“I’m sorry, but I really can’t recall, probably because I was more of a bookworm back then,” said Arianne embarrassedly as she smiled.However, Mateo did not seem to mind. “It’s fine, there were so many people in the university, so it’s perfectly normal that you wouldn’t notice me. I suppose it’s a kind of fate that we were in the same university previously.”At the dining table, they chatted happily and had a lot of common topics to talk about.After they were done eating, Arianne announced that she had to leave first. She had to pay more attention to Smore since he was going to attend school soon. Before Melanie or Tiffany could offer to send her back, Mateo took the lead and said, “I’ll send you home and come back to meet up with Melanie and Tiffany later on. It was so difficult to meet some of my acquaintances ever since I returned to the country; it’s boring, staying at home alone.”Mateo’s character made it really hard for others to reject his offer, so Arianne nodded her hea
The more Mark listened to Arianne, the more he felt that something had changed. “What’s gotten into you? Previously you wouldn’t even utter a swear word, yet now you’re able to say it so casually?”Arianne recalled what she had just said and realized that there was nothing wrong with it. “Is there a problem? Wasn’t I speaking the truth? It’s only the two of us here, so is there a need to be reserved in our speech?”Mark raised his hand and helplessly pinched Arianne’s cheeks. “All right, I’m heading to the company now. You’re only allowed to say such things to me, but you can’t go around saying it to others casually.”As she watched Mark walk further and further away, Arianne rubbed her cheeks, which had been pinched by him and still carried his warmth. ‘I’ve managed to make him yield to me after all.’At night, Melanie gave her a call to tell her that Mateo’s restaurant was going to open up officially and he had invited them to come there together.Arianne was definitely not goin
Both Tiffany and Arianne loved Chinese dishes, so Tiffany began to preach as she said, “I’ll come here whenever I feel like having Chinese dishes in the future. I just really like the food here. I’m not going to eat for free though. The food here is absolutely delicious!”Mateo was only able to find some time to greet the trio when they were halfway done with their food. “I’m so sorry, I was held up with work just now. Please order whatever you want, don’t be shy. I’ve also told the kitchen to give your table the best treatment; your food will be prioritised when it’s being served so you don’t have to wait for too long.”Tiffany jokingly said, “You’re such a nice guy…”Then, Mateo blinked his eyes at her. “Why, of course, I’ve got to take care of my friends. You’re Melanie’s friends, so you’re my friends as well. There’s no need to stand on ceremony. I’m going to go back now, enjoy your meal.”As they watched Mateo leave, Tiffany whispered, “Melanie, does he fancy you? Or did he… f
Jett went in headstrong as he answered, “I’m… not sure what Madam likes. Shouldn’t you be clearer about that than me?”Alejandro’s face turned eerily dark. “I do know, but… I don’t want to jump to conclusions, which is why I’m asking. In that case, I suppose it’s true then? No wonder she’s so adamant on divorcing me. In the past, no matter how big of an error I made, I neither laid a finger on her, nor wronged her in any way. She’s now asking for a divorce while Mateo has returned so coincidentally. If it were you, what would you think of it?”However, Jett chose to remain silent. He did not think that Melanie was that kind of person, but Alejandro’s assumption was rather logical as well. Hence, he did not know whose side he should be on.When Alejandro realized that he would not receive the answer he wanted from Jett, he stopped asking any further.Finally, Jett was able to heave a sigh of relief. He then helped Alejandro clear out the ashtray that was completely filled.It was 3
‘Divorce, again with the divorce!’Alejandro flung his hand away from her and slammed the door as he left. ‘I get so frustrated every time she brings up the divorce!’Alejandro immediately headed to his office, since it would be more peaceful than staying at home.However, Alejandro still could not calm down even after he arrived at his office. He called out to Jett. “Go tell Mateo that I would like to meet him. If he doesn’t dare meet me in private, something’s definitely wrong with him! I don’t care whether you have to tie him up or whatsoever. ‘Invite’ him over whatever the cost!”Jett was slightly hesitant. “Sir, I don’t think it would be a good idea to bring him over to the office, would it? There are too many eyes around here, so if word gets out to Madam…”Jett’s words had sent Alejandro a reminder. “I must be clouded by anger to not have thought of it myself. Set up the meet at a place then. Also, be discreet about it. I don’t want Melanie to find out about it, at least un
‘Exhausted you say? Melanie did say that as well…’Alejandro extinguished the cigarette in his hands and suddenly leaped up to grab onto Mateo’s collar. “Don’t you dare put that expression on your face as if you know her very well!”Mateo calmly released himself from Alejandro’s grasps. “I don’t know her very well, just a little bit more than you do, that’s all. I came back because of someone, but it’s not her, so you can be rest assured.”This time, Alejandro did not have Jett stop Mateo when he tried to leave. Before Mateo left, he told them that he wouldn’t tell Melanie about their meeting.The next day.Arianne got off work in the afternoon and had intended on inviting Mark to Mateo’s Cantonese restaurant for lunch, but she ended up having to go alone, since he had sudden business to attend to.Unsurprisingly, during the second day of the restaurant’s opening, business was still booming similar to the first day. However, Arianne was lucky that she could be served, so she chos
Arianne was slightly surprised. ‘The woman’s already married and has a child, yet Mateo still came all this way especially for her. Why does he sound like he’s planning to steal the woman?’ However, Arianne did not dare to voice her thoughts, so she could only be as subtle as possible. “She… She’s already married and has a child? In that case… What kind of outcome are you hoping for? Could it be… you’re hoping for her to get a divorce and be with you?”However, Mateo merely shook his head. “I don’t expect her to be with me. In the past, just one look at her was enough to make me want to protect her, yet I kept stopping myself from doing so. I’ve waited for a hug from her for so many years… All I want is just a hug. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”Arianne heaved a sigh of relief. “Just a hug? That’s easy. Since she’s the light of your life, then I’m sure the two of you know each other. Therefore, since the two of you have known each other for so many years, I’m sure she wou
Mark had never divulged on his past relationships, and he did not intend to let loose a whiff of a clue now. “You said so yourself. How is it plausible that someone like me could ever deign to pine for anyone? As if there’s anyone in this world who’s worthy.”‘As if anyone’s worthy’? What, not even Arianne herself was worthy?!She swung a fist gently at him. “Oh, sorry I’ve asked, then! I forgot that none of us mortals deserve someone as highfalutin and above-it-all as you. Yep, none whosoever deserve your immortal affection; nope, nada, zilch!”Anyone who could read between the lines would hear her offended undertone. Yet, Mark seemed to have committed one of the cardinal sins the male species was sometimes accused of—either their crippling inability to interpret things beyond their literal meaning, or their inclination to feign that inability. “Do refrain from stating the obvious.”Arianne was miffed. “Oh, so even I’m unworthy, then? Someone’s making this seem as if I was the one