, stumbling as he moved blindly, I couldn't help but feel worried.
"Mr. Prescott, maybe you should focus on your own girlfriend," I said quickly, then rushed to catch up and took Lucian’s hand.
Lucian glanced at my retreating figure and then at his empty hand, feeling an unfamiliar emptiness in his chest.
It tugged at his heart, a dull pain gnawing at him.
"I'll count to ten," Quillon said. "If you're late by even a second, the Thorne Family's plan to rescue your father will be called off."
