After the shower, Diana wrapped herself in a towel and made her way back to the dormitory.

Ready to get dressed, Diana walked to the cabinet to take the evening dress. But when she opened the door, it was gone! There was nothing inside! A sharp panic swiftly overwhelmed her. She put the dress in the cabinet just a few hours ago! Where had it gone?

With time ticking, Diana desperately searched the dormitory, but everywhere she looked, there was no sign of the dress.

The dinner party was due to start very soon. With no other option, Diana quickly pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and ran downstairs to the dormitory manager to check the surveillance video. She wanted to confirm whether someone had entered the dorm whilst she was gone.

Meanwhile, at the dinner party, Brian kept checking his watch with an increasingly glum face. Sybil stood beside her brother and was worried as well, "Brian, did something happen to Diana?"

Brian didn't answer her instead of adjusting his tie and taking a glass of water to ease his irritable feeling. He had told Diana the time for the party. Why had she not shown up yet?

Sybil was less patient. "I'm going to check if Diana has arrived." She then got up and left the room, leaving Brian to fume silently on his own.

Diana was getting more and more frustrated. She checked the video again and again, but no one had entered her dorm except Antonette.

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Diana spotted Antonette coming down the steps of their dormitory building, wearing a nice dress. This instantly made Diana suspicious. Antonette had told her that she was staying in. So why was she now going out?

Diana kept a careful eye on Antonette, but there was nothing in her hands.

With time running out, Diana was forced to put her suspicions to one side.  "What time is it now?" she asked the dormitory manager.

The dormitory manager glanced at his phone, "6:30 p.m."

Diana's stomach dropped as she heard the time. The dinner party was about to start! Diana immediately sprinted out of the office and headed to the school taxi rank.

Sybil had been waiting for a long time at the gate to the William family house. But still, there was no sign of Diana.

Having been as patient as she could, she was finally forced to give up and come inside.

With a cup of wine in hand, Carol gracefully sat down beside Brian.

"Brian, the dinner party is about to begin."

"Yes, it is." Brian nodded his head, perfunctorily. He was in no mood to talk with anyone.

Seeing his lack of interest, Carol considerately asked him, "Are you waiting for someone?"

Brian gave no credence to her caring voice and kept his gaze fixed firmly on the glass of red wine in his hand.

With Carol sitting in a sulk at Brian's behavior, Simon William came over to greet them.

"The dinner party has already begun. Why are you staying over here?"

Simon's voice carried a hint of anger.

The watch on Brian's wrist displayed 6:40 p.m.

And Carol was looking at him with eager expectations.

He looked outside once more to check if Diana had arrived. To his disappointment, no one was there.

Finally, Brian had to give up and took Carol's hand.

Just as they were standing up to go into the party, the sound of Sybil's excited voice came from the hall.

"Diana!"

Diana rushed in through the open front door, panting as she arrived.

"Sybil, I forgot to bring any money. Could you help me pay for the taxi? I'll give you back the money tomorrow."

"Sure. Hurry up. The party has already started." Sybil said.

Suddenly Sybil noticed what Diana was wearing.

"Diana, how could you come here in a T-shirt?" she exclaimed.

"I'll explain to you later. Now, I need to see Brian."

With that, Diana ran into the house.

Brian paused after hearing Diana's name, and he looked hopefully in the direction of the sound. This sent Carol into a wave of embarrassment.

Seeing Diana come over, Brian frowned heavily.

"What's wrong with your clothes? Why didn't you wear the evening dress I prepared for you?"

"Please don't mention that. I somehow lost the dress; that's why I'm late!"

The dinner party was warming up, and it was Brian's turn to make a speech. Without hesitation, Brian took Diana's hand and went up to the stage.

Carol was left cast aside, her outstretched hand cruelly ignored. Brian only had eyes for Diana.

A buzz spread through the crowd as they witnessed Carol's humiliation.

Her eyes filled with tears, and she left in great distress.

Simon immediately followed her out, "Carol, Carol!" he shouted, trying to calm her down.

On his way out, Simon flashed Brian a ferocious stare.

Diana felt very guilty after seeing the look on Simon's face.

"Your father looks like he wants to kill us!"

However, Brian was not afraid of his father.

"I'm with you. You have nothing to worry about."

Diana found it hard to feel grateful, after all, it was Brian's fault that his father was angry. That said, she appreciated Brian's caring words.

Outside the house, Carol ran down the long driveway and out onto the street, the thought of escaping the only thing on her mind.

As she paused for a moment on the road, in her absentmindedness, she was completely oblivious to the large truck, hurtling towards her at a terrific speed.

By the time Carol came to her senses, it was already too late. There were just ten meters between her and the truck; it was too late for the driver to avoid her.

Gripped by fear, Carol closed her eyes tightly and prayed it would all be over quickly.

However, at the last second, a tall figure threw themselves at Carol, bundling her over and out the way of the passing truck. Carol fell into the arms of the man, and they rolled together on the ground before coming to a halt on the side of the road.

Carol was totally dumbstruck. There was a dull look in her eyes, and her mind went blank. She looked around in a daze until a warm voice brought her back to life.

"Are you okay?"

"Thank….thank you very much. I'm okay, I think…"

Carol slowly came to, as if awakening from a dream.

Finally, Simon ran over to check on Carol.

"Are you okay?" he asked tentatively.

"I'm fine. But what your son did to me tonight was a disgrace."

"Miss Jefferson, I assure you, I will teach him how to be a man." Simon smiled obsequiously.

Carol was indifferent to his concern and, above all, angry.

After the party, she had realized one thing, it was time to forget Brian; he clearly didn't have any affection for her at all.

She was Carol Jefferson, the princess of the Jefferson family. She deserved a better man!

Simon then turned to the man who had saved Carol.

"Kyle, thank you so much for your saving, Miss Jefferson."

Kyle. His name was Kyle! What a nice name, Carol thought. She looked at him properly and noticed he was rather handsome too.

"Thank you so much," Carol said, her face slowly blushing at the sight of her good-looking savior.