Left with no choice, Maureen finally picked up her rice.
While eating with her head down, Gareth noticed she was wearing a high–necked long–sleeved top today. Despite the air conditioning indoors, such clothing couldn’t withstand the heat outside.
“Feeling unwell again lately?”
He knew Maureen was sensitive to cold.
Maureen caught his gaze and shook her head unnaturally. “No, just thought the office AC was too cold.”
“You should bring a jacket. That collar must be stuffy around your neck.”
“Mhm.”
Maureen lowered her head further, hiding the marks on her
skin.
Unbeknownst to her, Geoffrey was watching their every move through surveillance in another room.
He summoned a waiter with a gesture. After brief instructions, the waiter soon arrived at their private booth with red wine.
“Compliments of the house for both of you.”
Without waiting for Gareth or Maureen’s agreement, the waiter stepped forward to pour wine into Maureen’s glass.
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“No need. We don’t drink.”
Gareth frowned.
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Knowing Reenie couldn’t control her drinking, he never allowed Maureen alcohol when they went out.
At his refusal, the waiter jerked his hand. The entire glass spilled all over Maureen.
“Sorry, so sorry…” The waiter hastily grabbed tissues to wipe her neck.
“It’s fine, I’ll handle it.”
Maureen fumbled awkwardly.
As red wine had splashed onto her neckline, the waiter unfastened her collar button to clean it.
Gareth stood and approached. When moving to assist, his gaze froze on the faint passion marks scattered along her slender neck.
He silently averted his eyes, tossing the waiter a card. “Buy a new outfit.”
“Yes, sir.”
The waiter trembled while exiting with the card.
Unaware Gareth had seen the marks, Maureen said, “I’ll visit the restroom.”
“Alright. I’ll have the waiter deliver your clothes shortly.”
“Okay.”
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Maureen hurried out of the private room.
But upon reaching the restroom entrance, a tall figure blocked her path.
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Geoffrey hauled Maureen inside and slammed the unisex restroom door shut.
Maureen stared at him in confusion. “Why are you here?”
“Just passing by.
Had I not come, I wouldn’t have witnessed how thoroughly my wife enjoys dining with others.”
Geoffrey’s eyes trailed down to her exposed neck as he spoke.
Geoffrey raised his slender hand, lowered his fingertip.
“You’re in such a mess. Seems you weren’t just having dinner?”
The words exploded in Maureen’s mind like thunder.
What did he mean by “not just dinner“?
She avoided his touch: “Only dirty–minded people think that way.”
Geoffrey’s hand froze mid–air.
His icy gaze narrowed: “What exactly did I say?
That was dirty?”
“The dirty one standing before me now is you!”
How could he not know why Maureen was disheveled?
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He just wanted her explanation!
No explanation, just insults?
“If I’m so filthy, why are you still here?
Leave before I stain your eyes.”
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Geoffrey grew angrier, pulling her firmly against him as he mocked,
“You think he didn’t notice those marks on you, dressed like this today?”
Maureen stared at him in disbelief, then looked down at
herself.
In her earlier rush–and that waitress–her collar button had
come undone.
No wonder Gareth’s expression seemed odd earlier.
“You… how did you know?”
“Spying on me again?”
Her eyes reddened, vision blurred by a film of tears.
Her sorrowful gaze pierced Geoffrey like needles.
He felt an inexplicable ache in his chest.
The lie slipped out uncontrollably: “Why would I need to spy?
I saw it at a glance.”
He didn’t know why he denied watching her–only that seeing her on the verge of tears left him unsettled.
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He couldn’t bear to see her cry.
Maureen still burned with shame.
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Even if Katherine had been here instead of Gareth, she’d have reacted the same.
She felt tainted, unwilling to let anyone see those marks…
She’d always believed such intimacy belonged only to lovers- not strangers…
She knew it was naive; adults did these things without love.
Yet she couldn’t reconcile it…
Because she’d witnessed true love through her grandparents.
They were a couple who weathered hardships together, having met during wartime. Even when Maureen was little, their bond remained unshakable.
She remembered Grandma developing Alzheimer’s in her sixties, forgetting everyone.
But Grandpa–the richest man in town–never abandoned her. He resigned as chairman and cared for her over a decade until her passing in her seventies.
After Grandma passed away, Grandpa never smiled again.
Maureen once asked Grandpa why he’d cared for Grandma all those years without complaints or regrets.
Grandpa said, “When you meet someone as dazzling as a rainbow, someone who makes everyone else fade into the background, you’ll understand.”
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Within a year, Grandpa passed away too.
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Since then, Maureen believed true love existed in this world.
She’d find someone like Grandpa–someone who’d love her unconditionally and care for her without hesitation.
But she wasn’t as fortunate as Grandma.