Ethan showed no concern when he saw Elizabeth. His tone was flat. "It's late. Shouldn't you be asleep? Don't you have class tomorrow?"

"What am I to you, Ethan?" she asked him then.

She was only seventeen. She didn't understand why she was losing her composure like this.

She was strangely calm. Not her usual pampered self. She was even willing to believe Ethan's encounter with that actress was just an accident.

Later, she realized she didn't throw a fit because she didn't want him to hate her.

But that night, Ethan's answer was casual. Utterly without hesitation. "My niece."

"But, last night..." Elizabeth whispered.

"Last night?" Ethan chuckled. His eyes held no warmth. "I was drunk."

"No, you weren't!" Elizabeth cried out. She knew he couldn't handle his liquor. He always avoided getting drunk!

"Fine, I wasn't." His gaze was cool as he watched her tears fall. "I didn't want to take advantage. But I'm twenty-two. A grown man. It's hard to refuse when a woman throws herself at me."

He finished indifferently. "Just forget it happened."

Forget it?!

He couldn't refuse any woman?!

Elizabeth's heart shattered. A miserable sound escaped her. "That was my first kiss..."

"Sorry," Ethan said. As if it meant nothing.

Even then, she dared to ask. "Don't you love me?"

She breathed the words with desperate hope. Her eyes were full of longing.

She had mustered every ounce of her courage to ask.

Ethan's reply was ice. Immediate and final.

"No. I don't. Not even when we were children. I live on charity. All I can do is pretend to smile."

Not even as a child? He lived on charity?!

So her entire childhood had been a lie.

He never loved her. All his kindness was an act.

Elizabeth laughed through her tears. She was a complete joke.

Just like she was now.

How could she ever expect anything from Ethan?

So she listened coolly as everyone discussed Ethan and Amanda. She sat through the fashion gala with detached nonchalance. When the hosts called her onstage, she joked easily. She flashed her signature dazzling smile.

The gala ended at midnight. The usual interview session followed.

Guests began leaving in an orderly stream.

But the journalists erupted the moment Elizabeth appeared. Chaos ensued. They mobbed her instantly.

Every other star was ignored. Including Amanda, who felt a wave of disgust at the press's favoritism.

Amanda knew the press wouldn't care about anyone else if Elizabeth was present. Coming here was just asking for humiliation.

Still, Amanda found the gala worthwhile. Because of what Ethan had done for her. In full public view.

As she slowly passed the crowd of journalists, she heard their excited, probing questions bombarding Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth York! Is the man in those photos your boyfriend? The physical intimacy is undeniable!"

"Who is he? Is he in the industry? Are you two dating?"

"When did the relationship start? How long has this been going on? Weren't you just interviewed claiming you were single and unavailable?"

"The forums are speculating he's your financial backer, Elizabeth. Is he the reason your career has been so smooth?!"

Elizabeth was genuinely perplexed by the journalists' questions. A vague understanding dawned.

Someone must have taken photos of her!