Wrong room, right moment..

Meanwhile Robert was irritated by Hailey's incessant bombardment of questions. But when he saw how worried Eliza was, he reigned in his impatience and told her, "It was Eli."

"Eli?" Hailey frowned. That witch again? Despite her inner thoughts, she pretended to be worried and blamed herself. "I'm sorry, Eli. It was all my fault. You can go back to Eli. Will she forgive us that way?"

"What are you talking about? Who do you think I am? I'm a human being, not a thing. Plus, don't you know how I feel about Eli? I've always thought of her as my sister. You're the person I love!" Robert pulled Hailey into his arms and patted her back gently. "Don't ever say that again!"

Hailey smiled smugly when she heard his response. However, she said, "What about Eli? I think she had misunderstood us badly. I've never wanted to hurt her."

"Let's talk about this later on. I can't believe she had the audacity to call the cops on me."

"You mean Eli was the one who called the police?" Hailey asked. She shook her head dubiously and continued, "I don't believe you. Eli isn't someone like that. She likes you a lot, right?"

"She likes me?" Robert scoffed, "I saw her getting out of a luxury car. The owner of the car was obviously rich. Eli kept saying we hurt her, but that was merely her excuse. She must've been secretly dating another man all along."

Hailey was stunned as confusion flashed across her eyes. Her heart was full of hatred. She thought the person Eli loved the most was Robert. For the past year, she deliberately crossed paths with Robert so that the man would notice her and fall in love with her.

Hailey not only confident with her looks, but she was also good at putting up a front and presenting herself as a sweet, pure woman. She was popular in the entertainment industry - there were plenty of people who were obsessed with her. So, she was certain that Robert would fall for her instead of that dull woman.

Everything went well. Hailey thought that she had humiliated Eli badly and had thoroughly crushed her younger sister under her foot, but now Robert was telling he that Eli had found herself another wealthy man? No, this couldn't be it!

-----

Eliza was having the time of her life, basking in the warm atmosphere of the gathering. The drinks had taken their toll, leaving her feeling a bit tipsy. But for a fleeting moment, the pain of Robert's betrayal resurfaced, casting a shadow over her joy.

Damon noticed the sudden change in her expression. "What's wrong? Isn't the barbecue to your liking?" he asked.

Eliza shook her head, trying to brush off the unwanted memory. "No, no... I just felt a little..."

Natalie intervened, pouring Eliza another glass. "Here, have this!"

But Damon swiftly took the glass away. "She's already had enough."

Eliza protested, taking the glass back and downing its contents in one swift motion. "I can handle it."

Natalie reassured the group, "Don't worry, girls! My uncle Jacob will make sure you all get home safely tomorrow, so enjoy yourselves!"

Jacob, who had been quietly observing the scene, shook his head good-naturedly. "Why are you acting like you won't see us for a year?" he teased Natalie.

Natalie shot him a playful glance. "Because I'll be lonely there, so I'm making the most of our time together. Is that a problem?"

Jacob smiled warmly. "Not at all. I'm enjoying it too."

It was already past midnight, and the night was winding down. Natalie had succumbed to her drinks and was fast asleep. Eliza, on the other hand, was struggling to stay upright, her legs feeling heavy and uncoordinated as she stumbled around.

"Hey, wake up!" Jacob tried to rouse Natalie, but she didn't budge.

"Brother, just get her to her room," Damon suggested, before turning his attention to Eliza. He gently took her arm, steadying her as she walked with an unsteady gait.

Damon then woke up the other girls, who were also feeling the effects of the night's festivities, and arranged for them to get home safely.

Dexter instructed that Eliza should wait until he returned. But Eliza, parched and disoriented, stumbled to the room in search of water. Her face was flushed a deep red, a telltale sign that she was pretty drunk.

She stumbled into someone's room, mistakenly thinking it was her own. "Wait, I think I locked it before," she slurred to herself, confused to find the door unlocked. Shrugging it off, she stepped inside.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she spotted a bottle, and she began gulping its contents. Blindly, she turned around, and her body jolted as she collided with a hard, masculine body.

Water droplets dripped from him onto her hand, indicating he'd just emerged from the bathroom. The proximity was overwhelming, and she felt the damp heat radiating from him, enveloping her in a sensual aura.

Her eyes struggled to open, and when they did, she met the stranger's gaze. The room spun, and her mind reeled with embarrassment and curiosity.