Everett crushed them with the ease of squashing a bug beneath his shoe. The mess between her and that awful man was not something her family needed to be caught up in. "Alright, go back and keep an eye on your uncle. I''m off," she said.


    Ricky watched Selena walk away, a deep furrow settling in his brows. Should he intervene somehow...?


    ...


    Selena hopped into the taxi and the driver asked, "Where to, miss?"


    Though she intended to give the address to Brook''s house, the words that left her mouth were "Moon Bay" instead.


    Roughly an hour and a halfter, the car pulled up. She stepped out, standing at the doorway, gazing up at thevish vi before her, a ce brimming with memories. Sweet and bitter moments, pain and resentment, despair and anger. All those emotions she believed had faded now resurfaced with stark rity as she stood there. Suddenly, even breathing felt a bitbored.


    The heavy wooden door creaked open, and a servant appeared, greeting her with respect, "Madam, you''re back."


    Selena recognized her. She used to work at the old ce, probably brought over to take care of Everett after Ava left.


    "Just call me Ms. Selena. I''m not Mrs. Bet anymore," she corrected softly.


    The servant''s eyes widened in shock. Mr. and Mrs. Bet divorced? When did that happen? The master never mentioned it... Selena, unfazed by the servant''s reaction, walked straight in. Inside, the vi looked just as it did three years ago, untouched by time. For a moment, it felt like she had just stepped out for a bit.


    Everett poked his head out from the kitchen, and with a casual tone said, "Just one more dish and it''ll be ready. Go ahead and take a seat."


    Selena took a moment to observe him. He used to keep his distance from the kitchen, believing that gentlemen shouldn''t cook. Yet here he was, wearing a suit with an apron, flipping a frying pan with the same hands that once signed documents. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing muscr forearms.


    She was taken aback. This wasn''t the standoff she had envisioned, and she couldn''t quite figure out what his game was.


    When he brought thest dish to the table and took off his apron, a hint of warmth softened his typically cold demeanor, making him seem almost approachable, like a husband.


    en


    He pulled out a chair for her, "Please, have a seat."


    Selena gave him a cursory nce before sitting down.


    OUMS


    Everett sat across from her. Though the setting was a candlelit dinner, the table wasden with Chinese dishes, her favorites.


    He poured two sses of perfectly decanted red wine.


    "I''ve spent the past few years learning to make some of your favorite dishes. They turned out pretty good. Why don''t you give them a try and let me know what you think?"  en


    With that, he picked up some chopsticks and ced a piece of braised pork in her bowl.novelbin


    Selena didn''t move. Dining with him wasn''t why she was here.


    She raised an eyebrow, "Mr. Everett, I don''t get what you''re up to. Let''s just get to the point."


    There was no need for exes to catch up over dinner.


    Everett''s eyes deepened, elbows resting on the table, fingers woven together, lightly tapping his forehead.


    He seemed a bit defeated, "Why rush things? Can''t we just sit and enjoy a meal together?"


    That dinner three years ago still lingered as one of his regrets.


    Selena gave a slight smile, "This kind of warmth isn''t for us."


    A flicker of hurt crossed his face. After a pause, he took a sip of wine, his gaze locked onto hers. Word by word, he said, "When a man is courting a woman, isn''t it clear what


    it means?"


    en


    His hand reached across the table, finding hers. Despite her attempt to pull away, he held her hand tightly, hisrger hand enveloping hers perfectly. "Selena,e back to me, will you?"


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!