Even before Lianne came to be by Ethan Sinclair's side, he had already moved out of the Sinclair family residence to live alone.
Before starting college, Lianne often visited Grand Vista Manor, but she rarely saw him. Many times, he would only return after she had fallen asleep.
Many men in their circle moved out of the family home after coming of age. In the hot-blooded prime of their youth, women threw themselves at them one after another. Even if their hearts weren't swayed, their bodies would be, and living on their own made it convenient for overnight guests.
But Ethan Sinclair was different. He was a breath of fresh air in their circle—zero girlfriends, zero negative press.
In all these years, his only rumored romance was with Lianne.
The first time Lianne heard the rumors about her and Ethan Sinclair, she was still in high school. No matter how mature she was for her age, she was still a teenager. Her face flushed instantly, and she would retort, "We don't have that kind of relationship."
At first, she would argue with people, explaining tirelessly. But eventually, she came to a realization.
No matter how much the rumors swirled, they always boiled down to the same few lines. As long as she kept moving forward, they could never catch up.
The year Lianne turned eighteen, Ethan Sinclair celebrated his birthday by inviting a few of his close friends over to Grand Vista Manor. The men were in high spirits from the drinks, and their behavior was bound to be somewhat restrained with a young woman present. Perceptive enough to take the hint, Lianne excused herself and went out to the back garden.
The end of the covered walkway was quiet and secluded, with a set of woven bamboo chairs and a table on a small patio. She sat down, stretched out her legs, and began drawing slow circles with the tip of her foot. Suddenly, she heard an unusual sound, and alarm bells went off in her head.
"Who's there?"
A shadow suddenly fell from above. A faint breeze brushed against Lianne's cheek as her vision was abruptly blocked—a hat had dropped out of nowhere, covering her head and shielding her eyes.
A low, magnetic, slightly raspy voice drifted to her ears on the night breeze. "Not very tall, but you've got some nerve."
Lianne pulled the hat off her head. In the light from the walkway's roof, she got a clear look at the object in her hands:
A pine-green military cap.
She straightened her back and looked toward the source of the voice.
Seth Sinclair was leaning against a wall, a cigarette held between his thin, sharply-defined lips as he squinted at her through the dim shadows.
He had broad shoulders and long legs, the kind of frame that made clothes look good. He wore a crisp military uniform, the hem of his jacket fluttering in the wind. Bathed in the moonlight, he was impossibly, ruggedly handsome.
The uniform's dignified air tempered the arrogant, roguish streak that was etched into his very bones.
Their eyes met. Seth Sinclair took the cigarette from his lips, pinched it between his fingers, and crooked a finger at Lianne.
Lianne, not understanding his intention, watched him warily.
"What," he said, seeing her standing there motionless as a statue. Seth Sinclair's eyebrow twitched upward, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "Planning to commit a little robbery? Barging into someone else's home, right in front of the owner?"
"..."
'Me, rob you? What kind of cosmic joke is that?'
'No matter how you looked at it, him robbing her would make a lot more sense.'
Lianne's eyes darted. She belatedly understood his meaning and immediately handed the cap back to him. After mumbling an apology, she left without a moment's hesitation.
She was terrified the tiger behind her might pounce.
Ethan Sinclair and Seth Sinclair's homes in Grand Vista Manor were adjoining townhouses with interconnected back gardens. She had unknowingly wandered into Seth Sinclair's territory.
Seth Sinclair lived right next door, so it wasn't surprising to see Liam Shaw here.
"The man from before is Liam Shaw. He works for Mr. Sinclair's younger brother and used to be a SWAT officer," Assistant Hollis told Lianne. When he had first joined the corporation, he wasn't familiar with Ethan Sinclair's way of doing things, and Lianne had helped him out quite a bit behind the scenes. As a result, they were on good terms, and he tended to be more forthcoming with her.
Lianne's expression was placid as she nodded. "I see."
'The Sinclair Family's special officers are all quite handsome,' she thought. She had seen them once from a distance when the elder Mr. Sinclair went out. The procession had been massive, with traffic control in place and a tight cordon of guards.
Once inside the foyer, Assistant Hollis glanced at the time and said, "Mr. Sinclair is still in a meeting in his study. It should be over in about ten minutes."
Lianne took the food container into the kitchen and brought out a clean bowl. The congee was still hot and didn't need reheating. She took the food out and set it on the table. Just as she finished, Ethan Sinclair came downstairs.
He wasn't surprised to see Lianne. She had always been thoughtful and caring, even as a little girl.
Ethan Sinclair pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. Lianne placed a bowl of congee in front of him.
"How are you feeling?"
Ethan Sinclair was dressed in a shirt and trousers. He rolled up his cuffs, revealing a section of his wrist. His voice was hoarse, likely from the cold. "I'm fine. It'll pass in a couple of days. Have you eaten dinner?"
"I have."
"Have a little more with me," Ethan Sinclair said.
Lianne agreed.
She ladled a small portion for herself. The congee was cooked to perfection—it melted in her mouth and had a light, sweet flavor.
During the meal, Ethan Sinclair told her, "I picked out a car for you. It'll be delivered to your apartment tomorrow. If you don't like it, we'll get a different one."
Lianne was stunned for a moment before replying, "Okay."
Partway through the meal, Ethan Sinclair's phone rang. He didn't step away, simply answering the call while sitting across from her.
As Lianne sipped her congee, she faintly overheard a familiar name.
Claire Donovan.
Her movements paused abruptly. Her spoon tapped lightly against the rim of the bowl, making a soft DING.
'That name... She knew it. The eldest daughter of the Donovan family, Ethan Sinclair's childhood sweetheart. She'd gone abroad and had apparently been romantically involved with him at some point.'
Lianne furtively observed Ethan Sinclair's expression. His brow was slightly furrowed, and she couldn't tell if it was from his illness or because of the person on the other end of the line.
They finished the rest of their meal in silence. Lianne cleaned up, picked up the empty food container, and said goodbye to Ethan Sinclair.
"You're sick, so you should get some rest. I know the way out, I'll be fine on my own."
Ethan Sinclair didn't listen, instead telling Hugo Hollis to drive her.
The autumn air was growing colder, but Ethan Sinclair was only wearing a thin shirt. As he and Lianne stood at the entrance of the villa, they suddenly heard Hugo Hollis call out in a clear voice, "Mr. Sinclair."
Lianne turned her head, following Hugo Hollis's line of sight, and discovered Seth Sinclair and God of Fortune standing on the front steps, watching them with narrowed eyes.
Ethan Sinclair coughed. "Get in the car."
Lianne averted her gaze, pretending she hadn't seen the man and his dog.
As the car started, she glanced back from her seat and saw Seth Sinclair walk over to Ethan Sinclair, God of Fortune in tow.
She couldn't hear what Seth Sinclair said, but a smile instantly broke across Ethan Sinclair's face.
Standing next to each other, Seth Sinclair appeared to be a little taller than Ethan Sinclair.
'Most brothers move far away from each other when they leave home. But not them. They not only lived next door to each other, but in adjoining townhouses.'
'Then again, the nightlife was just getting started at this hour. Why would the wild, unrestrained second young master choose to spend his evening with his dog?'
'It was baffling.'
Lianne had heard her fair share of gossip about Seth Sinclair's love life. The most recent story, from just two days ago, was that he'd hosted the director of the city's television station for dinner in the main hall of Aetheria Residence, and that wedding bells were in the near future.
The station director's daughter was a well-known beauty in their circle, earning her the title of "the most beautiful reporter."
The two of them were a perfect match in terms of both social standing and looks—a talented man and a beautiful woman.
This reminded Lianne of the phone call Ethan Sinclair had taken earlier.
She turned her head, gazing at the cityscape outside the window.
The sky was the color of thick ink. At night, Imperia was a sea of brilliant lights, its roads teeming with an endless stream of traffic—a picture of bustling prosperity.
It stood in stark contrast to the oppressive dark clouds and torrential rain of that one year.
That was the day that changed Lianne's life.
A day of falling, and of being lifted up.