The Girl He Was Promised

Chapter 6 — The People Who Know Them Best

By noon, the Go family's private dining room was unusually noisy.

Alexander sat at the head of the table, looking completely unimpressed.

Across from him sat three men who seemed to have forgotten that he was their friend—and CEO.

"You're smiling."

Alexander looked up.

"I am not."

Lorenzo Chen leaned forward.

"You absolutely are."

Daniel Han laughed.

"He's been staring at his phone for ten minutes."

Tyler Wang shook his head.

"Alexander Go has finally fallen in love."

Alexander placed his phone on the table.

"Are you three finished?"

"No," Lorenzo answered immediately.

Alexander sighed.

These three had known him for years.

They were among the very few people who could speak to him without worrying about his temper.

Lorenzo was the heir to the Chen family's investment group.

Daniel came from one of the country's most influential legal families.

Tyler was the successor to a major technology company.

They had grown up together, attended the same schools, and eventually became Alexander's closest friends.

But there was one thing they had never seen.

Alexander genuinely interested in a woman.

Daniel leaned back.

"So, tell us about her."

"There is nothing to tell."

Tyler laughed.

"That's exactly what a man in love says."

Alexander gave him a cold look.

"Her name is Anastasia Smith."

The room went silent.

Lorenzo's teasing expression disappeared.

"Smith?"

Alexander nodded.

"You're marrying Anastasia Smith?"

"That's the plan."

Daniel stared at him.

"Wait. The engagement your family arranged years ago?"

"Yes."

Tyler nearly laughed.

"You spent years complaining about that engagement."

"I changed my mind."

Lorenzo grinned.

"Why?"

Alexander picked up his coffee.

"Because I know her."

Daniel frowned.

"You've met her before?"

"Six years ago."

Alexander briefly told them about the girl beneath the pavilion.

His friends listened carefully.

When he finished, Lorenzo shook his head.

"So let me understand this."

Alexander looked at him.

"You went to the Smith estate to cancel your engagement."

"Yes."

"You saw Anastasia."

"Yes."

"And discovered she was the girl you've been searching for for six years."

"Yes."

Lorenzo smiled.

"That's ridiculous."

Alexander's eyes narrowed.

"It's true."

Tyler laughed.

"Your life sounds like a drama."

"Be quiet."

---

Across the city, Anastasia sat inside a quiet café.

Three women sat around her.

"You're finally back."

A beautiful woman with short brown hair reached across the table and hugged Anastasia.

"Vivian, I just got back."

"Six years is not 'just.'"

Beside Vivian sat Chloe, a cheerful woman who immediately pushed a cup of tea toward Anastasia.

"Drink this."

Anastasia smiled.

"You haven't changed."

"Neither have you."

The third woman, Elena, quietly studied her.

"Except you're hiding something."

Anastasia raised an eyebrow.

"Am I?"

Elena nodded.

"You only smile like that when something interesting happens."

Vivian gasped.

"Wait."

She leaned closer.

"Is there a man?"

Anastasia nearly spit out her tea.

"No."

All three women stared at her.

"No?"

"No."

Vivian smiled.

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not."

Chloe laughed.

"You are."

Anastasia shook her head.

"His name is Alexander."

Silence.

Vivian's mouth fell open.

"Alexander Go?"

Anastasia nodded.

Elena smiled knowingly.

"The fiancé."

"Unfortunately."

Vivian burst out laughing.

"After six years abroad, you come home and immediately meet your billionaire fiancé?"

"That's not even the strange part."

"What is?"

Anastasia hesitated.

"He came to cancel the engagement."

Chloe's eyes widened.

"And?"

"He changed his mind."

Vivian leaned forward.

"Why?"

Anastasia looked down at her tea.

"He recognized me."

Her friends exchanged glances.

Elena's expression softened.

"The boy from six years ago?"

Anastasia nodded.

For a moment, nobody teased her.

They knew that story.

They knew Anastasia had once mentioned a young man she met during a rainy afternoon.

She had never told them his name.

Now they finally understood why.

Vivian smiled.

"Well, this is going to be interesting."

Anastasia sighed.

"Don't start."

"I haven't even started."

Her phone vibrated.

A message appeared.

Alexander: I'm coming to pick you up at three.

Anastasia stared at it.

She typed:

I can drive myself.

The reply came immediately.

I know. I'm still coming.

Vivian looked over her shoulder.

Then she grinned.

"Oh, he's definitely in love."

Anastasia locked her phone.

"I already regret coming home."

But despite her words—

she couldn't stop smiling.

And none of them noticed the black car parked across the street.

Inside it, a man watched Anastasia through the café window.

He wasn't alone.

Beside him sat the same man Alexander had seen in the surveillance photographs.

"She's with her friends," the first man said.

"Yes."

"And the Go heir?"

"He's coming."

The man smiled.

"Then we finally have something useful."

He looked at Anastasia.

"Her friends."

The game had just become more complicated.