Rosalyn retreated a few steps. "I'll be fine on my own. Thank you."
By now, several guests had shifted their gazes over.
Rosalyn had no intention of turning the banquet into a spectacle. Even though discomfort twisted in her chest, she forced herself to remain composed.
Nathan, however, behaved as though he hadn't heard her words. Without hesitation, his arm slid around her waist and drew her straight into his embrace.
Their bodies ended up pressed close together, the closeness impossible to ignore.
The sight immediately stirred whispers among the surrounding guests.
Julia had barely stepped onto the dance floor when the disturbance reached her ears. She turned to look, and the coldness in her gaze deepened.
"Mr. Harvey." Rosalyn spoke through clenched teeth as she shot Nathan a sharp look.
Nathan's face showed nothing unusual. His arm loosened slightly as he stepped back, creating a small space between them. "My apologies. I'm not very experienced dancing with others. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable, Miss Carter."
Despite his words, a faint curve touched the corner of his mouth, a detail only Rosalyn noticed.
The words he spoke clearly held another meaning meant only for her. To everyone else, however, he looked both commanding and polite.
To Rosalyn, the situation was maddening. Yet, resisting him here would lead nowhere. Creating a scene by pushing him away would only draw more attention.
Nathan said in a low voice, "Just behave and dance with me. If I'm in a good mood, I might let you off the hook."
Heat rushed to Rosalyn's face as anger surged inside her. Dozens of insults crowded her mind, yet none of them reached her lips.
In the end, she lowered her head and stopped struggling. Her movements followed the music, but each step felt stiff and empty.
Suddenly, a faint breath brushed against her ear. "Dancing with me bothers you that much?"
His words carried a teasing tone, and his breath came so close that it almost touched her earlobe.
Rosalyn forced herself to stay calm. She lifted her head and answered through clenched teeth, "Of course not."
The music faded soon after.
Taking the chance to break away, she spoke quickly. "Excuse me. I need to go to the restroom."
She avoided looking at Nathan, though she could still feel the intensity of his gaze following her.
Without turning back, Rosalyn walked away at a fast pace.
Once inside the restroom, she took out her phone and sent Andrew a message. "I'm not feeling well. I think I should leave early."
Andrew's call came through promptly. "What's wrong? Are you upset because I asked you to dance with Mr. Harvey? I only asked Miss Sutton to dance because I wanted to talk with her about some business matters. I was afraid you'd feel awkward standing alone, so I asked Mr. Harvey to keep you company. I should've asked how you felt first. I'm really sorry."
His tone grew heavier with each word, filled with genuine regret.
Rosalyn couldn't bring herself to blame him. "I'm not angry with you. I really just feel—"
Andrew cut in, "Honey, could you stay until the banquet ends? Just this once. Please."
She didn't quite understand why he cared so much about her staying. Still, she couldn't find a convincing reason to refuse. After a moment of hesitation, she sighed quietly. "Alright."
Later, Rosalyn found a secluded corner and unlocked her phone. She typed out a message to Andrew several times, editing it again and again. In the end, she still couldn't press send. Something like this couldn't be explained through a message. It had to be said face to face.
Finally, she chose to send a short message to Nathan instead. "I'll tell Andrew everything, but he isn't with me right now. Give me a little time."
To her surprise, Nathan actually agreed.
A quiet sense of relief washed over Rosalyn, and the tightness in her chest eased for a moment.
But when the banquet finally came to an end, Andrew was nowhere to be found.
She tried calling him several times. No one answered.
Left standing at the hotel entrance, Rosalyn watched as the guests slowly dispersed into the night.
A cold breeze swept through the area.
Just then, a luxury car rolled to a smooth stop in front of her.
The window lowered, revealing Julia's refined face. A hint of fatigue showed beneath her usual composure. "Miss Carter, where did your fiancé disappear to?"
Rosalyn could clearly recognize Nathan inside the dimly lit car. His eyes remained locked on her, steady and intent, like a hunter waiting for its prey.
"He... had something he needed to handle," Rosalyn answered. "I'll head home on my own."
"Let us give you a ride." Nathan spoke without hesitation. Before she could respond, he stepped out of the car and walked straight toward her.
Unease rushed through Rosalyn's chest. Only a short distance away, Julia was still watching. What exactly was Nathan planning? Had he really become so bold?
