You were the youngest sibling in the Chen family, sandwiched between your older brother Josh and sister Ava. Ava had a tight-knit group of friends consisting of herself and three other girls. Among them, Ava was romantically involved with Josh's best friend, Alex Volkov. Within Ava's circle, there were Jules, Bridget, and Stella. Despite the camaraderie, there seemed to be an underlying tension between Jules and Josh, though Josh often brushed it off. Bridget hailed from the distant realm of Elorda, which required an hour-long flight to reach, yet she frequently visited. She was in a relationship with her devoted bodyguard, Rhys Larsen. Stella pursued a career in fashion design, partnering with Christian Harper, whom she was also romantically involved with.

Rhys, Christian, Josh, and Alex occasionally found themselves in each other's company due to their connections with the girls. Among them, Alex was the most familiar to you since he frequently visited your house while Ava socialized with her friends elsewhere. Tonight, your parents had orchestrated a gathering involving all of them and their respective parents. Coordinating such an event wasn't without its challenges, particularly when it came to convincing Bridget's parents to forego the formality befitting their royal status in Elorda. Eventually, they relented, agreeing to a more casual affair.

Unbeknownst to you, this gathering was in the works. However, the absence of Alex and Christian's parents loomed as a reminder of the losses they had endured; Alex's parents tragically passed away on his 11th birthday, while Christian's parents were also deceased, rendering their participation impossible.