Chapter 234 Sorry, I Didn't Think It Through
Online dating? Meeting in person for the first time? For most people, those words carried a hint of disaster. In countless stories, when the screen met reality, the fantasy shattered. The man who had felt so charismatic online appeared in person as short and overweight, poorly dressed, his profile photo a carefully crafted illusion. The charm of their messages dissolved once reality set in.
But the man standing in front of them now... he was tall, striking, with an almost aristocratic air. And it wasn’t only his looks, his presence filled the room in a way that drew everyone’s attention.
What was even more unbelievable was that he and Amelia had never seen each other’s faces before today, yet here they were, both so startlingly good-looking it felt like something out of a movie. A few women in the crowd watched with unmistakable envy in their eyes.
The woman who had accused Amelia was visibly caught off guard. Jasper’s single sentence stopped her cold before she could even think of a reply. She felt the crowd closing in, humiliation crawling up her neck. Her jaw tightened, and her expression hardened.
Grabbing her fiance's hand, she muttered, "Forget it. I'm not wasting any more time here. Let's go, sweetheart. We're not eating in this place."
They had barely taken two steps when Jasper stepped smoothly into their path.
"Ma'am," he said, smiling with his lips but not with his eyes, those pale green irises locking on her with a chill that made her spine tighten. "You don't honestly believe you can insult my girlfriend and just walk away, do you?"
“You…” She hesitated under that intense gaze, her pulse racing. Struggling to sound composed, she asked, “What exactly are you implying?”
Jasper's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice calm and even. "You spoke without knowing the facts. You didn't bother to find out the truth before deciding who was in the wrong. I think you owe my girlfriend an apology."
His Mandarin was flawless, effortless in tone, precise in phrasing, even the formal weight of “not knowing right from wrong” slipped from his lips as though he’d been born to speak it.
Her face grew even tighter. He remained still, making it obvious he wouldn’t let them pass without hearing her speak. Pride knotted in her chest.
Before she could speak, Amelia's voice cut in.
"Your apology doesn't matter to me," she said evenly, her eyes on the other woman. "But if your accusation wasn't just a misunderstanding based on what you saw, and was instead rooted in your faith in your fiance... then I think you need to understand exactly what happened."
Her eyes swept over the crowd. A young man in a waiter’s uniform stepped forward, offering a phone. “Miss, here’s the security camera footage.”
Jasper's brow lifted slightly.
So while he'd been speaking to the woman earlier, Amelia had already asked the staff to pull the footage.
The video showed the moment they approached the table—7:22 p.m. Amelia scrolled back to 7:21 and handed the phone to the woman.
The corner table sat close to the camera. Most of the patrons had been on the other side of the room, distracted by the handsome stranger in the center, leaving this spot quiet.
Within seconds, the audio came through clear. The crowd hushed, leaning in to catch every word.
On the screen, the woman’s fiancé reached out and caught Amelia’s arm. She frowned, pulling back. Even without watching closely, the exchange left the situation unmistakably clear.
Amelia had mistaken him for someone else, apologized immediately, and tried to leave. He had stopped her, attempting to flirt. Worse, he already had a fiancee who was simply in the restroom touching up her makeup.
Several women in the crowd exchanged looks of disgust.
The most ironic detail was that he had stayed silent in the moment, letting people assume he didn't understand the local language. But the recording revealed him speaking fluently, even asking for Amelia's contact information.
The woman stared at the screen, her expression freezing as the truth settled in. She hadn't expected her fiance to be that kind of man—the one who played the part of a gentle, loyal partner while she watched.
Fury boiled inside her. She whirled and struck his cheek. “You dare do this behind my back? Perhaps I wronged someone just now… but you are the shameless one and its over between us."
She stormed off. The heavyset foreign man scrambled after her, calling "Honey!" as he pushed through the crowd.
With the drama over, the staff began dispersing the onlookers. One of the waiters, clearly eager to make amends, offered Amelia a private dining room—one had just been freed by a canceled reservation.
Amelia accepted.
The quiet of the private room was a relief after the noise outside. Jasper sat across from her, still wearing that faint smile. His movements were relaxed but deliberate, every gesture carrying an unspoken elegance. Even the way he glanced at the menu had the polish of someone accustomed to fine places.
Once the waiter left them alone, Amelia spoke. "Jasper, thank you for stepping in earlier."
"While I appreciate your intention, I already have a boyfriend." She met his gaze. "So those things you said that could cause misunderstandings... I'd prefer you didn't say them again."
Her words caught him mid-motion. His hand paused over the water jug. In the shadow between them, his eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through before it was gone.
When he looked up again, his expression was as composed as ever, though there was a trace of surprise in his gaze.
"Really? Miss Martinez, you already have a boyfriend?" His voice was warm, even apologetic. "I'm sorry—I didn't think it through. I'll be more careful."
He leaned back, one elbow resting lightly on the table, fingers interlaced with casual grace. "But then again... with someone like you, I'm sure there's no shortage of men hoping for the chance. I can't help wondering—who's the lucky one?"