Maya was visibly stunned. Her gaze shifted from Eleanor Hayes back to Diana, her expression turning troubled.
"What an unfortunate coincidence."
Wearing the same outfit was awkward in any setting, let alone an occasion like today. Once the two of them were in the same room, the atmosphere was bound to become even more delicate.
William Knight hadn't expected this either. After a brief pause, he said reassuringly, "It's alright. Eleanor isn't the type to be petty about such things."
"No woman, no matter how broad-minded, can truly ignore wearing the same dress—especially on a day like this," Maya replied, her brow furrowed with worry. "Making her feel awkward the very first time they meet, and right in front of her parents... I'm afraid her parents will take offense as well."
William unbuttoned his suit jacket and handed it to Diana. "Wear this for now."
Maya's frown deepened. "Anyone could tell at a glance that it's your jacket."
Before William could say another word, Diana stood up. She understood perfectly well that she wasn't the protagonist of today's event. On this first formal meeting between the families, she couldn't let Eleanor feel slighted.
She was the one who needed to step aside.
"I'll go find something else to wear."
Fortunately, these traditional upscale restaurants often featured private rooms with two entrances. Before the Hayes family could walk in, she quickly slipped out through a small side door.
She didn't go to the manager. A bespoke silk cheongsam like the one she wore was impossible to replace with something from a restaurant's inventory. She remembered a new high-end boutique that had just opened around the corner. Time was tight, but it was better than sitting around waiting for disaster to strike.
Lifting her hem as she crossed the threshold, she nearly collided with someone as she turned the corner.
Jasper Sterling caught her by the arm, steadying her before she could crash into him. Diana took half a step back to find her balance. He let go, his lazy, dark eyes narrowing as he looked down at her. "Throwing yourself at me?"
Diana had no time for his games. "Jasper, I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry..."
She spotted the car behind him. Given the urgency, she didn't bother with formalities. "I need to buy a change of clothes right now. Can you give me a ride?"
The driver had dropped them off at the restaurant, and since this meal would last at least two hours, drivers usually grabbed their own lunch nearby during the wait. It would take too long to call one back. Since she didn't have a local license, hailing a taxi was nowhere near as fast as using the car right in front of her.
She rarely looked at him with such pleading eyes. Even when they discussed business, she was always strictly professional.
Jasper's eyes swept over her. The cheongsam wasn't overly bright; its subtle orchid embroidery was designed for understated elegance. However, the cut fit her perfectly, the black fabric making her skin look as white as pearls. Her neck was long and graceful, reminiscent of a swan, and her waist was slender, curving beautifully into her hips.
"You're already this stunning. Are you planning to dress like a goddess and upstage everyone?"
Diana didn't have time to explain. Seeing no sign of help in his expression, she tried to run past him toward the street to find a cab.
Jasper leaned against the car door and crossed his arms. "The nearest mall is a fifteen-minute drive. That's half an hour round trip. Are you sure you want to keep the elders of both families waiting that long?"
"The shop at the corner—"
"Out of business," Jasper said nonchalantly, crushing her last hope.
"..."
She certainly couldn't wear athletic gear to an occasion like this. Diana stood frozen by the roadside, wondering if William would be disappointed in her if she simply fled the scene entirely.
Jasper wasn't driving a sports car today; he had a four-door sedan. He reached back, opened the door, and pulled out a brand-new, charcoal-grey silk shirt still in its packaging. He tossed it to her.
Diana caught it quickly. Looking at the men's shirt, she realized there was no better alternative. "Jasper, thank you."
By the time William called her, she was already back at the restaurant with the clothes.
"I found something to wear, William. I'll be back as soon as I'm sorted. Don't worry."
There was a moment of silence on the other end before William's voice drifted through, unreadable. "Good."
Diana borrowed a dressing room and a pair of scissors from a waitress. With practiced movements, she cut a significant portion off the bottom of her long cheongsam.
Jasper's shirt was incredibly oversized, nearly reaching her knees. She tucked the hem of the shirt neatly into the waist of the now-shortened cheongsam skirt and pulled the collar back slightly, revealing the pale line of her neck. What was once a gentle, traditional look was instantly transformed into something modern and edgy, yet still sophisticated.
While it was a bit casual for today's setting, it was the best solution she had.
When she returned to the private room, the atmosphere was pleasant. Mr. Hayes was wearing a formal Mao suit, looking kind and approachable. Mrs. Hayes appeared much younger than Diana had imagined, with delicate, well-maintained hands—the mark of a woman who had lived a life of luxury.
Mrs. Hayes's eyes crinkled just like Eleanor's as she smiled, praising Diana warmly. "What a beautiful girl. Honestly, you're more stunning than the stars on television."
Eleanor clearly hadn't told her mother about her feelings for William. Diana offered a polite smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Hayes."
She took a seat at the end of the table, right next to Jasper Sterling. He was Eleanor's cousin, representing the Sterling family today.
Kai Knight asked about General Sterling. "I haven't seen him in a while. How is the General's health?"
"Doing great. He's got the body of a sixty-year-old and the stamina of a twenty-year-old. He's sturdier than I am," Jasper replied, leaning back with his usual irreverent air.
"How old are you now, Jasper? I remember you're two years younger than William."
"Twenty-eight."
Maya added, "Then it's about time you settled down. You and William are close in age and good friends. If you marry soon, the General can finally enjoy having a grandson."
Ever since Jasper's mother passed away, the General had never remarried. Unlike other wealthy families with many children or illegitimate heirs, the powerful Sterling household was a quiet place with just a father and son.
He already has one, Diana thought to herself.
Jasper leaned against the chair, a smirk playing on his lips, though it was superficial and detached. "I don't have William's good fortune."
The comment was a backhanded way of complimenting both families, making everyone at the table beam with delight.
William smiled faintly. "If your fortune is considered shallow, the rest of us might as well not live."
Hearing the laughter, Diana forced a polite smile as well. Jasper glanced at her sideways.
She was acting like a programmed robot—never interrupting, never reaching too far for food. She just kept her head down, focusing on a dish of spicy bullfrog in front of her. She was quiet, her presence almost fading into the background. Only specific triggers—like the sound of laughter—would activate her "program," causing a brief reaction before she sank back into her own world.
The shirt she wore looked like a typical oversized fashion choice, though the collar was clearly too large, exposing her delicate collarbones. It was hard to tell which was smoother: her porcelain skin or the silk. Jasper's gaze lingered on the curve of her neck. She had let her hair down; the dark tresses spilling over her back had the texture of another kind of silk.
"Could you help me de-bone the fish?"
Diana looked up at the sound of the voice. She saw Eleanor Hayes leaning toward William. "I love fish, but I always manage to get a bone stuck in my throat."
Her tone was lightly flirtatious—just enough to be sweet without being annoying.
William, of course, didn't refuse. He was the type of man who made everything look graceful, including de-boning a fish. Diana had seen him do it many times. As he placed the plate of tender white fish in front of Eleanor, she beamed. "Thank you!"
Diana lowered her head and went back to her bullfrog. The meat was savory and tender, just a bit spicy. As she ate, she heard the man beside her whisper:
"Does eating your own close relatives make it taste better?"
Diana didn't catch his meaning at first. She looked up, confused, and met Jasper's narrow, meaningful eyes. Slowly, the realization dawned on her.
She looked at the bullfrog on her chopsticks...
Basically a close cousin to a toad.
She couldn't take another bite.