Chapter 123
“But Thalia’s dad said it was too cold, so he let me wait in his car. Although he’s a stranger, Thalia’s in the class next to mine. I know her… so I said okay.”
Valeria looked up. Her eyes, slightly red, settled on the man standing a short distance away
beside a black car.
Rory walked over and said, “I saw the group chat. Elevator 3 suddenly went out of service. Were you stuck inside? Are you alright?”
Valeria stood up. Her face was still pale from the shock. That fragile, shaken look stirred a strong instinct in Rory to protect her.
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” he said.
“Thank you. For tonight.”
“It was nothing. I just saw your daughter standing out there alone. The wind’s strong tonight, so letting her wait in the car seemed safer.”
Valeria could still feel the warmth of her daughter’s hand against her own.
Chapter 123
Chapter 123
The night wind lifted Valeria’s long, dark hair.
Rory looked at her and offered to send them home, saying that the wind was strong tonight.
He opened the car door for Valeria and drove them to the entrance of her apartment complex. From the front passenger seat, Thalia suddenly asked, “Daddy, what are we having for dinner? I’m starving.”
Valeria glanced across the street at a small ravioli shop.
She offered to treat Rory and Thalia to dinner as a thank–you.
When they pushed open the door and stepped inside, Valeria naturally gravitated toward her usual spot. She liked to sit by the window whenever she came here.
It was an old aluminum–framed window, the glass dull and hazy. A faded paper decal, once bright red, still clung to the corner. It was the old decor from last year’s holiday season, its characters now sun–bleached and peeling.
Her favorite table was right there–Table 6. It was her lucky number. She always hoped that Selena’s life ahead would be smooth sailing.
However, someone was already sitting there. It was a man.
His black hair was slicked back, though a few strands had fallen naturally across his forehead. His features were sharply defined. He sat turned slightly toward the window, the bridge of his
nose high and elegant.
He wore a black turtleneck sweater, and a charcoal–gray coat of expensive material hung loosely over the back of the chair, clearly tossed there without much thought.
The sleeves of his sweater were pushed up slightly, revealing a wristwatch. It was uniquely designed yet understated.
He leaned back in his chair, slowly turning his gaze. His dark eyes scanned the man standing behind Valeria, then landed on her. Then, they went back to the man behind her.
He was assessing and observing him.
Valeria froze for a second, then instinctively averted her eyes.
However, Selena had spotted the man at the table. She tugged at Valeria’s hand.
Beatrice, the shop owner, walked over. “It’s the dinner rush. Every table’s full. How about you join Mr. Grant at his table? I’ll grab more chairs.”
Chapter 123
Beatrice, of course, knew Valeria and the sharply dressed man. They had come here together more than a few times before.
Without waiting for Valeria to respond, she brought over a chair.
Rory, along with his daughter, followed them over. Ever the gentleman, he let Valeria and Selena sit on the opposite side, and he took the seat next to Sebastian.
After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate for a woman to sit beside a male stranger.
Once seated, Valeria kept her gaze lowered, thick lashes casting shadows beneath her eyes.
The sound of utensils clinking against ceramic drifted softly through the air. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Sebastian’s hand. His long fingers were wrapped around a spoon as delicately as if he were holding a piece of fine art.
Selena glanced at Sebastian, then at Valeria.
Then she cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and mouthed silently toward him, “Mr. Grant.”
Sebastian let out a quiet chuckle. His voice was low, his chest vibrating slightly. He was amused by the child’s innocence.
Rory noticed this. “You two… know each other?”
Valeria nodded instinctively, then quickly shook her head. “Not really,” she answered softly.
Rory looked thoughtful but didn’t press further.
Soon, the ravioli was served.
Valeria lowered her head and started eating immediately.
She hadn’t expected to run into Sebastian here. Why was someone like him–born with a golden spoon in his mouth–eating at a small ravioli shop? The hospital was nearly 6.5 miles
away.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated.
She looked down.
It had been eleven days since she last exchanged messages with Sebastian on WhatsApp. Now, his message read, “You’ve got terrible taste in men.”
She quickly typed back a reply. “You’re right.”
After all, the first man she had chosen was him.
Her response was direct and unapologetic.
Chapter 12
Upon seeing that, Sebastian felt less inclined to joke further. As he shifted his leg, his knee brushed hers beneath the table.
In a cramped place like this, the space under the table was tight. His legs were long, so the first brush could’ve been accidental. But the second one was definitely not.
Valeria felt the deliberate touch against her calf. It was unmistakable. It was neither hard nor
soft.
Her grip on her spoon tightened. She glanced downward from the corner of her eye, her lashes trembling softly.
The toe of a man’s black leather shoe slid slowly up her calf.
