Chapter 71
Chapter 71
+25 BONUS
Alden was annoyed but forced a smile as he looked at Zeke. No problem. You can sit anywhere you like.”
As much as he would like to tell the man off for his interference, he knew he needed to be wise. Zeke was still Luisa’s brother, and if he was going to pursue Luisa, he needed to get on the man’s good side.
Luisa was also fuming as she sat down in the chair Alden hal pulled back for her. She couldn’t believe that Zeke was interfering even after promising he wouldn’t. Thalassa and Millie both rolled their eyes.
“So how long have you and Millie known each other?” Alden asked Zeke.
“Since she began working for Kris two years ago. We’ve been close.”
Zeke’s eyes narrowed, not liking the way he said it. What did he mean by ‘close‘?
“I see,” he said simply while glaring intensely at Alden.
An awkward silence settled over the table, but they were saved when a waitress approached them.
“Hello, are you guys ready to order now?”
“You can order anything you want. I’ll take care of everything,” Alden said.
He tried to crane his head as much as possible to look at Luisa’s face, but every time he moved his head, Zeke also moved to block his view.
“There’s no need,” Zeke said, a barbed edge to his voice. “I can take care of my bill as well as my sister’s and Thalassa’s.”
“Zeke!” Luisa hissed, wanting the earth to open and swallow her up because of the embarrassment she felt from his actions.
“What?” Zeke shrugged. “I’m just telling him that we can pay for ourselves.”
“Can we order now? I’m hungry already,” Millie said to break the tension and immediately rattled off her order to the waitress.
Thalassa and Alden did the same. Luisa and Zeke were the last to order, and Luisa sounded like she didn’t even want to be there anymore.
Just as the waitress left, Zeke suddenly hissed, his glare on Alden. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted. You invited your friend here too, didn’t you? Better yet, he’s probably the one who organized all of this.”
They all turned their heads to find Kris walking into the place, but he wasn’t alone. He was with Karen, and she had her hand on his arm while he had an aloof look on his face as usual.
Despite his aloofness, Kris was annoyed to see Zeke Mathews. Did the man always have to follow Thalassa around like a lapdog?
Luisa and Thalassa turned their inquiring eyes onto Alden, who froze, not knowing what to say. If it had been only the women, he could’ve found a way around it, but he knew Zeke Mathews would never let it slide without giving him a hard time.
Nevertheless, he tried his best. “I didn’t invite him. I did tell him that I would be coming here to hang out with the girls, but how was I supposed to know he would come here?”
“I don’t believe you,” Zeke sneered and turned his furious eyes to his sister. “See the person you want to hang around? He’s obviously doing his friend’s bidding and only brought you here because of Kris Miller.”
1/2
Chapter 71
+25 BONUS
Hurt flashed across Luisa’s face as she looked at Alden, her eyes demanding answers. Had he truly faked this invitation just to get Thalassa here because Kris asked him to?
She waited for him to say something, but he just stared at her face for several seconds without a word.
“I need to go to the restroom,” she said and immediately stood up.
“Luisa,” Alden called out, getting up to follow her.
Zeke was also about to get up, but Millie held his hand. “No Please just let her be, Zeke. She’ll be fine.‘
Millie turned her head only to find Thalassa’s suspicious eyes on her. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You knew Kris was going to be here too, didn’t you?” Thalassa questioned, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
“Of course not. Alden didn’t tell me when he invited me,” Millie denied.
When Karen saw Thalassa, she was instantly annoyed. “That bitch again, I swear she intentionally goes everywhere she knows we’ll be just to bother us.”
Her voice was loud enough for Thalassa as well as the few patrons in the restaurant to hear her. Kris gritted his teeth but didn’t say anything.
Karen tried to hold him closer, but he immediately shook her off as he led her to a table. His heart squeezed tightly as he gazed at Thalassa, who didn’t even bother to look back at him.
A waiter approached their table, and they placed their orders even though food was the last thing on Kris’s mind.
Seeing how Kris couldn’t stop staring at Thalassa, Karen felt irked. Kris had brought her here so they could enjoy some quality time together. At least, that was what he said, so why wasn’t he even looking at her?
Had he known that Thalassa was going to be there?
Suddenly feeling bitter, Karen thought of a way to get back at Thalassa. She smiled sweetly at Kris, but her voice was loud as she spoke.
“My love, you don’t know how much I appreciate your trust in me. Even though that woman tried to plant seeds of doubt in your mind, you never doubted me. I can’t believe the audacity some sluts have.”
Kris’s hand fisted tightly, knowing exactly what Karen was trying to do. “Stop talking, Karen.
Karen shook her head. “Why should I? Everyone here deserves to know that that woman is and has always been a liar who tries to get her way by manipulating everyone.”
“I said stop talking,” Kris demanded as he stared down expectantly at his phone.
Why the hell hadn’t they sent a message yet? He clenched his jaw, but he knew it was going to happen soon.
Just a few minutes more, and this was going to be over.
