Chapter 96: Ridiculous
Actually, no friend was coming to pick her up. Jennifer simply didn't want to impose on Ryan, and she wanted some time alone. Although Francis had put on a good act earlier, deliberately keeping his distance from Aurora and speaking to her very politely, the moment Aurora got slightly hurt, he felt so distressed. This showed how much he cared about Aurora. Francis was mature and calm about everything else, but when it came to Aurora, he became childish and conflicted. Perhaps that was the magic of first love. From Aurora's attitude, she was determined to have Francis. Poor Jennifer, caught between this pair of ex-lovers, looked quite ridiculous. Jennifer gave a wry smile and ordered a drink.
At that moment, Francis was placing Aurora in the passenger seat. Aurora clung tightly to his neck, whimpering in pain. As he let go to close the car door, Aurora looked up at him with seductive eyes, "Francis, won't you help me with my seatbelt?"
Francis paused, a smile playing at his lips, "Aurora, you hurt your leg, not your hand." In front of Ryan, he had given her plenty of respect. Now that they were alone, his hidden desire for revenge surfaced. These past few days, Aurora had been making advances toward him, and he neither rejected nor initiated anything—he just wanted to see how far she would go. When she left back then, she was so resolute. Now she just came back whenever she wanted, expecting to make up whenever she pleased. He wasn't some spineless man without any pride.
Aurora huffed and fastened her seatbelt herself. She knew he was still angry with her, but his anger meant he had never forgotten her. As long as she kept making her presence known around him, he would still be attracted to her. Today, she had carefully observed Jennifer and noticed that although Jennifer had a gentle personality, her features and style of dress actually resembled her own from years ago. After all these years, Francis's preferences hadn't changed—he liked women who looked like her. She would take it slow and help Francis recognize his own heart.
Francis took Aurora to the hospital. She didn't have any close friends or family in the country, so he had to see it through.
When Jennifer finished her drink and was about to pay, the server told her that a gentleman had already paid for her. Somewhat surprised, she looked in the direction the server indicated and saw someone she completely didn't expect.
Eugene wore a dark blue suit with a red tie, raising his glass to her from a few tables away. He was in good spirits today, his face wearing a carefree and composed smile. Actually, he had been sitting there watching Jennifer for quite a while. Jennifer now had more feminine charm than before, and the faint sadness in her eyes was like a treasured vintage wine that intoxicated him. Although he wasn't the one who brought about this change, which inevitably annoyed him a bit, he knew Jennifer didn't respond well to force, so he planned to take a different approach with her.
When Jennifer saw him, she immediately frowned. She asked for the bill and paid again, saying very seriously to the server, "I don't accept his payment. Please return his money."
The server had thought they were friends and didn't expect Jennifer to be so unsparing, so could only reply awkwardly, "Okay."
Eugene had already put down his glass and walked over. He said with a smile, "Jennifer, why are you in such a hurry to reject me? Francis left you behind and went off with Aurora. Haven't you seen enough of this scene these past few days? It's raining so hard—who are you waiting to pick you up?" Actually, he had just been passing by after work when he happened to see Francis carrying Aurora away, and then saw Jennifer sitting alone by the window drinking. He immediately sensed his opportunity.
Jennifer glanced at him with some disgust, "How things are between him and me is none of your business." She checked her phone—there were quite a few people trying to get rides in the rain, and she hadn't gotten one yet.
Eugene smiled and leaned in to say quietly, "Actually, you don't need to hate me so much. Although I hurt you, at least my love for you was real. Unlike Francis—he's never had you in his heart."
This remark stung Jennifer. Her grip on her phone tightened, and the edge of the cracked screen cut her hand. Eugene noticed and touched her hand with some sympathy, "How pathetic, Jennifer. Are you going to keep entangling with him like this? You broke up with me so decisively back then, but you're so tolerant with Francis. Have you really fallen in love with him?"
"No!" Jennifer jerked her hand away and loudly denied it. With her movement, the already broken phone flew high into the air, fell to the ground, and the screen went black. Jennifer hurried over to pick it up, but the phone was completely broken and wouldn't turn on. She looked up and glared angrily at Eugene. Now she couldn't get a ride or contact any friends to rescue her.
Eugene spread his hands with an innocent expression, "I didn't do it on purpose. You overreacted and dropped your phone yourself. But now, besides getting in my car, you don't seem to have any other choice. Don't worry, I won't eat you."
Jennifer bit her lip and glared at him fiercely. She would absolutely not get in Eugene's car. If she trusted that snake Eugene again, she'd be an idiot. But what should she do now? Borrow someone's phone at the restaurant to call Mia? She didn't know if Mia was available right now.
Just as Jennifer was struggling, a somewhat familiar male voice spoke up, "Isn't this Aria's fiancé, Eugene? Jennifer, you're here too?"
Alex had just walked out of a private room and saw this interesting standoff between the man and woman. One was his friend's sister's fiancé, and one was Francis's girlfriend. He didn't expect these two had a history. He had met Eugene once at a party, remembered his name, but wasn't close to him. He had seen Jennifer a few times, though.
Eugene's expression tightened as he replied, "Yeah, what a coincidence, Alex. I saw Jennifer here alone and came to ask if she needed help."
Alex wore a polite smile, "Eugene, you're quite helpful. But Aria is very jealous. If she finds out you're so proactive about helping other beautiful women, she'll make a scene with you." Then he turned to Jennifer, "Where's Francis? Why isn't he picking you up?"
Jennifer smiled awkwardly, "He's busy with something else, not very convenient."
Alex glanced at the broken phone in her hand and said knowingly, "How about I be the good guy today and give you a ride home? Francis can repay me properly later."
Jennifer's expression relaxed. Compared to Eugene, Alex was really a good choice. He was close with Francis, and in their few interactions, he had seemed gentle and polite. She smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Alex."
"No trouble at all." Alex's tone was very relaxed.
Just like that, Jennifer left with Alex. Eugene wanted to stop them but had no reason to, so he could only swallow his frustration. That clueless server was still chasing after him about the refund, and he impatiently pushed them away, "No need to refund it. Consider it your tip."
The server bowed happily and said thank you, while Eugene watched Jennifer and Alex's retreating figures with a deep frown.