CHAPTER010 ADRIANSPOV Flippingthroughwhatfeltlikethe100thfileoftheday,Ipausedandpinchedthebridgeofmynose,feelingthestressofeverythingsofar,gettingonmynerves.
Ileanedbackandtookaglanceatmywatch,mystomach growledasIrealizedIhadnteatenanythingsincemymorning breakfastandIdidntwantto eatdinneralone.
Pullingoutmyphone,Iscrolledthroughthecontactlist,onlystoppingwhenIsawthenameofthepersonIwaslookingforJamesmybestfriend,oratleast,thepersonclosesttome,tobedimmedabestfriend.
WevebeeninatitfartherthanIcouldremember,thoughwestoppedtalkingforawhileafterheleftthecountrythatwasyearsagoandnowhewasback,wegottalkingagain,andasthebrotherI consideredhimtobehewasalwaysthere.Ishothimaquicktext,lettinghimknowthat weshouldmeetup.
Thecitylightsflickeredoutside thetintedwindowsofmycaraswedrovetowardmyfavoriterestaurant.Jamessat besideme,scrollingmindlesslythroughhisphone,thescreenilluminatinghisfaceinthedim interior.
Youknow,hemuttered,not lookingup,wecomeheresooftenitsbasicallyyoursecondhome.
Ismirked,glancingathim.Maybeitis.
Itdidnttakelongbeforethefamiliarsightoftheupscalerestaurantcameintoview.Thesleek,goldenletteringabovetheentranceshimmeredundertheglowofstreetlights.
Mydriversmoothlypulledupto thecurb,andwithouthesitation,Isteppedout,adjustingthecuffsofmysuit.Jamesfollowed,stretchinghisarmslazily.
Themomentweentered,thewarmambiancewrappedaroundusasofthumofconversations,theclinkingofsilverwareagainstfinechina,andthe richaromaofgourmetdisheswaftingthroughtheair.
Theplacewaspackedasusual,filledwithpeopledressedintheirfinestattire,yetthemomenttheynoticedme,theroomsubtlyshifted.

Astaffmember,barelyabletomaskhisnervousness,quicklywenttowardtheback,nodoubtgoingtoalerttheowner.Imerelysighed,alreadyusedtothereaction.Itwasntsurprising.
Ihadinvestedasignificant amountintothis placewhenitwasnothingbutanidea,andnowitwasoneofthemostrenownedrestaurantsinthecity.Every timeIsteppedinside,Iwastreatedlikeroyalty.
Jamesnudgedmeaswemadeourwaytowardourusualtable.Stillnotusedtoallthe staring?heteased.
1/3 CHAPTER010 Iignoredhim,casuallyadjustingmytieaswetookourseats.Momentslater,theownerhimselfapproached,hisusualbroadsmile stretchedacrosshisface.
Mr.Adrian,Mr.James,he greetedwithanairofrespect,thoughtherewasaslighttremorinhisvoice.
Apleasuretohaveyoubothdiningwithustonight.
Jamesleanedback,restinghisarmagainstthechair.Wellhavetheusual,hesaid withouthesitation.
Theownerhesitated,shiftinguncomfortably.Ah,itmaytakesometime,sirs.Youdidntbookanappointmentforustoprepareitinadvance.
Iglancedupathim,myexpressionstern.Andsowhat?IcancomeanytimeIwant,Idontneedtobookanappointmentallthetime.Myvoicewascalm,yet lacedwithanunmistakablecoldness.
Theownerswallowedhard,hishandsslightlyfidgeting.O…ofcourse,youreright,sir.Illbringsomewine andappetizerstokeep youoccupiedwhilethemaincourseisprepared.
Ashescurriedaway,Jamesletoutachuckle,shakinghishead.Yougottagivetheguyabreak,man.

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Iscoffed.Themomentyoudothat,theystartforgettingwheretheybelong,Isaid,pickingupmyphone.JustlikeOlivia.
Jameseyebrowsroseinamusement.You stillhaventgivenmethe loaddownbrother,Whatdidshedothistime? Iexhaledsharply,myfingersscrolling throughsocialmediaaimlessly.
Shegotpregnant.Thenlostthebaby.NotthatIcare.Isaidbitterly.Shewasrecklesswhilecarrying achild.
Jamestilted hisheadslightly,hisbrowneyespoppedoutclearlysurprised.Pregnant?Wasshestillwithyouwhenshefoundout? No.Mytonewasdismissive.AndIdontcare.Shewantedadivorce,andshesnotgoingtogetone.
James studiedmeforamomentasiftryingtodeciphersomethingbeneathmy words.Ifyoudontwanttodivorceherwhynottryfixingthingsbetweenyoutwo.
Theresnothingtofix,James.Myvoicewasdevoidofemotion.
Hesighed,rubbingthebackofhisneck.Imean,Imnottakingsideshere,butshedid.catchyoucheating.
Ishothimasharplook.Correction,it wasamisunderstanding.Doraspikedmydrink,andOliviawalkedinatthewrongtime.
Jameslet outalowwhistle.Thatsmessy,bro.
Before Icouldrespond,therestaurantdoorsswungopen,andmyattention instinctivelyshiftedasDorawalkedinwitheffortless grace.Her presence 2/3 CHAPTER010 commandedattentionasshealwaysdid.
Eventhough Iwasstillangryatherforwhatshehaddone,ithadbeenawhilesinceIspoketoherfacetoface,butstill,Icouldntdenyherbeauty.Sheknewhowtoturnheadshowtomakepeoplestopandstare.Itwasalmostlikeanartformforher.

Shetookaseatatanearbytable,unawareofmypresenceyet.Myeyeslingeredonherlongerthantheyshouldhave,myemotionstornbetweenindifferenceandintrigue.Somepartofmehopedshewouldntnoticeme,butanotherpartofme…wantedher to.
Jamesfollowedmygazeandsmirked.Speakofthedevil.
Hiswordssnappedmeback toreality.
I hadintroducedhertothisrestaurantonce,andsincethen,shehadbeencominghereoften,thoughnotasmuchasIdid.Iwonderedifitwasacoincidencethatshewasheretonightorifshehadplanned this.
Theownerreturnedwithagroupofwaiterstrailingbehindhim,eachcarryingmultipledishes.Thesightcausedmurmurstospreadthroughtherestauránt.
Peopleprobablyassumed thefood wasmeantforseveraldifferenttables,butsoonenough,theirwhispersturned intosilentshockaseverysingledishwasplacedinfrontofme.
Ismirked,relishingtheirreactions.
However,thecommotiondrewDorasattention.IfelthergazebeforeIevenlookedup.WhenIfinallydid,asmallsmiletuggedatherlips.
SheknewIhadseenher,andwithout hesitation,shepushedbackherchairandstood.Andjustlikethat,shestartedwalkingtowardme.
Jameschuckledunderhisbreath.Lookwhoscomingover.
Ileanedbackinmychair,lettingoutadeep sighawaitingwhatwouldcomenext.
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