Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Michael's jaw dropped. He covered his mouth with both hands, rose up on his tiptoes, and gasped, "Oh my God, Mia, is this real? You're actually pregnant? That's incredible! Well, I guess all I can do is wish you the best. But Mia, could I put my ear against your belly and listen for the baby?"

With that, Michael started walking toward Mia.

Mia quickly stepped back. "Please don't, Mr. Carr. The baby is still very young, and I don't want you startling her."

Michael nodded repeatedly. "Right, right, you make a good point, Mia. The baby is so little — we can't go scaring her. Mia, since we can't be husband and wife, how about this — I'll be like a big brother to you. And when the baby is born, I'll be the child's auntie — wait, no, I'll be the child's uncle."

Hearing this, Mia felt some of the tension leave her. As long as Michael stopped pushing her to marry him, everything else was fine.

"Okay, okay, as long as you're willing to be the baby's uncle. Mr. Carr, it's getting late — could you head home now?"

Mia knew that if she wanted to have dinner with David, she had to get rid of Michael first.

But Michael looked utterly disappointed. "Oh God, Mia, what are you saying? How can you ask me to leave right now? It's dinnertime, and you told me yourself that Seabrook Seattle Grand Bistro has some of the best food in the world. What — you can't even have dinner with me? I just agreed to be the baby's uncle! Oh God, this is really too disappointing."

Seeing Michael go on and on while the crowd around them kept growing, Mia couldn't take it anymore. "Fine, fine, I'll treat you to dinner. But when you meet Mr. Jones, please behave yourself. I'm begging you, okay?"

When Michael heard that Mia was willing to eat with him, he broke into a grin. "Wonderful! I get to see that impressive gentleman from earlier again."

Mia's heart skipped a beat. "Michael, don't tell me you're interested in that man?"

Michael rolled his eyes at her and gave her shoulder a light tap with his finger. "I'm a man too, you know. How could I be interested in him that way? I just want to learn from him. I want to carry myself with that kind of presence someday."

Mia pressed a hand to her chest and let out a long breath. "Okay, okay. Learning is good."

Michael turned his attention back to the Seattle Grand Bistro ahead and asked with a hint of doubt, "Dear Mia, is the food here really that good?"

Mia nodded, matter-of-factly. "I would never lie to you about something like this. Seattle Grand Bistro is hands down the best restaurant in Seabrook — no, in the whole region. Just look at the foot traffic. There are easily two or three thousand people wanting to eat here every day. And the most important thing is, if you're not a member, you have to wait in line. If you're lucky, you might get a table the same day. If not, you could be waiting three to five days."

As she said this, Mia wore a thoroughly smug expression.

Michael clapped his hands. "That's wonderful! Coming here with you today, Mia, I'm in for a real treat."

Mia beamed with pride. Once inside, she scanned the waiting area, hoping to spot David. But to her surprise, with so many people around, she couldn't find him anywhere.

"Could David have gone upstairs already?"

But that didn't make sense. David wasn't a member here — how would he get upstairs? And if not upstairs, where else could he be? He must have gone to the restroom.

With that thought, Mia waved over a nearby server.

The moment the server approached, Mia pulled out her membership card and said directly, "Take me to my private room."

But when the server saw the card, she gave a polite smile and said, "Ms. Wilson, I'm so sorry, but we can process a refund for you right now."

Mia froze, caught off guard. "Wait — a refund? Why would you give me a refund?"

The server remained courteous and kept smiling as she explained, "Ms. Wilson, our owner has personally instructed us that members holding this type of card will need to be refunded and re-registered."

Mia was a regular here, and the staff all knew her well. She said with barely concealed impatience, "What kind of rule is that? Fine — process my refund and issue me a new card. I'm taking my friend upstairs now."

She turned to head upstairs with Michael, but the server stepped in front of her again. "Ms. Wilson, I'm truly sorry, but you can't go up right now."

Mia's expression darkened. "What's going on? You just said you'd issue me a new card."

The server explained carefully, "Ms. Wilson, our owner has given instructions that Seattle Grand Bistro will no longer be accepting you as a guest."

Mia stared in disbelief. "What? What did you just say? Seattle Grand Bistro won't accept me anymore? Are you joking? Do you have any idea how much money I've spent here over the years? Where's your manager? Tell him to come see me right now!"

Michael, standing beside Mia, looked equally put out. He frowned and said, "That's ridiculous. If Ms. Wilson is a member here, you're obligated to serve her."

The server could see things were going sideways and said helplessly, "Ms. Wilson, please don't make this difficult for us. These are our owner's orders."

Mia clenched her fists and said slowly, word by word, "I'll say it one more time — get your manager out here right now."

The server didn't dare refuse. She knew full well that anyone with this kind of membership card at Seattle Grand Bistro was someone important in Seabrook — and she was just a server who couldn't afford to offend anyone.