Just as Belle was about to head back to her rental house, she received a call from Scott. Scott had asked her out for a drink.She initially tried to refuse, but her guilt over the matter of the game convinced her to accept the invitation.However, she arrived at their meeting spot only to find Robert alone. Scott was nowhere in sight.Belle was surprised. "Why are you here? Where's Scott?"Robert, too, was surprised upon meeting her. He quickly realized that this was probably Scott's plan all along.Half an hour ago, Scott had called Robert, insisting they meet up for a drink to discuss important matters as soon as possible.Scott had never mentioned Belle in the call. And Robert simply came to meet up with his buddy.When Robert arrived to find no one waiting for him, he called Scott, only to be met with excuses for being late.The person who eventually turned up, however, was Belle.He had his suspicions when Scott planned the meet-up at such a romantic venue. But he quickl
Robert paused his steps and silently enjoyed the scenery unfolding before him.He kept both hands in his pocket and remained still. He stared at Belle as if he was enjoying a peaceful retirement life. He very much appreciated such a calm and soothing scene.As the eldest son of the Strauss family, he had to uphold various responsibilities for becoming the future head of the family. However, the young Robert was a sickly child and would often be ostracized by his peers.Since he had enlisted in the army, he had been handling a wide range of eccentric soldiers, both among the enemy and within his own ranks. These were individuals who found joy in the chaos of the battlefield, where lives were reduced to mere statistics, leaving him with no opportunity for relaxation.Moments of ease like such were the rarest commodity in his life. He came to appreciate a peaceful life more than anybody else. It was just that …As he stared at Belle, his memories came flooding back. Many years b
"Huh?" Belle was surprised by the question. "I … Don't think so. Why?"Robert explained, "You seemed just like someone I knew. The only difference is that you don't recognize me."She wanted to say that he seemed familiar to her as well. But her suspicions held her back, considering that he had absolutely zero idea about Lovey.The young man back then had met Lovey and would not have forgotten about it.Belle smiled. "You probably recognized the wrong person.""When will Scott be here?" She quickly changed the topic.Robert felt disappointed but kept it to himself. "I don't know. Although he did say he was on his way. Is there anything you want to tell him?""I just wanted to talk about the game."She added, "Oh yeah. You had also invested in Scott's game, didn't you?""Yeah, why?"Belle replied, "It's partly my fault that Grayson is so focused on suppressing both you and your game."He didn't want me to be around the both of you. But he wouldn't dare vent his frustrations
"Liar, liar, pants on fire! I'm warning you now. I'm going to be mad if you try anything funny! Besides, her boyfriend is just by her side!" Anne huffed. Tristan retorted, "Nonsense!"How would Belle's identity suddenly shift from being Grayson's legal wife to Robert's girlfriend all of a sudden?But it was not exactly Tristan's fault for having the wrong idea after witnessing a man and a woman together in such a deliberately romantic venue.Tristan thought about it before sending Anne to take pictures around the café. He then pulled out his phone and called Grayson."Where are you right now?""What's up?" Grayson was driving home.Tristan began by teasing Grayson. "I'm at Plums Café right now. Guess who I just saw?"Grayson only had Belle in mind as he was heading home to her. He decided to dismiss Tristan. "I'm hanging up."He was not interested in what Tristan had to say.Tristan finally stopped beating around the bush. "I just saw your wife together with Robert.""What?
An ambulance soon arrived before they could explain their circumstances.They decided to just leave it at that and proceeded to help the paramedics move the drowned man into the ambulance.Even as the ambulance took off, the woman continued expressing her gratitude and wished for their happiness.Belle felt a slight embarrassment due to the woman's words but promptly shrugged it off.Soon after, a gust of wind blew right at her, and she sneezed from the cold. She only realized how cold it had become once the ambulance had left their sight.It was particularly windy, and her drenched clothes only compounded the situation. Robert turned his attention to Belle, intending to ask if she was okay. However, he was left speechless when he glimpsed her soaked appearance.Belle was wearing a thin jacket, a shirt, and a suspender skirt. Grayson himself picked out her outfit for a dinner with the Page family. Her attire was modest enough, with only her waist exposed in small openings. Ye
The owner of Plums Café, George Price, rushed over after receiving the news of the drowning. He had only known that it was a couple that resolved the incident, and he had wanted to thank them.However, he was met with even more questions when he arrived.Before him were Belle and Robert, whom George assumed to be the savior of the drowning man, seeing as they were soaked from head to toe.But the peculiar thing that confused George was that Belle was being held in the arms of Grayson, who was as dry as a bone compared to the two of them.George could not tell apart the kind of relationship between them, nor did he dare to assume much.Perhaps he was witnessing the fabled love triangle. He decided not to meddle in their affairs and thanked all three."Hello, everyone! I'm George Price, the owner of Plums Café. I just wish to express my gratitude for saving my customer's life! Please let me know if I can help with anything!""Ah, yes! I've already prepared the rooms for your hot s
Grayson took a drag of his cigarette and flicked the ashes. "Are you trying to snatch my woman?"His weighty words were spoken in a flat and calm tone, devoid of any traces of anger.Robert replied, "No, my relationship with Belle is just as friends.""The location where you had your date isn't helping with what you're saying.""It wasn't a date. We just happened to run into each other and stayed to chat."Grayson was enraged. "I've warned you to stay away from Belle. Have you forgotten who you're dealing with? Or did having some silly soldiers under your command make you feel like you're above me?"Robert's tone and expression remained nonchalant."I have many soldiers under my command, and you have your own people in the shadows, so I have no intention of provoking you."Belle had never done anything to wrong you. I'd not sit idly by if you're deliberately targeting her just because of me and Scott." Grayson gritted his teeth in anger, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Robert replied, "I don't. I don't have a reason to. War does not determine who is right, but only who is left.""All I'm saying is that I owe Belle for her help. I would not stand idly against any unnecessary harm coming her way."He was attempting to warn Grayson to be kinder to Belle.Grayson asked, "She helped you? What did she do?""It's personal."Grayson was speechless.Robert continued, "All in all, I will remain as her good friend."Grayson gritted his teeth in anger. "I will keep my own wife safe from harm. Save your energy for something else."Suddenly, Belle's voice came from outside their room."Is Grayson here? Is Robert here? Hello?" Grayson turned to Robert and gave an ultimatum."Belle Walters belongs to me and me alone. Don't even try."Grayson glared at Robert to make sure he got the message, then got up and left the room.As the door opened, Belle looked at Grayson before turning to Robert. "Are you hurt?"Grayson was at a loss for words.Robert repli