Chapter 2

*****

The first official appearance of Leon and Elena as a couple was at the Bennett family's weekend dinner.

Leon had Caleb send over a dress ahead of time. It was a deep blue velvet gown, perfectly tailored, making Elena look like a different person.

She stood in front of the mirror for a long time, a little surprised by how good she looked. It seemed the only reason she never dressed up before was pure laziness.

When Caleb arrived to pick her up, he paused for a moment, clearly caught off guard.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said, giving a light cough. "Just thinking Mr. Bennett has good taste."

Leon was already seated in the back of the car. When Elena got in, he glanced at her briefly, then looked away and said in a calm tone, "Let your hair down."

She had her hair tied in a bun. Hearing that, she quickly pulled out the tie and let her brown hair fall over her shoulders. Paired with the deep blue dress, she looked even better.

She asked, "Happy now, Mr. Bennett?"

Leon did not reply, but a faint smile appeared on his face.

The Bennett family's old mansion was located in the most expensive neighborhood in the northern part of the city, sitting on an extremely large estate. As they stepped inside, she took a deep breath. He suddenly leaned slightly toward her and murmured, "Don't be nervous."

"I'm not nervous," she said.

"Your hand's shaking," he pointed out.

She looked down and realized he was right. Her hands were trembling slightly. It was not fear. It was pure annoyance. 'This guy really was freakishly observant,' she thought.

Suddenly, Leon reached out and took her hand.

His palm was dry and warm, and his grip was gentle. Somehow, it made her feel at ease.

"Make it look real," he said.

The guests were seated around the living room in a loose circle. Mason Bennett, Leon's father, sat at the head of the arrangement, with Leon's stepmother, Isabella Brooks, beside him. Next to them sat Charlotte Collins, the so-called "sister."

Charlotte wore a white dress, her makeup flawless. She looked like she had stepped straight out of a magazine.

When Leon walked in, her eyes lit up instantly. But the moment she noticed Elena standing beside him, that light turned sharp, her gaze cutting through the air like a blade.

"Leon, who is this?" Charlotte asked, her voice sweet enough to feel rehearsed.

"My girlfriend, Elena Lane," he replied, his tone flat, as if he were stating something routine.

The room fell silent for a couple of seconds.

Mason sized Elena up with a long, assessing look. Isabella, on the other hand, smiled with practiced ease and gestured for her to sit.

Charlotte stepped forward with enthusiasm and looped her arm through Elena's, acting as if they were close friends. "Elena, what do you do? Leon has never brought a girl home before. You must be really special."

It sounded like a compliment, but it was clearly a test.

"I'm an illustrator," Elena replied with a smile. "I work as a freelancer."

"Freelancer," Charlotte repeated slowly, stretching the word in an almost teasing tone. "You must have a lot of free time. I'm in investment banking. It's nonstop work."

She was implying that Elena did not have a real job, while she was the one with a serious, high-level career.

Elena smiled sweetly and added, "Yeah, I have full control over my time, and my income isn't fixed either. Last month, I painted a portrait for a senior executive in investment banking.

"She paid me twenty thousand and said my painting made her happier than receiving her year-end bonus."

Charlotte's smile stiffened for a fraction of a second.

Leon, sitting beside her, paused with his coffee mid-air and gave Elena a sideways glance. The look was clear enough: nice move.

Elena met his gaze and shot one back: I know.

At the dinner table, Isabella began to probe into Elena's background. She asked about her parents, her education, and even how many properties her family owned.

Questions like these would have been considered rude on a normal blind date, but at a wealthy family dinner, they were politely disguised as concern.

Elena cut into her steak and answered casually. "My mother remarried, and so did my father. I grew up with my grandmother. She runs a diner, and her beef stew is excellent. You should stop by sometime and try it."

The table fell silent once again.

Mason's expression shifted slightly, and Isabella's smile almost slipped for a moment.

Charlotte seized the opportunity, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Wow, Elena, your family background is rather interesting."

Leon set down his fork. His voice was quiet, but every word landed with weight. "The person I choose does not need anyone's approval here."

The room fell completely silent.

Elena glanced at him. 'He might be sharp-tongued, but when it mattered, he really did have my back,' she thought.

After dinner, Leon drove her home. The car was quiet for a while, then she suddenly said, "Charlotte seems to have a thing for you."

He did not deny it. "My family has been trying to set me up with her."

"So she sees me as her competition?"

"Yeah."

"You should have given me a heads-up," Elena sighed. "I could have prepared some better lines. I didn't embarrass her nearly enough today."

Leon finally cracked a smile. "You already had her in tears."

"Seriously?"

"She went to the bathroom twice just to fix her makeup."

Elena burst out laughing and nearly doubled over.

Leon watched her, something unreadable in his eyes.