Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

Seeing Grant take a step back, Taylor grinned and said, "If he ever lets me down, I'll handle him myself."

Isaac tried to keep a steady face. "Thanks, big brother. I promise I'll treat Taylor right." But inside, he was still rattled. The kick Grant had landed on his chest throbbed painfully, and he was pretty sure a few ribs were cracked. If he'd taken a few more hits, he wouldn't have died, but he'd definitely be laid up in the hospital for months.

Isaac glanced at Connor and Chloe, his eyes brimming with gratitude. Finally, the crowd started to thin out. Taylor and Isaac headed to the dance floor.

Connor looked Chloe up and down. "You look absolutely stunning tonight, honey."

Chloe flicked her hair back playfully. "When don't I?"

Connor's lips curved into a smile as he noticed two sets of eyes locked on them - one was Grant's, the other was Diana's. He frowned slightly.

He said, "It's your friend's birthday. Aren't you going to ask him for a dance?"

Chloe chuckled, "My friend only knows how to fight, not dance." But she quickly caught on that Connor was looking for an excuse to talk to Diana.

Chloe said, "Alright, I'll go see if I can get him to dance. Let's see if he turns me down."

Once Chloe was gone, Connor made his way over to Diana, who was sitting alone on a couch in the corner. She was quietly watching the crowd, her eyes showing glimpses of loneliness and, at times, resentment.

In the past, she was always the star of these gatherings, her dancing leaving everyone in awe. But now, she felt like a shadow of her former self. The loss of her legs was hard, but even harder was the emptiness she felt since Connor had withdrawn from her life, like she was perpetually submerged inicy water, feeling the world's cold shoulder.

When Connor walked toward her, a small flicker of hope and anticipation sparked in her heart. But his cold, indifferent expression quickly doused that warmth. Still, as Connor stopped in front of her, Diana managed a big smile. "Uncle Connor, I thought you'd never speak to me again." "Diana, what are you up to now?" Connor asked.

Hearing this, Diana felt like she was being plunged into icy water all over again. She let out a bitter laugh. "Uncle Connor, you never used to talk to me like that." He used to say, "Our Diana is the cutest."

It hadn't even been a year since

those days, yet to Diana, it felt like an eternity. Why was it that everyone else seemed to move on so easily while she was stuck in the past? The kindness, the tenderness, the special way Connor treated her had become a cage, trapping her in memories she couldn't shake off, even if she wanted to.

"Miss Gilbert didn't invite you, did she? So, what's your reason for crashing the party?" Connor had checked the guest list when Chloe received her invitation and Diana's name wasn't on it. Of course, he wasn't surprised she was here. The Dove Hotel was owned by the secondary branch of the Gilbert family, a gift from Desmond to Suzanne years ago, making it Diana's turf.

So, when Chloe spotted Diana here, Connor couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. Miss Gilbert had just returned to the country and wasn't aware of the past entanglements.