Chapter 21
Valeria said calmly, “Thank you for your help tonight. I didn’t know my daughter called you. Actually, you didn’t have to come all the way here just because of her. Sorry for taking up your time.”
Her words sounded very formal, causing Sebastian to raise an eyebrow.
“Well, I was supposed to have dinner at a mentor’s house, but I rushed over when I got the call. So, my time has already been taken.”
She was stunned for a few seconds. “I’m sorry.”
“I saw a ravioli shop outside the complex when I came,” Sebastian mentioned as he walked forward. His car was parked just outside the building. The car tonight wasn’t exactly low-key. It was black and beast-like, crouching in the dark.
He didn’t drive this kind of car to work. He usually drove something more understated and
business-like.
Valeria looked at him.
Sebastian stubbed out his cigarette and tossed it into a trash can on the side. Turning around, the light stretched his tall figure, long and lean. “I don’t need your apologies. Get in the car and buy me dinner.”
Valeria opened her mouth to speak, but meeting his deep eyes, she took a deep breath and got
into the car.
It was just dinner. She could treat it as a social courtesy.
Outside the apartment neighborhood, there was a small shop called “Beatrice’s Ravioli”.
They served breakfast in the mornings. Valeria often stopped by to grab a set of stuffed ravioli pockets or pancakes, with a cup of milk.
She was well-acquainted with the shop owner, Beatrice Fowler.
“Val, you’re here!” Beatrice greeted warmly, glancing at the refined-looking man sitting
across from Valeria.
She froze for a second. In this tiny eatery, his striking looks and aura stood out sharply.
Valeria looked at Sebastian. “What do you want to eat?”
He glanced back at her and motioned for her to place the orders. After all, coming to a ravioli
shop meant they were definitely having ravioli.
“Two plates of ravioli-one large serving and one small. I’ll add another one without shrimp.”
After saying that, Valeria bit her lip.
The man across from her gave her a long, probing look.
She knew she had just slipped up.
Sebastian didn’t eat shrimp or most seafood. He was allergic to certain shellfish.
When they had been together, she had known all his likes and dislikes by heart.
The ravioli here usually had shrimp fillings and seaweed on top. She had subconsciously ordered for him—and that exposed her.
Sebastian’s dark eyes stayed steady and calm.
The shop was fairly lively that night, with seats about half full. In that bustling, everyday local atmosphere, Valeria sat there in her gray dress, her bare face glowing pale and luminous. Such a posture gave off a quiet, gentle beauty that couldn’t be described.
“Valeria, did you used to live in Slate City? Did you go to Nueve High School?”
He didn’t ask which high school she went to. Instead, he directly asked if it was Nueve High
School.
“Yes, I’m from Slate City.”
There wasn’t anything to hide there. Slate City had millions of people-and she was merely an ordinary person among them.
It was like she had answered him, but also like she had avoided the question.
Just then, two plates of ravioli arrived.
Valeria took the plate without shrimp, smiling at Sebastian. “I don’t like shrimps.”
It was also a way to cover her tracks after the earlier slip-up.
Sebastian looked at the ravioli on her plate. “Oh, really? What a coincidence. I don’t like them
either.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Why don’t I switch with you? I haven’t started yet.”
Valeria started to move her plate toward him, but he replied blandly, “It’s fine.”
They finished the meal quickly.
Valeria didn’t eat much as she had already had dinner at home. So, she could only manage
Chapter 21
about half of her plate.
When she went to pay, she realized she had forgotten her phone. She told Beatrice she’d pay the next morning when she came for breakfast.
Beatrice chuckled and asked, “Is that your boyfriend? He’s really handsome. And that car outside looks expensive.”
