16:13 Fri, 28
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
She added, “If you feel awkward going alone, you can bring a friend.”
Lewis found no reason to feel awkward. It’s not like her friend would eat him alive or something.
“Got it. I’ll pick you up after work,” Lewis agreed without hesitation.
Lola, who had been listening the whole time, grinned with satisfaction at his response.
Since Lewis didn’t seem the least bit annoyed, Doris felt less uneasy about the whole thing. “No need, I’ll ride with Lola. I’ll send you the restaurant address. See you tonight.”
Lola picked Bistro Alloy.
Doris sent the address to Lewis and told him to meet at 6:30 PM.
After work, due to traffic, Lola and Doris arrived ten minutes late.
The restaurant was tucked away in a quiet spot, featuring elegant architecture with green tiles and white walls.
Stepping inside felt like entering a garden–lush groves, vibrant flowers, and an artificial pond with a stone bridge where guests could watch the fish.
They took the elevator to the third floor, to a private dining room named “Paris“—this floor had rooms named after cities.
As soon as they stepped out, they ran into Ivan. “Mr. Mitchell, good evening.” Doris greeted.
“Doris, Ms. Bates, hello.” Ivan’s smile was charming.
“Are you here to welcome us?” Lola looked beautiful tonight in an off–shoulder beige dress, cinched at the waist with a brown. belt that highlighted her slim figure. Her long, fair legs added a touch of mature elegance.
Ivan looked puzzled.
“We’re meeting Lewis for dinner here. Didn’t you come with him?” Doris assumed he was the friend Lewis had invited.
“Oh, I’m actually here with other friends,” Ivan replied with a knowing smile. “You two go ahead. I’ll drop by later.”
As he watched Doris and Lola walk away, Ivan’s brows furrowed deeply.
He then pushed open the door to the “London” private room, where a group of people was gathered.
As soon as Zoe saw Ivan, she got up and walked over gracefully, her eyes shimmering with anticipation.
“Ivan, is he coming?” she asked, clearly referring to Lewis, the man she had been longing for.
Back when she went abroad for school, she hadn’t expected Lewis to end up in the same country.
Being away from home only intensified her longing for him, so she had asked her father to reach out to Lewis, hoping he’d look after her.
Out of respect for their families‘ relationship, Lewis did check in on her occasionally.
Whenever he wasn’t busy, they’d have meals or chat.
Though their time together was limited, she was content with just that.
1/3
Chapter 42
Then Lewis returned to the country, and she followed soon after. Today’s gathering was meant to welcome her back.
“He has a business dinner tonight. He won’t make it, Ivan lied. “Don’t wait for him.”
Zoe bit her lip, disappointment clouding her beautiful face.
She had been back for a while now–she had visited the Hartman family’s Springwood Manor, checked his residence at Sulnell Hill, even stopped by Hartman Group–but she never saw him.
She thought for sure Lewis would show up to her welcome dinner. Yet, once again, he wasn’t there.
She really wanted to see him.
“What’s he so busy with? Does he hate me now?” Zoe looked up at Ivan, her sorrow evident. “You’re his best friend. Tell me, what did I do wrong? Why won’t he even see me?”
“Zoe, it’s not that you did anything wrong,” Ivan said, feeling conflicted, knowing the truth. “He’s just really busy.”
Zoe forced a bitter smile, clearly not buying that excuse.
“You know I’ve liked him for ten years.” Her voice trembled slightly.
“Everyone says we’re meant to be.
“Before he decided to go abroad, I also worked hard to apply to schools there–just to be closer to him.
“Even though he never took the initiative to ask me out, I was willing to be the one to make the first move for him.
“All these years, no other woman has ever been by his side.
“I thought that as long as there was no other woman in his life, I still had a chance. I was willing to wait.”
Zoe loved cautiously, almost humbly. “Does he have someone he likes?”
Ivan’s brow twitched slightly, but he remained calm. “We’re close, but we don’t interfere in each other’s personal lives.
“If you really want to know, you’ll have to ask him yourself.”
“But-” Zoe shook her head. “Forget it.”
She didn’t dare ask. She was afraid that her illusions would shatter and that she wouldn’t even have the right to dream
anymore.
“Alright, today’s your day. Isn’t it enough that you have all of us here with you?” Ivan pulled her closer, then raised his glass of red wine to the others. “Come on, let’s all welcome Zoe back. Cheers!”
Despite the lively atmosphere, Zoe couldn’t bring herself to feel happy.
She raised her glass and downed it in one go.
Doris and Lewis sat together, with Lola seated across from them.
“Mr. Hartman, I’ll leave Doris in your care from now on. Wishing you both a happy marriage and a lifetime of love.” Lola raised her glass with a sincere blessing.
“Thank you, Ms. Bates.” Lewis lifted his glass in response.
2/3
+5
Chapter 42
Doris picked up her wine glass as well.
Lewis glanced at her. “Don’t drink too much”
“I know,” Doris understood he was worried about her getting drunk.
To Lola, the way they exchanged glances looked like pure flirting.
“Can you two be mindful of us single people?” Lola complained about their public display of affection. “Mr. Hartman, is your friend Mr. Mitchell single?”
Lola was bold and straightforward. Doris shot her a subtle glare. “Just drink.”
As soon as she spoke, Lewis’s phone rang–it was Ivan calling.
“I’ll take this.” Lewis got up and walked over to the carved wooden window. “What’s up?”
“Zoe’s drunk. She swears she saw someone who looks like you and is going from one private room to another looking for you. I can’t stop her.” Ivan was giving Lewis a heads–up. “Either you leave now, or you’ll be exposed.”
“Got it.” Lewis rubbed his forehead.
Outside, the noise of approaching voices was getting louder. If he stepped out now, he’d likely run right into her.
After a brief moment of thought, Lewis turned and walked away.
Suddenly, the door to their private room swung open, startling Doris and Lola mid–conversation.
They looked toward the entrance and immediately recognized the woman leading the group–it was Zoe, someone they had encountered at the mall before.
“Ms. Wilkinson? What brings you here?” asked Lola.
Zoe didn’t even glance at them. She rushed straight to the restroom door and knocked. “Lewie, is that you?”
“Ms. Wilkinson, what’s wrong?” Doris stepped forward, noticing the desperation on Zoe’s face.
“Who’s inside?” Zoe grabbed Doris’s arm.
“My husband,” Doris answered directly.
Zoe felt a sharp pain in her heart. “Can I see him?”
Doris looked puzzled and turned to Lola for support.
Lola spoke up, “Ms, Wilkinson, is something wrong? Do you know my friend’s husband?”
“I just want to see him.” Zoe pleaded with Doris. “He looks like someone I know.”
Dor
3/3
