After dinner, as everyone chatted andughed, Mia suggested heading to a bar for drinks.

Jordan spoke up first. “Liz doesn’t drink, and her dorm has a curfew. bIt’s /bgettingte. I should take her back to campus ”

Mia waved her hand. “Alright, you two go ahead.”

“Bye, Jordan. Bye, Miss Stewart,” Lena said with a wave.

Jordan nced back and said, “Miss Stewart? i77 /i

Lena paused for a second, a bit caught off guard.

So did everyone else.

“Lizb,/b” she echoed, still a little unsure.

way too formal. Just call her Liz–she’s basically your sister–inwi./i”

Liz’s face turned bright red. She looked down, flustered, and mumbled, b“/bIt’s okay… You can call me whatever you want.”

Jordan pulled her into his arms. “No way. Let’s go, babe. I’ll take you home.”

She nodded, still blushing.

After they left, Mia gave a teasing little tsk. “Lena, looks like your brother’s really serious this time.”

Lena agreed. “He’s definitely different with Lizpared to how he was with other women.”

Mia then grabbed Charlotte’s hand. “Come on, let’s hit the bar! My friend owns a great spot. Let’s go have some fun!”

Lena shook her head. “You go ahead. I’m heading home.”

Lena had always been the responsible one. She didn’t drink, and Mia didn’t push her. “Alright then. Get home safe.”

Mia turned to Charlotte and Sean. “How about

you two?”

Sean looked at Charlotte, silently waiting for her decision.

If she wanted to go, he would go too. If she didn’tb, /bneither would he.

Charlotte understood exactly what that look meant.

She actually wanted to go. She wanted to spend

more time with him.

But she wasn’t a good drinker. Thest time she had gone to a bar, she got so drunk she cked out, said all kinds of nonsense, andpletely embarrassed herself–especially in front of Sean.

Back then, they were dating, so it hadn’t been a big deal. If he carried her home or she clung to him, it was still within bounds.

But things were different now.

She couldn’t let herself copse into his arms like that again,

With that in mind, Charlotte declined. “I’m a little tired. I think I’ll pass.‘

”

Mia let out a disappointed sigh. “Ugh, if none of you are going, it won’t be any fun. I’ll just go home too.”

The next day, Charlotte went back to the Riley estate for dinner.

At the table, Desmond casually asked, “Lottie, how are things going between you and thatwyer, Mr. Lucas?”

Charlotte paused mid–bite. “What do you mean ‘how are things‘? We’re just friends.

Chapter b443 /b

Xena smiled and said, b“/bJust friends? Come on, Lottle. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed how into you he bis/bb./b”

Desmond badded /bcalmly, “He made a good impression on me.”

“Dad, Aunt Xena,” Charlotte saidb, /bhalfughing. b“/bYou’re way off There’s nothing going on between us. If he has feelingsb, /bbI’m /bnot aware of them. Either way, I definitely don’t see him that way.

Desmond sipped his soup and said mildly, “You’re twenty–seven nowb, /bLottle. It’s time to start thinking seriously about your future.”

Ahb, /bthere it was–the marriage talk.

Charlotte gave a wry smile. “Dad, right now I just want to

grow myw firm. I’m really not in the mood for romance.”

Xena hesitated, clearly wanting to say more but holding back. As her stepmotherb, /bshe knew it wasn’t her ce to push too hard on things like marriage.

Desmond spoke againb, /bhis tone still gentle. “Career and marriage aren’t mutually exclusive. You could get married now and think about kidster.”

い

“No, thanks,” Charlotte replied coolly. “I have my own n, and dating isn’t part of it right now.”

Desmond gave her a look, then nodded, his voice calm. “As long as you’ve got a n. I’m just offering my two cents. Alright, let’s eat.”