I accompanied my brother to a business dinner. Never did I expect the person sitting across from us to be the Crown Prince of the business world himself. When I bit the bullet and went to offer a toast, he let out a cold scoff... three times. It wasn’t until halfway through the dinner, when someone asked about his poor, obedient, and completely mute fiancée who wasn't in the industry... Liam Sterling lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping coolly over my custom, figure-hugging pencil skirt. He let out another cold scoff: "They're asking you. Have you not played mute enough after pretending for two years?" 1 Attending a business dinner. Sitting across from me was our company's most highly valued client. Dressed in a sharp suit. A cold, stern face. The very Crown Prince frequently featured in financial newspapers. Notorious in the industry for his eccentric temper and being difficult to deal with. Right now, he was sitting across from me, staring intently. The polite smile on his lips was icy, and his aura was overwhelmingly oppressive. My brother was still introducing me to the other side: "This is my little sister. Brought her out to meet some people so she can take over the family business later." The man across from us raised an eyebrow. He repeated my name. "Chloe Hastings." "The heiress of the Hastings family?" He paused, then sneered: "Interesting." I silently pulled my hair down, hiding my face even more. After introducing me, my brother noticed I was still sitting and whispered urgently: "Don't just sit there with your head down. What are you hiding from? It's your turn to toast." I remained silent for a moment. Then, bracing myself, I slowly stood up. As I raised my glass to toast the other side, my hand froze in mid-air. The atmosphere in the room had become uncomfortably quiet. My brother waited for ages, finally turning to ask: "Why are you just holding your glass? Are you mute? Say something." It had been two years. Liam Sterling genuinely believed I was mute. Even during our most intense moments in bed. Liam would grip my hands, smiling wickedly: "Baby, just say a word if you can't take it, and I'll stop." I lost myself several times, biting my lip until it bled, but I never made a sound to ask him to stop. Was it because I didn't know how to speak? No, it was because I didn't fucking dare. My lips moved for a long time before I managed to squeeze out a few words: "Um, Mr. Sterling—" As soon as I spoke. The man across from me immediately let out a cold scoff. I fell silent, feeling a piece of my soul die: "Mr. Sterling, a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I look forward to working with you." "First time?" Liam's lips curled into a chilling smile: "Right." 2 After sitting back down. I silently pulled out my phone and started looking for flights out tonight. I needed to escape. Before I could even pick a time. I suddenly heard my brother, mid-conversation, casually ask: "Mr. Sterling, you're getting married soon, right? When are you going to introduce your fiancée to us?" My eyelid twitched. My brother was really leading me to the slaughter. Liam didn't answer immediately. He lightly swirled the wine in his glass. After a long moment, he lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping coolly over my custom, figure-hugging pencil skirt. He let out another cold scoff: "They're asking you. Have you not played mute enough after pretending for two years?" The entire room instantly fell silent. My brother: ? My brother definitely hadn't expected this. The rumored fiancée—the one with a tragic background, a gambling brother, an abusive father, and a sick mother, the mute girl who was exceptionally favored by the Crown Prince... Was actually his own sister. 3 Although I was spoiled and pampered by my family since childhood. Before I started dating, my brother explicitly warned me about a few people in our circle I should never touch. The first was the Crown Prince. Not only was his temper weird. He also had a "white moonlight"—a first love he couldn't have. He was basically a walking red flag. But when I saw him at a party back then, I just couldn't resist. I couldn't resist him when a girl publicly threw a glass of red wine in his face. The wine dripped from the ends of his hair, sliding down his collarbone to the visible lines of his abs. Liam raised his eyes indifferently, his profile as handsome as if carved by a knife. He took a tissue to wipe the wine off his face while simultaneously shrugging off his incredibly expensive jacket and tossing it casually into the trash. His movements were unhurried, exuding the lazy contempt of someone used to being at the top. I was practically drooling. I couldn't help but whisper to my best friend: "Say, what if I secretly took on a part-time job outside—" My best friend, an aloof "cool girl" type, rolled her eyes with immense elegance: "Don't tell me you're going to lower your status to play the substitute for the Crown Prince's white moonlight. Did you see that girl who just threw the wine? She played the substitute until she actually caught feelings. Demanded commitment instead of money, and got dumped in two months. That'll be your fate." I nodded thoughtfully: "Oh, two months isn't enough. Two months isn't satisfying enough." My best friend: ? Before deciding to get Liam. I did take my brother's feelings into consideration. To avoid embarrassing him. I specifically used a fake name. And a fake identity. Because my voice is a bit unique, I was afraid I'd be recognized the moment I spoke. So I never even spoke. I got a VIP membership at the hotel Liam frequented. Played the drunk girl for two months. Finally, I timed it perfectly and "fainted" right into Liam's arms as he walked in. His gaze paused on my face, which looked incredibly innocent and pure without makeup, and he very gentlemanly put an arm around me. He let out a low chuckle, seeing right through my intentions: "You look a bit like her. Want to be with me?" I lowered my head shyly. Took out my phone and typed a few words into the text box: [Sure. My name is Mia Flora.] It had been two years. Liam always thought I was mute. And I always thought we both silently agreed we were just playing around. Until last month, when Liam suddenly proposed marriage. I was stunned. 4 I suspected Liam might have amnesia. Forgotten about his white moonlight. When he proposed. Liam was originally drinking with friends. I was beside him, staring blankly at his devastatingly handsome profile. I don't know who suddenly mentioned a name. The atmosphere went quiet for a few seconds. Someone said: "I heard she got engaged last month." Liam's hand paused, and he gave a faint "Hmm." Then he suddenly turned to look at me. He amusingly pinched my spaced-out face. After I snapped back to reality, he asked me: "Want to get married?" In an instant, my heart stopped. Who? Marry who? Wait, wasn't our agreed-upon dynamic that I was just a substitute for the white moonlight? I was genuinely terrified. That night in bed, I was trembling uncontrollably. Liam, hovering over me, clicked his tongue: "Baby, why are you so sensitive today? The sheets are soaked again." After he finally finished tossing me around. My body was still shaking weakly as I silently picked up my shredded stockings from the floor, put them on, and prepared to leave without a moment's delay. "Fuck." Liam, who had been watching me, rarely swore. Then, a grip tightened around my waist. I was yanked back again. The stockings I had just put on were torn even more disastrously. Liam never let anyone spend the night at his villa. But he held me and slept through the whole night. I didn't sleep a wink. Watching the sky gradually lighten. My heart also turned a bit cold. When he woke up, Liam even ruffled my hair. "Move your luggage over. You'll live at my place from now on." "Oh, and remember to bring your ID." Liam rested his chin on his hand and looked at me, with a rare, gentle look in his eyes: "Mia, I had someone pick a good date. We're getting married next month." Hearing Liam call me by the fake name I had used for two years. My eyelid twitched. I finally realized. Liam was serious. 5 In our circle, gossip always travels fastest. My best friend immediately sent me a message when she found out: [?] [Don't let a pretty face addle your brain. I heard his white moonlight got engaged last month. It's obvious he's just using you to spite her. If you dare marry him, be prepared to end up a clown.] I thought my best friend was overthinking it. Setting aside the issue of being used or not. The main issue was, I valued my life. Liam hated being lied to more than anything. The moment we went to register the marriage and he saw my ID, wouldn't I be dead meat? Taking advantage of Liam sending me back to get my ID. I ran. Booked a flight first thing in the morning. Even while rushing to the airport, I was still shaking with residual fear. Good thing I ran. Otherwise, with Liam's immense background, it was highly likely I would have been intercepted before even reaching the airport. But then again, maybe I was flattering myself. I was just one of the substitutes for his white moonlight. After two years together, he didn't even bother to check my background once. If I wanted to leave, he probably wouldn't care. He'd just find someone else pleasing to the eye to marry out of spite. Why would he waste effort stopping me? Liam's family was in State A. My family was in State B. The name was fake. The identity was fabricated. Running away like this... Given my homebody nature. We'd probably never see each other again in this lifetime. Although I hadn't quite had my fill of the Crown Prince. It was enough to satisfy the craving. I'd go back and obediently listen to my family's arrangements for a business marriage and taking over the company. 6 I just didn't expect to run into him in this kind of setting so soon. The Crown Prince's family was in State A. My family was clearly in State B. Who knew business interactions could be so chummy? So chummy that he was our company's biggest client. "They're asking you. Have you not played mute enough after pretending for two years?" Memory returns. When Liam called out to me. I had already reached the door of the private room. Has it really come to this? I sighed inwardly. Opened the door. Turned around. Facing the shocked gazes of everyone, including my brother. I said calmly: "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." And tried to slip away. I didn't succeed. Outside the door, Liam's bodyguards were blocking the way. We stared at each other for a moment. One of them kindly reminded me: "Miss, there is a restroom inside the private room." I silently sat back in my original seat. A moment later. My brother suddenly let out a cold scoff. Liam, sitting across from us, also let out a cold scoff. Me: "..." Are you two playing backup vocals? A while later. My brother couldn't sit still: "I have some things to handle. I need to leave first." Liam also stood up: "I have some things to handle. I need to leave first too." I said: "Oh, I'm fine. I'll sit a little longer." My brother just grabbed me and hauled me up. Me: "...Ow, ow, ow, take it easy." "Now you know what pain is? Isn't your brother a gambler?" My brother scoffed coldly, throwing me in front of Liam, who was waiting outside. "My sister has been spoiled by the family since she was young and doesn't know any better. For the sake of our families' relationship, handle this gracefully. I'll come back in an hour to take her home." 7 The moment my brother left. Liam pinned me against the car door and kissed me. His kiss was passionate and urgent. He kissed me until I was almost suffocating. I really thought he was exaggerating. Although I admit I am indeed very beautiful. He didn't have to react this strongly the moment he saw me, right? After a long while, he let me go. There was no angry interrogation about being deceived like I had imagined. He pressed his finger against my damp lips, his eyes dark: "You lied, fine. But why did you run away blindly?" I said: "Uh." "I heard your family arranged a marriage for you last year. Don't tell me you never intended to marry me." I said: "Hiss." "It was exhausting looking for you. Next time you want to run, at least don't block my contact info, okay?" I said: "Ah." He raised an eyebrow: "Brush me off again, and I don't mind making you cry in this car." Me: "..." Dude, can you have a little shame outdoors? But I had to admit. The moon tonight was really quite bright. What I mean is. Looking at the genuine deep affection in Liam's eyes. I really was a little moved. He came here specifically to find me; that wasn't fake. He hated being lied to the most, yet he easily forgave me; that wasn't fake either. His extraordinary gentleness and favoritism towards me over the past two years were vivid in my memory. In those two years, it wasn't that I hadn't lost my head over him. When I was sick, he personally cooked porridge for me. Afterward, he held me in the shower and jokingly said when we get old, he might not be able to carry me. And when I said I didn't like the smell of smoke, he quit smoking for me. But every time, I pinched myself hard to stay lucid. But now, facing this devastatingly handsome face. I couldn't help but sink into it. Not the kind of infatuation where I just wanted to play around. But the kind where I really wanted to offer my heart and love him for a lifetime. 8 An hour later, my brother came to pick me up. I sat in the car, zoning out. Occasionally covering my mouth and suddenly letting out a goofy laugh. My brother finally couldn't stand my idiotic behavior anymore. Unable to bear it any longer, he threw his phone onto my lap and said coldly: "See for yourself." The video seemed to be casually recorded by someone else a few days ago. After showing dozens of seconds of a bright, splashing swimming pool. A lazy voice drifted into my ears. "Don't invite me to this kind of party next time. The wife at home is strict." A friend nearby teased: "Tsk, how beautiful is this girl at home? Other than Luna, I haven't seen anyone hook Young Master Sterling like this." Liam's lips curved slightly, noncommittal: "I wouldn't say she's incredibly beautiful. She looks alright, I guess. But she's very interesting." The screen went black. I stared at the phone screen in silence for a while. After a long moment, I offered my critique of the video: "Hmm, finished watching. The video quality is pretty clear. Probably shot with the newest iPhone 17." My brother sneered: "You don't get it?" I really didn't get it. Was it trying to say Liam was actually playing with my feelings? But in his three seconds of screen time, he didn't seem to mention that at all. Was it trying to say he was completely hooked by me? Isn't that a good thing? What was my brother sneering about? "Liam actually said you aren't incredibly beautiful, just 'alright'. What does 'alright' mean? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Saying something like that just proves his feelings for you aren't genuine." I suddenly understood. My brother continued to point things out: "Men understand men. A white moonlight is hard to forget. He said you look alright, which means you look average, which means you aren't as pretty as his white moonlight, which means he's just playing with you. And here you are smiling like an idiot for him. Is it worth it?" My pride was hurt by my brother's words. During those few seconds of silence in the car. I silently wiped away the tears I couldn't hold back. When I looked up again. I sniffled and said gratefully to my brother: "Bro, thankfully you reminded me. Otherwise, I really would have fallen for it this time."
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