Date with young lady.

Natalie smiled. "My friend, Eliza."

She turned to Jacob. "Eli, this is Jacob. He's a friend of my uncle's, so you can call him Uncle Jacob."

Jacob's face contorted in mock horror. "Natalie, aren't you pushing it? 'Uncle'? We're not that far apart in age. I could almost marry you."

Natalie shot back, "In your dreams!"

Jacob chuckled, shaking his head. Turning to Eliza, he asked, "Have we met before?"

Eliza thought for a moment before responding, "No, I don't think so."

Natalie interjected, her tone firm, "Nope, my friend and you have never crossed paths before."

Jacob intervened, a hint of amusement dancing on his lips. "Natalie, Damon already has a girlfriend. Don't try to set them up and become a meddling girl."

Jacob's mind wandered back to the day he saw Dexter tenderly care for a girl. He recalled the unmistakable spark in Dexter's eyes and was convinced that Dexter had taken a liking to Eliza.

Natalie dramatically closed her eyes, then snapped them open. "Uncle Jacob, don't stick your nose into everything."

She turned to Damon, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Do you already have a girlfriend?"

Damon caught Eliza's gaze before responding with a sly grin, "No, brother was just kidding."

"Who said I was trying to set them up?" Natalie said, wrapping her arm around Eliza's shoulders with a smile. "Our baby Eli is such a lovely lady. I won't approve of just any guy for her."

Eliza politely excused herself to visit the washroom. Natalie turned to Jacob, a hint of reproach in her voice. "See? You made my friend uncomfortable."

Jacob shrugged, his expression innocent. "Who, me?" he asked, his smile hinting at his denial.

Damon flashed a smile at Natalie and Jacob, who were still bickering, before excusing himself. "I'm stepping out for a bit," he said, slipping away from the group.

Eliza stepped out of the washroom to find Damon waiting for her. "I was afraid you might get lost," he said with a smile.

Eliza thanked him, and Damon began their conversation. "Eliza, about Natalie... don't get the wrong idea."

Eliza chuckled, "What are you even saying? You're more like a brother to me."

Damon smiled warmly. "Okay, and don't mind Brother Jacob. He's just a funny guy."

Damon and Eliza had been classmates in college, often hanging out together in the same social circle. Eliza had met Natalie through Damon, and despite Natalie's frequent absences while studying abroad, the two women had surprisingly become close friends. Natalie had always playfully cheered on Damon and Eliza, but deep down, they both knew it was best to maintain a platonic relationship.

"Yeah." Eliza's bright smile put Damon at ease. He cleared his throat, feeling a sense of relief. "Let's head back!"

In Jacob's private lounge, Eliza's eyes widened in surprise as she spotted Damon. She considered turning back, but Jacob caught her intention. With a charming smile, he gently nudged her forward. "Why stand there? Go in, take a seat!"

As Eliza settled into the poker table beside a lady, Jacob boasted to the others, "Dex, Fatty, look! I've found myself a beautiful lady outside the corridor." He turned to Eliza, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Ms. Tanner, do you know how to play poker?"

Eliza scanned the room, searching for Natalie, but she was nowhere to be seen. Jacob repeated his question, prompting Eliza to respond hesitantly, "I... I don't know how." Her answer came after a brief pause.

Damon intervened, "Brother, let me take part in the game. Eli, you can sit beside me and watch me play." As he spoke, Dexter shot Eliza a piercing glance.

Just then, Natalie arrived with a group of friends, but they quickly retreated upon seeing Dexter. Vience couldn't resist teasing, "Dex, not only are you a nightmare to children, but now, it seems like even women are afraid of you."

Dexter ignored Vience's jab, focusing on his hole cards as he prepared for the game.

Natalie jumped to Dexter's defense, "Mr. Vience, you're wrong. I heard from my mom that Uncle Dex had dinner with a young lady today at Beats Restaurant." She turned to Dexter, seeking confirmation. "Is that true, Uncle Dex?"

Her words sparked everyone's curiosity, and they all turned to look at Dexter, except for Eliza, who kept her head down, avoiding eye contact.

Vience's eyes widened in surprise. "A young lady?! Seriously, Dexter? Is that true?"

Meanwhile, Jacob cast a discreet glance at Eliza, who seemed to be trying to shrink under the table. Apart from Jacob, no one noticed her unusual behavior, as they never suspected she had any connection to Dexter.

Natalie's curiosity got the better of her. "Uncle Dex, I'm intrigued. Someone saw you at the restaurant with a young lady, but unfortunately, he didn't know who she was. When he told my mom, he kept emphasizing that she looked very young." Natalie's voice trailed off, and she asked hesitantly, "Uncle Dex, are you... dating someone underage?"

Dexter remained silent, his expression unreadable. He placed his hole cards face down on the table and commanded, "Start the game!" The abrupt order served as a clear warning, indicating that he refused to answer any more questions.

Although the others were disappointed that they couldn't pry an answer out of him, Natalie didn't dare to press the issue further.

Eliza, on the other hand, looked pale and shaken, her eyes fixed blankly on some distant point. For some reason, she couldn't muster the courage to lift her gaze, her head remaining bowed in silence.