Jared Thorne had three daughters: Lynn, Amanda, and Georgia Thorne.

Lynn had been married off years ago in a political alliance and now had a son with her husband. Amanda Thorne had a complicated relationship with Elliot Sheridan, so she would never stoop to someone as green as Zane Lennox. That only left Georgia Thorne.

Face burning with embarrassment, Georgia Thorne sat in her seat, not daring to look up at Zane Lennox.

It was clearly an arranged meeting. Throughout the meal, both sets of parents showered each other with praise.

Listening to Hayley Sullivan’s praise, Georgia felt goosebumps break out all over her skin.

The same person who usually treated her as worthless was now describing her as if she were a one-of-a-kind treasure.

Zachary Lennox and his wife, Meghan Everett, kept watching Georgia and nodding, seemingly very satisfied.

Zachary Lennox spoke up, "Georgia, you went to Portmire U too?"

"Portmire U? What a coincidence! Our Zane went to Portmire U as well. Which department were you in?"

"The design department."

"Excellent, excellent!"

Upon hearing Georgia’s alma mater, Meghan Everett’s opinion of the young woman grew even more favorable.

The atmosphere was extremely awkward, at least in Georgia’s eyes.

Zane Lennox looked quite handsome in his black suit. No wonder Nancy Hughes idolized him.

’But compared to Elliot Sheridan, he was missing... something.’

’Maturity? Sex appeal?’

’I can’t put my finger on it. Zane just isn’t my type.’

The phone in her pocket rang. It was Nancy Hughes.

While getting dressed, she had anticipated this exact situation and asked Nancy to call her as an escape, just in case.

Georgia Thorne gave an apologetic smile and stepped out, phone in hand.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the look of disgust Zane Lennox shot in her direction.

After Georgia left, Zane Lennox put down his utensils and said with a smile, "Georgia and I go way back. I’m actually quite fond of her."

These were the words both sets of parents were eager to hear.

For Georgia to end up with Zane would be the best possible outcome.

Georgia answered the call, said she was fine, and then hung up.

’I’m not interested in Zane. Under the circumstances, the only thing to do is make him dislike me as much as possible.’

She had already been out for ten minutes. Georgia, in her high heels, started walking toward the exit.

’I don’t want to go back yet.’

Zane Lennox was used to hearing his buddies talk about these kinds of thinly-veiled arranged dates, but he never expected it to happen to him.

’Who would have thought? Georgia Thorne’s background is anything but ordinary.’

Zane had helped his father with some company business from time to time, so he’d heard plenty about the Thorne Family.

A year ago, the Thorne Family was on the verge of bankruptcy. But after Amanda Thorne got involved with Elliot Sheridan, the family made a sudden comeback.

’That’s why I’m sitting at the same table as Georgia Thorne today.’

He couldn’t help but recall the incident from a while back when Georgia had been hit by that ball. It only confirmed his suspicions.

’She must have done it on purpose.’

Zane Lennox stepped out of the private room and saw Georgia Thorne walking toward the exit.

’She finished her call, but she’s still not back. What game is she playing?’

Curious, he followed her. He saw her standing by the entrance in the cold wind, shivering uncontrollably, yet showing no intention of coming back inside.

’Is she waiting for someone?’

Georgia stood freezing outside for a while. ’This dress looks gorgeous, but it offers zero warmth,’ she thought.

She couldn’t take it anymore after just ten minutes.

’I should go back in and find somewhere warm.’

As she turned around, she saw Zane Lennox standing not far behind her.

The man was striding toward her. She didn’t want to confront him.

But Zane’s gaze was fixed on her. There was clearly no escape!

’Since I can’t avoid him, I’ll just have to face him.’

She forced a smile. "What are you doing out here?"

Georgia thought her tone was perfectly pleasant, but Zane’s expression soured instantly. "Georgia Thorne, give it up. I will never marry you!"

Georgia was speechless.

’The way he said it, you’d think I was desperate to marry him.’

Georgia was about to explain when she heard the DING of an elevator. Among the men who stepped out, her eyes immediately locked onto one who was breathtakingly handsome.

She instinctively wanted to hide, not wanting him to misunderstand her relationship with Zane.

"Sorry, I’ve been out here for a long time!"

Zane’s back was to the elevator. He just felt like Georgia had set him up, and in his anger, he completely missed the look in her eyes.

He grabbed her slender wrist. "Don’t tell me this wasn’t on purpose!"

The forceful pull made her pinned-up hair come loose, her hair accessory clattering to the floor.

A dull ache spread through her captured wrist. Georgia glanced at the group of people nearby out of the corner of her eye.

Evidently, Elliot Sheridan had seen her too. His gaze was fixed on her.

His deep, dark eyes held an indescribable gloom. He was angry.

Georgia’s heart trembled. She struggled out of Zane’s grip. "What are you talking about!"

"Heh," Zane scoffed. "Are you really that stupid, or just playing dumb? You can’t understand what I’m saying? Getting hit by my ball that day—wasn’t that on purpose? Didn’t you already know we were having this meeting today!"

"You’re being completely unreasonable!"

Feeling that gaze on her grow darker and darker, Georgia felt her heart was about to leap out of her chest. ’I’m going to lose my mind.’

She violently shook off Zane’s hand and hurried back toward the private room.

Zane stood rooted to the spot, glaring angrily at Georgia’s retreating back. ’So she’s even angrier than I am?’

’I’m the one who was set up here!’

Pausing frantically at the door to the private room, Georgia felt the phone clutched in her palm begin to ring.

It was Elliot Sheridan.

She glanced behind her. Zane hadn’t followed.

She hastily answered, only to hear Elliot Sheridan’s deeply displeased voice on the other end. "Get out here."

She didn’t even get a chance to say a word of explanation before he hung up.

Inside the private room, Jared Thorne and the others were chatting happily with Zane’s parents.

Both sets of parents guessed that since Georgia and Zane knew each other, they might have already hit it off. They had been gone for so long; the two youngsters must have stepped out because they felt awkward talking with all the old folks around.

But then they saw Georgia enter alone. Meghan Everett glanced behind her but didn’t see her son. She was about to speak when Zane followed Georgia in.

They had left one after another and returned the same way. They must have snuck away for a private chat.

Georgia had no idea what they were thinking. She had indeed spoken with Zane, but it was nothing like what they were imagining.

"I’m sorry, I just remembered I have an urgent school assignment I haven’t finished. I have to go back now!"

Georgia quickly grabbed her coat and bag from her chair. Without daring to look at Jared Thorne or Hayley Sullivan’s expressions, she rushed toward the exit.

Meghan Everett, who had taken quite a liking to a girl like Georgia, told her son to escort her. "Zane, don’t you two go to the same university? Why don’t you see Georgia home!"

Georgia was about to say it wasn’t necessary, but Zane was already striding out the door.

The two of them entered the elevator in silence. Georgia was trying to figure out how to get rid of Zane.

The elevator doors opened with a DING. Zane said coldly, "No matter what tricks you pull in the future, I will never like you, much less marry you!"

’Perfect!’

Georgia pursed her lips, watching Zane walk away quickly. She let out a sigh of relief.

Outside the hotel, she watched Zane’s car drive off into the distance before she dared to look for Elliot Sheridan’s car.

It was an inconspicuous black sedan. Georgia recognized the license plate and quickly got in.

She had been with Elliot Sheridan for a year now. She was already intimately familiar with the man’s scent.