By Zephyria 
Whether he knew or not that a capybara was burning behind him, Cassian strode right past Bliss toward Eina. It was as if he had absolutely no interest in the man left behind.
That wasn’t all. Cassian leaned down to her level and naturally shared a cheek kiss.
“It’s been a while, Cassian.”
“Yes, I’m glad to see you look healthy.”
Bliss watched with wide eyes as the two exchanged affectionate greetings. The ease with which they conversed felt almost like the familiarity of long-time lovers. That bastard dares to do this right in front of me? Bliss suppressed his rage, standing his ground and waiting. He wanted to see just how far this would go.
“Where is your partner? Surely you didn’t come alone?”
Eina asked just in time. Seeing her look around as if searching for Cassian’s partner, Bliss steeled himself and lifted his head. Right, let’s see how he introduces me this time.
Huh?
Absurdly, that moment never came. Cassian had promptly shifted his position, completely shielding Bliss from her view.
“I came alone.”
Bliss was horrified by Cassian’s following words. What the hell is this guy doing? However, the anger didn’t last long. Eina, after a brief “Is that so?”, quickly changed the subject.
“Cassian, have you thought about what we discussed before?”
Huh? What? What is it?
Just as Bliss pricked up his ears, Cassian suddenly glanced back. Bliss felt something strange about that movement, but Cassian immediately turned his gaze back to Eina and spoke.
“Let’s talk privately.”
Then, a ridiculous situation unfolded. After that brief encounter, Cassian simply walked away with Eina. Bliss, left standing alone, blinked blankly as he stared at their backs disappearing into the crowd. Gone? He’s gone? Really?
Leaving me alone?
“Ha, seriously.”
He was so dumbfounded he couldn’t even find the words. Bliss huffed, taking a deep breath. Should I just chase them and tear him apart? He clenched his fists, but something else bothered him first.
Why did he do that? He must have known that, given the positioning, I wouldn’t be able to make eye contact.
It felt like a reflexive action. If he had looked back at him unconsciously, why? Didn’t that mean he was mindful of him?
But why on earth?
With a serious expression and a deep frown, Bliss stared in the direction they had vanished. That wasn’t the end of it. There was something else strange.
Why didn’t he introduce me? He was shouting ‘Bliblair’ so loudly earlier.
Usually, only 5% of Bliss’s brain cells worked diligently while the other 95% played or rested, but once or twice a year, there were moments when 100% of his cells ran frantically. And now was one of those moments.
Could it be… he didn’t want to show me to her?
As that thought crossed his mind, something flashed. Maybe he was afraid that woman would recognize me?
What would be the problem with that?
“Hmm, hmmm.”
Bliss’s fragile brain cells worked at a fever pitch. He closed his eyes and thought over and over, his brow furrowed. What would have happened if that woman had recognized him? His plan to reveal his identity at the right time later would have gone up in smoke, right? Thinking of it that way, the bastard preventing the meeting was actually to his advantage, but…
Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, Bliss realized. If he thought about it that way, everything clicked. The way Cassian had unconsciously looked back, the reason he hadn’t introduced Bliss to Eina, the reason they left together—all of it.
That bastard definitely knows that I am Bliss Miller!
Having stepped out onto the balcony with Eina, Cassian looked back once more, feeling uneasy.
Nothing should happen.
Though he had unintentionally left Bliss alone, he intended to return soon. Surely he wouldn’t cause an accident in the meantime. Quickly checking his wristwatch, he discreetly set a timer. He planned to return in exactly five minutes. It bothered him to leave Bliss behind, but it couldn’t be helped. This wasn’t a conversation to have in a crowded space.
“So, have you thought about it? About the… investment.”
Eina asked cautiously with an awkward smile. Seeing his childhood friend like this made Cassian sigh inwardly. Eina was a good person, but she had one problem: she always liked men who were nothing special. Including himself.
Because he was aware that he wasn’t such a good person, he often felt self-deprecating whenever he saw Eina like this. This time was no different. Even as he looked down with a complex gaze at the childhood friend looking up at him with hope, images of peanut crumbs kept popping into his head.
‘Thank you for bringing me.’
He tried hard to erase Bliss’s face, but it wasn’t easy. Letting Eina’s words about the new business her lover was starting go in one ear and out the other, he continued to think only of Bliss.
He won’t suspect me for not introducing him, will he?
The reason he couldn’t confidently introduce the two was that he couldn’t ignore the possibility that Eina might recognize him. As long as he blocked Eina, there would be no problem.
He won’t remember anyway.
The probability of Bliss remembering Eina wasn’t that high. Because that guy was an idiot. Even as he consoled himself with that thought, a lingering feeling of discomfort wouldn’t disappear. Letting out a short sigh and rubbing his brow, he suddenly remembered.
That guy’s brain works surprisingly well in strange areas. Could it be…
Right, it was that woman back then, too.
Bliss gnashed his teeth, glaring in the direction where the two had disappeared. As he recalled how she had badmouthed him and his family along with Cassian, a different kind of rage surged within him. The idiot, the fool, had been himself. To think he had been grinning happily, completely forgetting why he had come all this way and gone through all this trouble.
“Ugh, dummy, dummy!”
Bliss smacked his own head with his clenched fists. The spot throbbed, but it was for the best. It woke him up.
Hmph, they’re probably stuck together again, badmouthing me or my family.
At that thought, sparks flew from his chest and eyes. I came here for revenge. I’m going to bring that bastard down to size and make him regret everything.
That bastard knew my identity all along, and I was just frolicking happily without even knowing.
Could there be a bigger fool in the world? If Grayson, Stacy, or Larien knew, they would hold their stomachs laughing, saying, “Typical Bliss.” Nathaniel would look at him with his usual pathetic expression, and Chase would pity him, which would only make it more miserable.
It’s okay. That bastard doesn’t know that I know.
I won’t do anything stupid anymore. From now on, I’ll only think of revenge. I will never fall for his sweet talk again!
Having made that vow, Bliss suddenly looked down at the drink in his hand. Seeing it, anger surged again.
Does he think I’ll fall for him just because he showed a bit of kindness?
He clearly tried to win me over, knowing exactly why he gave me this. To make me weak so I’d give up. Not a chance. I am Bliss Miller!
He wanted to throw it away right then and there, but that would only make the staff suffer. People might get hurt by the glass shards… Bliss suppressed the impulse and looked around. Just then, an employee carrying a tray of drinks passed by.
“Excuse me!”
When Bliss raised his hand, the employee approached with a gliding smile. Bliss placed the half-finished glass on the tray and picked up a new one. He chose the same drink as before simply because he had been told it contained no alcohol. Penelope had strictly warned him, so he couldn’t just drink anything.
Still, it would be a blow to my pride to keep drinking the one that bastard picked for me.
Thinking this, Bliss brought the glass filled with red liquid to his lips. Hmph, bad man. His stomach churned as he recalled the events of that day. He had to drink something to calm down. Gulp, gulp. Just as he emptied the liquid in two large swallows, something caught his eye.
…Huh?
Two waiters passed each other. Each had red drinks on their trays, but the shapes of the glasses were different. And the moment he realized the glass of the drink he just consumed was different from the first one…
“Hiccup.”
Bliss’s shoulders jerked as he looked down at the glass with a blank face.
…I think I just messed up big time.