Edith found herself replaying that dinner with Justin at the Thai restaurant.
No wonder!
Right after they’d finished eating, Justin nearly collapsed right at the table.
So it turned out he was allergic to curry.
Guilt and frustration twisted inside her. “Justin, I’m so sorry…”
Justin just waved her off. “It’s not your fault. I should’ve been more careful. Honestly, I didn’t even know I was allergic to curry until today.”
He sounded completely serious, his expression solemn.
Since when did he get so good at lying? He hadn’t even blinked.
Edith believed him, though the guilt lingered. She mumbled, “I’ll ask the manager for an ingredient list later. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Justin’s heart jumped. Quickly, he excused himself, claiming he needed the restroom.
Instead, he pulled the manager aside outside the dining room, speaking in a low voice. “If Mrs. Hawksley asks for a list, just tell her I’m only allergic to curry. That’s all.”
The manager, confused but used to following Mr. Hawksley’s orders without question, nodded.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, the manager added, “Mr. Hawksley, one of our servers witnessed something earlier in the hallway that involved Mrs. Hawksley. Would you like to check the security footage?”
In the surveillance room, Justin watched the footage with a stormy expression. “From now on, Beckett Vance is never to set foot in this place again.”
The manager nodded emphatically, even attempting to reassure him. “Don’t worry, Mr. Hawksley. We won’t let him back in. Besides, from the footage, Mrs. Hawksley seemed perfectly fine. She didn’t come to any harm.”
Justin’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Didn’t come to harm? I’ll have to make sure my wife scrubs her knees extra well tonight.”
After all, she’d brushed up against some pretty unsavory company.
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17:40
Chapter 183
For the rest of the meal, Justin simmered with a mix of frustration and barely
concealed anger.
Edith, meanwhile, gazed out at the night skyline, mostly preoccupied with whether she had enough cash in her account to cover dinner, entirely oblivious to Justin’s mood.
At last, dinner ended and it was time to settle the bill.
Edith stood up to pay.
The manager stared at her in surprise and quietly reminded, “Mrs. Hawksley, with Mr. Hawksley bringing you here, we couldn’t possibly let you pay for your meal.”
Edith glanced back at Justin, who’d been lost in thought ever since returning from the restroom and hadn’t even noticed her at the register.
She hesitated. “But I promised I’d treat him tonight.”
The manager looked as though he might surrender right there. “Please, Mrs. Hawksley, do me a favor and let us handle it. Let’s say this meal is on Northcrest Tower, in honor of Mr. Hawksley bringing a lady as his guest for the first time!”
Edith blinked, lowering her gaze. “This really is… his first time bringing a woman
here?”
The manager nodded solemnly. “If I’m lying, may I never make another penny in my life.”
A pretty vicious oath, to be honest.
At that moment, Justin finally noticed Edith at the counter. He got up, walked over, and took her hand, his gaze firm. “If you’re dining out with me, trust me–no one at Northcrest would dare let you pay.”
On the way home, Edith couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt.
“I was supposed to treat this time…”
Justin, one hand on the wheel, replied lightly, “If you really feel bad, why not just transfer tonight’s ‘fee‘ to me?”
Edith did exactly that.
As soon as they got back to the Hawksley estate, Justin posted a screenshot of her payment.
The caption read: From now on, Mrs. Hawksley is officially supporting me.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.