Janice stiffened instantly. There was no way she could be mistaken. The man sitting behind the wheel was impossibly striking.
His looks were striking and well-defined, his side profile crisp and handsome. The custom-fitted suit traced a slim, toned frame, while the cufflinks at his wrists gleamed sharply. An epitome of elegance, he carried himself with the effortless confidence of someone born into privilege.
The man lifted the corner of his lips and smiled faintly at her.
Now, with a clear head, Janice recognized him. He was one of the most talked-about golden boys in the business world. The head of Gilbert Group. A name synonymous with flawless investments and relentless success. In just a handful of years, he had risen to dominate the entire business circle, his personal fortune rumored to rival national treasuries.
She had caught glimpses of him before, standing at a distance during banquets she attended with Karl. No matter where he appeared, he always commanded the room without trying.
Janice snapped out of her stupor and blurted out, "I'm sorry… I think I got into the wrong car."
She reached for the car door, ready to leave, but he reacted swiftly. His hand closed gently around her wrist, stopping her.
The warmth of his touch surprised her. Against her cold skin, the heat radiating from him felt almost overwhelming.
"You're in the right car," he said calmly. "Your brother asked me to come get you."
Janice froze. "You're… my brother's friend?"
"Yeah. We're very close. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Declan Gilbert."
He let go of her wrist and straightened, taking her hand instead in a polite handshake.
Thinking back to the night before, Janice spoke with genuine emotion. "Thank you for everything you did last night."
Last night, the temperature had been brutally low. If Declan hadn't shown up when he did, she didn't dare imagine what might have happened to her. As a doctor, she had seen too many cases of unconscious people dying of hypothermia.
Declan's deep-set eyes lingered on her delicate face. "Shouldn't thanks come with something more concrete?"
"Huh?" Janice blinked, caught off guard by his words. Did he intend to milk a large sum of money from her or something else?
Declan let out a soft laugh. "How about treating me to a meal?"
Realizing she had overthought, Janice gave an awkward smile. He had saved her life and even handled her medical bills. Buying him a meal was hardly enough to repay that debt.
It was only then that she realized Declan was still holding her hand. She quickly withdrew her hand. "Of course. That's only right."
Declan pulled his hand back, smiling lightly. "Then we'll decide on a time later."
Not long after, the car pulled up in front of the Reed family home.
The moment Janice stepped out, she noticed the whole family gathered at the entrance, waiting for her arrival.
Her mother, Madalyn Reed, excitedly took her by the hand and guided her into the living room. "Jani, why don't you move in and live with us? From now on, we won't let you endure any more hardship."
After finally finding her daughter back after so many years, Madalyn's only wish was to keep her close and protect her.
Janice nodded gently. "All right. Sounds good to me. Living together allows me to spend more time with you and Dad."
Her father, Kenneth Reed, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, a concerned look in his eyes. "Cristian told me about your divorce. That jerk Karl… I won't let him off the hook easily."
A shadow crossed Janice's clear eyes as she answered calmly, "No need to dwell on him. He and I are done."
Kenneth gave a small nod. "I'm relieved you are unfazed by the divorce. Rest assured, I'll make sure you find someone better."
A faint blush crept up Janice's cheeks. "Dad, I'm not ready to start a new relationship yet."
"We don't mean to rush you. Maybe you can just start by meeting someone new."
Madalyn grinned. "What do you think of Declan?"
"He's a good person. He seems kind," Janice responded. After all, Declan had saved her life.
Kenneth smiled approvingly. "That's good to hear. Actually, there's something we haven't told you yet. Our family and the Gilbert family have been close for generations, and even before you were born, an engagement was arranged."
"What?" Janice raised her voice, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Madalyn remarked, "Declan is essentially your fiancé. If you hadn't gone missing when you were a child, you would have married him long ago."
Janice's tone turned firm. "I'm not considering a new relationship right now. Besides, I don't have feelings for him, and I won't marry someone I barely know."
Worried that her parents would continue pressing the issue, Janice quickly excused herself and headed upstairs.
Just outside the doorway, Declan had not yet left. Every word Janice had said reached him clearly. He watched her retreating figure, a dark look in his eyes.
Noticing this, Madalyn hurried to reassure him. "Declan, just give Jani some time. She's just come out of a difficult relationship."
Declan nodded. "Our paths will cross again."
