Chapter 72
But to Sebastian, hearing her say his first name felt like a tell, like she was nervous about something.
From the very start, she had always called him “Mr. Cole“. Now, of all moments, she decided to drop the
formalities.
Sebastian glanced at the menu and said, “Anything’s fine.”
Noelle hesitated. “Do you have any dietary restrictions?”
The way she cautiously asked him that question stirred a wave of tenderness in him. If she couldn’t bring herself to come right out and say what was on her mind, then maybe it was up to him to lead her there.
“Noelle, it’s not about the food. Is there something you want to tell me?” Sebastian asked bluntly.
Even though he had braced himself for this conversation, watching her struggle for words still sent a dull
ache through his chest.
Even now, Sebastian tried to reassure her, telling her it was fine, that she could say whatever was on her mind. He even managed a faint smile as he added, “Really, Noelle. Whatever it is, just say it.”
That left her wondering if he somehow already knew she was thinking about asking for his help. The truth was, she hadn’t decided whether she would. That was why she had asked him to meet for dinner so they
could talk it over face–to–face.
If signing with the Novara Corporation wouldn’t impact the Cole Group any more than partnering with another company, then Noelle might be able to bring herself to talk to Sebastian about it.
But if partnering with the Novara Corporation did have an impact, especially a financial one, Noelle couldn’t bring herself to speak up for them.
After all, Sebastian was a businessman, and a good one knew that profit wasn’t something to
compromise on.
Caught in a dilemma, Noelle decided to focus on ordering first. Since she didn’t know what Sebastian
liked, she went with the Versian restaurant’s signature dishes such as the spicy seafood platter. The
house specialties were always a safe bet.
What Noelle didn’t notice, though, was that once the dishes hit the table, Sebastian frowned slightly. He instinctively leaned back a little in his chair.
She encouraged him with a small smile. “Sebastian, try some. These are their signature dishes. The
seasoning is supposed to be the most authentic you can get.”
His frown deepened, and Noelle caught the change in his expression. She froze for a second before asking, a bit sheepishly, “Is it not your thing?”
It wasn’t until she had finished asking that Sebastian finally reached for his cutlery. He moved a piece of
crab from the small serving plate to his own, hesitated for a couple of seconds, then lifted it to his mouth
Without much chewing, he swallowed it down.
When he ate, his usual commanding presence seemed muted.
That took some of the edge off Noelle’s nerves, enough for her to finally speak up. “Sebestian, I’m sorry to bother you when you’re so busy. I wanted to meet tonight so we could talk about the Ashford family.”
So, Sebastian had guessed right. It was about the Ashfords. Conner had probably already told her who he really was, and she still couldn’t let him go. Which meant she’d decided to call off the wedding.
Sebastian’s throat tightened, as if he’d inhaled something sharp and caustic, making it hard to breathe. He raised a hand, stopping her from going any further.
If those words came from her, they would taunt him for the rest of his life. So, he saved her from having to say it. “I know. You want to call off the wedding, don’t you?
Chapter 73
Chapter 73