First Meet
939 Words
The Fallon dining hall had never gleamed so brightly.
Dozens of crystal lamps cast warm light across the polished mahogany table that stretched the length of the room. Silver cutlery glinted under the chandeliers, while rare roses from France filled crystal vases.
Every detail screamed wealth and elegance—a desperate attempt to prove the Fallon family was still worthy of the Chens.
Celine descended the grand staircase at her father’s side, her crimson gown trailing like fire behind her.
Gasps echoed faintly among the servants and relatives as they looked up at her.
She had worn this，the same gown in her past life, but back then it had swallowed her, making her look like a girl pretending to be a woman.
Tonight, it clung to her with deliberate boldness.
Her hair was swept into an elegant chignon, her skin glowing, her every step measured and calm.
Serina walked slightly behind her, in a pale lilac dress that suddenly seemed childish beside Celine’s scarlet confidence.
Her smile faltered before she quickly fixed it again.
At the base of the staircase, Liams Chen was waiting.
Tall, broad-shouldered, his black suit tailored with lethal precision, he was every inch the man who ruled boardrooms and dominated headlines. His expression was as unreadable as stone, his gaze sharp enough to cut.
But for the first time, when his eyes landed on Celine, something flickered.
This was not the shy, blushing girl he recalled.
“Mr. Chen,” she said, her tone calm and smooth, dipping her head slightly. “Thank you for joining us tonight.”
The corners of his mouth twitched, almost imperceptibly. “Miss Fallon,” he replied.
“You look… different.”
Different. That was the word.
Celine smiled faintly, not answering. Let him wonder.
——
Dinner began with polite toasts and rehearsed compliments.
The elders discussed alliances and investments, while the younger generation sat quietly, their roles ornamental.
Celine lifted her glass gracefully when her father raised a toast.
“To the Chen and Fallon families—may this union bring prosperity and strength.”
Everyone sipped delicately.
Celine tilted her head—and drained the glass in one smooth motion.
A beat of silence followed. Margaret Fallon stiffened in shock. Serina’s eyes widened. Even the servants faltered for half a second.
Only Celine remained serene, setting her empty glass down with quiet elegance.
Across the table, Liams’ gaze sharpened. His fingers tapped once against the stem of his glass before he lifted it to his lips.
The faintest curve touched his mouth, almost a smirk.
So, his bride-to-be was not the meek little thing he had expected.
——
Halfway through the meal, a servant stumbled, nearly spilling hot soup across Serina’s lap.
“Oh!” Serina gasped, clutching at her skirt, wide eyes darting to Liams instinctively—as though begging him to notice her distress.
In her past life, Celine had leapt to her sister’s aid, fussing over her, desperate to maintain peace.
This time, she only took another slow sip of wine, her expression calm.
When Serina looked up, she met Celine’s eyes—cold, amused, unbothered.
“Be careful,” Celine said at last, her voice like silk wrapping steel.
“It would be such a shame to ruin a dress like that.”
The words sounded kind, but the undertone was unmistakable. Serina’s cheeks flushed, her smile stiffening.
Liams noticed. His gaze slid from one sister to the other, his expression unreadable.
——
When the final dish was cleared away, the elders retired to the parlor to discuss details of the upcoming engagement ceremony.
Laughter and business talk trailed behind them, leaving the younger generation in the dining hall.
Serina excused herself with a brittle smile, clearly flustered by her sister’s indifference. Vivian, too, was absent—thankfully not yet woven into tonight’s tale.
That left only Liams and Celine.
The air between them was charged, silent, heavy with something unspoken.
Celine rose smoothly, her gown brushing against the floor as she stepped out into the lantern-lit garden.
Cool night air wrapped around her, carrying the scent of jasmine. She breathed it in deeply, savoring her first real moment of peace all day.
But peace never lasted long with Liams Chen.
“You’ve changed.”
His voice came from behind her, deep and commanding.
She turned slowly.
He stood a few paces away, hands tucked in his pockets, his tall figure backlit by the glow of the lanterns. Shadows played across his sharp features, making him look even more dangerous.
Celine tilted her head, her smile faint. “Have I?”
His gaze narrowed. “You’re not the same woman I agreed to marry.”
Her laughter was soft, unexpected.
“Perhaps that’s a good thing. Don’t you prefer surprises, Mr. Chen?”
For a heartbeat, the air between them crackled.
His eyes locked on hers, dark and searching, as if trying to peel back the mask she wore. But Celine’s mask was stronger now—layered with ice and secrets.
“You intrigue me,” Liams admitted at last, his voice low.
Celine’s smile sharpened. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”
And with that, she brushed past him, her gown trailing like fire in the night.
Liams stood frozen for a moment, his jaw tightening as he inhaled the faint scent of her perfume that lingered in the air.
For the first time in years, Liams Chen felt something unexpected—curiosity.
His bride-to-be was no longer the girl he could ignore.
She was becoming a woman he could not look away from.
And that… was dangerous.
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