Chapter 13:

Some girls were moved to tears, wishing they were Yuna. Yuna smiled, then looked at Luke kneeling before her, hand on his chest. With a playful expression, she teased, "Who gave you the confidence, Luke? In what aspect do you think you're worthy of me?"

"Capability? The Bertrands have money, but you're just a spoiled rich kid who inherited it. Even with their connections, you haven't made a name for yourself. Family business? The Bertrands' assets aren't comparable to a branch of the Lawsons. So, who gave you the courage? Who gave you the confidence?" Yuna's voice echoed. Luke was dumbfounded.

This isn't how this is supposed to play out, he thought. Didn't you invite me and my whole class to the birthday banquet because you like me? You even waited for me at the entrance. Why are you rejecting me? Stunned, he remained kneeling, dazed and belittled.

"Haha" A murmur rippled through the crowd. "I heard Luke has been pursuing Yuna for a long time, even sending flowers to Longevity Pharmaceuticals, only to be repeatedly rejected. I can't believe he confessed at her birthday banquet! Does he really not know the gap between the Bertrands and the Lawsons?" "Right? Yuna didn't even bother with Bryan Grayson, let alone Luke." Luke, hearing the whispers, grew anxious and sweated profusely. "Yuna, this isn't right. You must be testing me. I'm not angry, not at all."

"Get lost."

Yuna didn't want to waste time. He'd sent flowers to her company repeatedly, only to be turned away each time. She hadn't expected him to be Thea's classmate. She'd invited Thea only to ensure James's attendance at her banquet. She knew James wouldn't come unless Thea was invited, so she'd gone to great lengths to include Thea's entire class.

"Yuna, y-you shouldn't do this. Am I not worthy of you? I'm handsome; my looks aren't inferior to those famous celebrities."

"I don't like self-righteous boys."

"Then what do you like? I—I'll change" Luke, still kneeling before the watching crowd, stammered in embarrassment.

"Huh? What do I like?" Yuna looked around the room, her gaze finally settling on James, dressed simply, sitting on a corner sofa playing a mobile game. Her expression softened. She pointed at him. "I like someone like that."

All eyes followed her finger. They saw James, calmly playing his game. The crowd was stunned.

She likes someone like James? The executive chairman of Longevity Pharmaceuticals likes a live-in son-in-law like James?

Luke, understanding, blurted, "Yuna, I can do that too! I can marry into the Lawsons and be a live-in son-in-law!" He assumed, given Yuna's prominent family, she'd want her husband to marry into the Lawsons.

"Pfft!" Luke's words erupted in laughter. Yuna, however, glanced at James and said seriously, "You've misunderstood. I don't like a man who wants to marry into my family. I like a man like James. Even surrounded by prominent figures, he calmly plays his game."

Her words left everyone speechless. Thea, beside her, was jealous and resentful. "Yuna, are you trying to steal my husband?"

"Yeah. Can I?" Yuna winked.

Thea froze, instantly grasping Yuna's intention. Yuna's finding an excuse to reject Luke, she thought.

"You can have him if you like. My husband's quite useless; keeping him costs a fortune!" Thea played along, smiling.