Chapter 231 K's Arrival in Celestria Leads to a Real-Life Meetup
Amelia barely had time to process what had happened before Michael was gone.
It struck her, was this their first real relationship crisis? All because of the trace of an unfamiliar woman's perfume on his shirt.
In her understanding of human couples, something like this often escalated into arguments, sometimes even breakups. Yet she had barely confronted him—only a few pointed words—and Michael had walked out into the night to gather proof of his innocence.
It was as if he had deliberately removed every possible reason for her to be angry.
With a slow breath, Amelia turned away from the door and headed to the bathroom. She took a quick shower, just enough to wash away the lingering tension.
By the time she was ready for bed, her phone lit up.
Three messages in quick succession.
[It's been over two months, Miss Martinez. I trust you still remember who I am?]
[Last time, you told me that if I ever needed your help, or if I came to Celestria, I could call you anytime.]
[My flight arrives in River City, Celestria tomorrow afternoon. If you have time tomorrow night, I'd be honored to invite you to dinner.]
Even without seeing the number, the wording was enough—K.
Two months ago, Michael's grandmother had been abducted from her nursing home by men hired by Efrain, and taken to an abandoned underground bar in Sulien. If not for K's help in locating her, Michael would never have rescued her so quickly from those mercenaries.
The thought of what would have happened if Efrain had succeeded still chilled her. Holding Michael's grandmother hostage would have given him endless leverage. Even if his plans with Anna failed, he would have squeezed every possible advantage out of Michael, bringing chaos into their lives.
Amelia had never forgotten that debt. Without hesitation, she called him back.
"K?" she said when the line connected. "I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Of course not." The man's voice was deep, his laugh lazy. "I told you, Miss Martinez—call me Jasper."
She switched instantly. "Jasper, you said you'll be in River City tomorrow afternoon?"
"Yes. The flight lands around three," Jasper replied.
"You mentioned in your text that you'd like to have dinner with me. I'd be happy to. I never had the chance to properly thank you for helping my friend find his grandmother.
"You're new to Celestria, so having a guide could make things easier. Tomorrow's Saturday, I can meet you at the airport.
"If you haven't booked a hotel, I can arrange one for you. And for dinner, I'll choose somewhere with the most authentic Celestria cuisine."
Amelia was not naturally warm, but when it came to hosting friends, she never held back. She had done the same for Osborne when he visited Celestria. And Jasper had done her a favor—she would have canceled other plans if necessary.
But Jasper declined.
"No need to meet me at the airport. I have things to do after I land, and the hotel's already taken care of.
"But the restaurant… that's where I'll need your help.
"Pick a place and send me the address.
"We'll agree on a time and meet there tomorrow night. How's that?"
"That works," she said.
He had his own arrangements, and she wasn't about to cross his boundaries. This call alone was enough to show her appreciation.
The next evening at seven, Amelia dressed and called a cab.
Since injuring her leg in a riding accident and ending up in a cast, she had led a sedentary life for nearly two months. Jenny and Kevin had kept her supplied with endless treats. The result was obvious—she had gained weight.
In the mirror, her face looked rounder than before.
Whenever she asked her brothers if she had put on weight, their answers were unanimous—no, absolutely not, just her imagination. They would deny it while handing her another plate, feeding her until her cheeks puffed like a hamster's before finally satisfied.
She and Jasper had agreed to meet at seven-thirty. The drive was less than twenty minutes.
She got there ten minutes early, giving herself time to look around.
In a way, this was an offline meeting between two people who had first connected through messages.
Their first contact had been through a business card passed by one of Jasper's men. The second was her text asking for his help finding someone.
Amelia had never asked about his appearance. During the seven days of underground fight matches, she had worn a mask the entire time.
She didn't know what Jasper looked like either.
She hadn't asked—partly because it was impolite with someone she barely knew, partly because, being mixed-race, he would probably stand out in a crowd.
The restaurant was well-reviewed online, high-end enough that the dining room wasn't crowded.
The moment Amelia stepped into the main hall, she noticed a cluster of people gathered near a flower-lined divider, all peering toward a table by the window.
Most of them were young women. As she passed, she caught snippets of their excited chatter.
"Oh my god, those proportions… perfect head-to-body ratio, flawless features!"
"I didn't think anyone could be this good-looking in real life… and that aristocratic vibe!"
"He has to be a celebrity. With a face like that, he could be famous anywhere."
"He's gorgeous. I'm taking a few shots for my wallpaper—this will blow up online!"
By the window sat an impossibly handsome man, so striking that the women had forgotten their meals, phones raised to capture him.
Amelia didn't care who he was—celebrity or influencer, it didn't matter.
Her gaze swept the room.
When it landed on a man seated alone at a small square table to the left, she paused.
Ten seconds later, she walked over.
He looked to be in his thirties, clearly not local—blond hair, blue eyes, a strong nose, hair thinning slightly, weight easily over two hundred pounds. His attire suggested the tech industry.
Tech… maybe he was a hacker, like Leroy. That would explain how he had found Michael's grandmother so quickly.
The thought made sense.
Amelia took the seat across from him naturally, extending her hand with a smile. "Jasper, hello. I'm Amelia Martinez. It's good to finally meet you."