Clara Harper's father arranged a matchmaking meeting for her, keeping the identity of the suitor a secret. He wanted Clara to judge him based on her first impression and true feelings. The two families agreed to meet at a high-end Chinese restaurant, Jade Dragon, a place known for its elegance and privacy. The other family arrived earlier and were already waiting at the reserved private room, ensuring the meeting would be intimate and undisturbed.
When Clara walked in, her heart nearly stopped. Sitting at the table was none other than Liam Reynolds, the boy she had secretly admired since childhood. Her heart began to race, and her face flushed with a mix of shock and embarrassment. Liam glanced at her and gave a polite nod, which Clara shyly returned, her hands trembling slightly as she took her seat.
"Mr. Harper!" Liam's father, the distinguished Mr. Reynolds, rose from his seat with effortless grace and extended a hand in greeting. "Mr. Reynolds," Clara's father replied, taking the offered hand. His handshake was firm, but Clara noticed a slight tremble. Her brow furrowed with quiet worry.
"And you must be Clara," Mr. Reynolds said with a warm smile. "What a beautiful and poised young lady."
Clara's cheeks burned. "Thank you, sir," she mumbled, wishing her makeup could hide the sudden blush spreading all the way to her hairline.
The private dining room at Jade Dragon seemed to shrink around her, the scent of steaming dim sum and jasmine tea suddenly overwhelming.
Across the table sat Liam, he was calm, straight-backed, and polished in a navy suit. He looked exactly how she remembered from campus, though she had only ever seen him from afar, sneaking glances whenever she passed him.
Now, seeing him this close for the first time, her heart wouldn't stop racing.
Their eyes met. Liam caught her looking and gave her a friendly smile, nodding in quiet acknowledgment. Clara quickly looked down, cheeks warm.
"Mr. Reynolds turned to Clara with a warm smile. "So, Clara, where are you studying now?"
"I'm at Halewood University Business School, Year 2 student now," she said softly, still avoiding Liam's eyes.
Liam perked up. "Really? I'm there too."
"What a remarkable coincidence!" Mr. Reynolds said, raising his teacup with a laugh.
Liam casually asked, "What's your major?"
"Business Analytics," she answered, stealing a glance at him before quickly looking away.
"I'm majoring in Economics," he responded, nodding slightly. "We're probably in the same building most days."
Clara gave a small, polite smile. "Yeah… " Liam never knew she had been looking out for him every other day at the campus.
The two fathers shifted smoothly into business talk, trading updates on recent deals, mutual contacts, and market trends. Their voices grew more animated, laughter occasionally punctuating terms Clara only half understood.
A server refilled her tea, the steaming liquid swirling dangerously close to the rim as realization dawned: their fathers weren't just acquaintances, but longstanding business partners. This explained how her father is able to arrange a matchmaking session with the Reynolds.
Questions swirled in Clara's mind, stirring a growing unease in her chest. Had Liam's parents pushed him into this? Did he even know it was a matchmaking dinner before he arrived? She imagined him going along with it out of obligation, his friendly smile just a mask for quiet discomfort. The thought made her stomach twist. Embarrassment, doubt, and a flicker of disappointment settled over her like a fog she couldn't shake.
Later in the dinner, just as dessert arrived, Clara's father gently set down his teacup with a soft clink. He took a deep breath, the lines on his face deepening as he turned to Mr. Reynolds.
"There's something I need to share," he said quietly, his voice carrying a hint of something long held back. The room seemed to fall still.
"I don't know if I can beat this illness… or how much time I have left." His words hung heavy in the air. "That's why I've been thinking more about the future, especially Clara's. Of course, I want her to be happy. But more than that, I want to know she'll be safe, looked after… not alone. She's my only daughter. My pride. My light."
He looked at Clara then, and she caught the shimmer in his eyes, something she rarely saw, even in their most tender moments.
"I want her to marry someone who can share her joys, support her, and maybe even help carry on what I've built with Harper Group. And seeing Liam here tonight, seeing the man he is" He turned to Liam with genuine warmth. "I'm truly content. I hope he can fulfill this one wish of mine."
Then, to Clara's surprise, her father bowed his head deeply. The simple act hit her hard, stealing her breath. Tears welled in her eyes, her throat tightening with emotion she hadn't seen coming. Her father, the strong, steady man who always seemed unshakable, was suddenly vulnerable, and it broke something open inside her. She blinked quickly, trying not to cry, but the warmth in her eyes wouldn't go away.
Across the table, Mr. Reynolds gave a small nod, his expression softening. "Mr. Harper, I understand," he said gently. "And I want the same. But I also believe Liam should choose his own partner. I won't force him even for a match as promising as this."
Mr Reynolds turned to Liam with a faint smile, eyes filled with quiet trust. All attention shifted. For a moment, the table seemed to hold its breath.
Liam, who had been quietly observing, finally leaned forward. He didn't look at his father or the future being discussed. His gaze went straight to Clara.
"I think," he said calmly, "before we talk about marriage or expectations, Clara and I should get to know each other first. Just as ourselves."
His voice was respectful and steady but something deeper lingered beneath it. A quiet stand, or maybe… an invitation.
Clara's heart skipped. She had expected rejection like a kind, polite no from someone like Liam. But his words caught her off guard, leaving her both uncertain and moved. The tightness that had gripped her all evening started to ease, just a little.
After dinner, their parents, whether to give them space or simply follow a plan, suggested that Clara and Liam take a walk to talk. Outside the Jade Dragon, soft lanterns hung above the quiet street, casting a warm glow over the cobblestones and reflecting in the koi pond nearby.
Clara pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, the evening breeze brushing against her skin with a chill that felt deeper than the weather. She walked just behind Liam, unsure how to break the silence after everything said at dinner. Her father's emotional words still echoed in her mind, and Liam's calm response kept replaying like a riddle she couldn't figure out. Liam walked ahead with his hands in his pockets, relaxed but distant until he suddenly turned around. Lost in her thoughts, Clara didn't stop in time and bumped straight into his chest.
"Oh—! I'm so sorry," Clara gasped, stumbling back. But Liam was quick—his arms shot out, catching her around the waist before she could fully lose her balance. The sudden contact made her freeze, more from surprise than anything else. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat.
"You finally spoke," Liam said with a slight grin, his tone light and teasing. "You have been very quiet. "
Clara's cheeks flushed. She quickly placed her hands on his chest and stepped back, putting a little space between them again, trying to calm her racing.
"I'll just say it," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes and staring at the space between them. "I know you only said those things at dinner because you didn't want to reject my father. I get it, it was hard to speak up in front of him… and me."
Her voice shook slightly, not from fear but from the effort it took to be honest. The words hung in the air, soft and uncertain. She waited for him to confirm it, to offer a polite excuse or kind reassurance, anything that would make the truth hurt a little less.
"Your father clearly loves you a lot," Liam said softly. "He's just trying to do what he thinks is best." His voice was calm, but the way he looked at her made Clara's chest tighten. The warm light from the lanterns above softened the edges of his face, casting shadows that made him seem even more unreadable.
Clara glanced away, blinking fast. "My mom passed away when I was little," she said quietly. "It's just been me and my dad since then. He's always done his best for me even when it wasn't easy." She paused, then gave a small, strained smile. "But I shouldn't be dumping this on you. It's getting late."
She took a step back. "Thank you for walking with me. And don't worry, I'll talk to my dad. I'll tell him we're not a good match. It was… nice meeting you, Liam. Goodnight."
Before he could say a word, she turned and walked away, her footsteps fading under the streetlights, leaving Liam standing alone beneath the soft glow of lanterns Liam tucked his hands into his pockets as he stared down the street. Her words had hit deeper than he expected. He hadn't come to dinner hoping for anything, but the way she spoke with honesty and thoughtfulness stuck with him. Her walking away left a quiet emptiness he hadn't prepared for.
When Liam first saw Clara walking into the private dining room, something about her felt strangely familiar. He couldn't explain it. Maybe it was her calm posture, or the way her eyes briefly widened when they met his. Like she felt it too. She carried a quiet elegance and effortlessness and, not trying to impress anyone, just completely herself. And that, more than any polished charm, was what captivated him.
During dinner, Liam found himself watching Clara more than he expected. He observed how she quietly counted the embroidered peonies on the tablecloth when she was nervous, how she held her teacup with both hands like she was drawing comfort from it, and how her expressions shifted in the smallest, most subtle ways. Most people wouldn't have noticed, but he did. There was something sincere and calm about her, so different from the polished socialites he was used to. Clara wasn't trying to impress anyone and that only made her more captivating.
He hadn't planned to say much during dinner, but when he saw the way her shoulders tensed under the weight of everyone's expectations, something in him stirred. He had come expecting a formal dinner of matchmaking, maybe some awkward conversation. He hadn't expected her.
Standing alone under the lanterns, Liam felt a quiet ache as he realized maybe he didn't want her to walk away after all.
By the time Clara got home, she barely spoke to anyone and climbed the stairs in silence, closed her bedroom door behind her, and dropped onto her bed. The whole ride back, she'd been replaying everything on how Liam caught her, the look in his eyes, how he didn't stop her when she said goodbye.
She told herself this was for the best. Her father's illness, his desperation. It couldn't be the reason she said yes. And whatever feelings she still held for Liam, no matter how deep they ran, couldn't lead her into a decision she might regret. Turning down the marriage now meant protecting them both from disappointment, from pressure, from chasing something that was never really hers to begin with.
But even as she repeated those reasons in her head, a quiet ache settled in her chest. Her first love, her silent crush from years ago was now another memory she had to let go of.