Dolores spun around to find Matthew standing behind her. The light behind him obscured his facial expressions, and she had to squint to get a clearer view.
The receptionist took the card from Matthew’s hand and stated, “The total bill for both rooms is $12, 080.”
“Oh! So, sister-in-law Dolores drove here,” Armand blurted out. Dolores lowered her head, slipping her card back into her bag. She asked Matthew softly, “Are you heading back?”
Before Matthew could respond, Armand interjected, “It’s too early to leave! Besides…” He gestured towards Matthew and Dolores. “You both still owe me a celebratory drink for your wedding. Let’s do it tonight!”
Matthew remained silent, his eyes concealed in the flickering light, giving no hint of his true feelings.
Dolores felt nothing but embarrassment, particularly at the awkward way Armand referred to her.
“I’m not going; you guys can go ahead,” she said, turning to leave. However, Matthew seized her wrist and uttered, “Wait for me.”
Dolores struggled to free herself, but his grip was too tight to break.
Meanwhile, the receptionist settled the bill and returned the card along with the receipt. “Your total comes to $12, 080.”
Matthew placed the card and receipt into his wallet and casually remarked, “Let’s go!”
Armand had no intention of letting them off the hook so easily. He stepped in front of them, insisting, “If you don’t take me for a drink tonight, I won’t let you go.”
He stood before them, resolute in his stance.
Theresa, who had been standing behind them, quietly stepped back, intending to slip away. Armand noticed in the mirror that the woman behind them was discreetly trying to leave.
Recognizing that she had come out of the room with Dolores earlier, implying that they knew each other, Armand turned around and grabbed her. “Don’t go.”
Theresa was startled, staring at him in horror.
“Don’t be scared. You’re my sister-in-law’s friend, right?” Armand flashed a grin, revealing his pearly white teeth.
She glanced at Dolores and nodded, saying, “I’m her assistant.”
“Oh! What do you guys do?”
“We work in costume design.”
“How coincidental! I’ve been longing to have some clothes made.”
“Well, our store is opening the day after tomorrow. I would love to invite you to come,” Theresa replied smoothly.
What?
Armand blinked in confusion. “You’re opening a store the day after tomorrow?”
Theresa nodded.
Armand embraced Boyce, who watched the scene excitedly, and playfully tugged at his neck. “Our sister-in-law is opening her store. We have to be there to support her.”
“Yeah,” Boyce agreed.
He sensed that despite Matthew and Dolores being divorced, they still shared a bond through their children, and it seemed that Matthew cared deeply for her.
This was fantastic, and they had to make time to attend the grand opening.
Armand grinned, his lips red and teeth white. “Dolores, if you don’t take us for a drink tonight, I won’t leave.”
He truly had no shame.
Dolores frowned.
She glanced at Matthew, hoping he would intervene and speak to his friend.
Hoping he wouldn’t let her feel embarrassed.
What celebratory drinks for their wedding?
What celebration?
Matthew pretended not to notice her gaze. He continued holding her hand, absentmindedly playing with it.
He didn’t reject Armand’s request.
When he married Dolores, there was nothing. He hadn’t even introduced her to his closest friends.
Now, he took pleasure in Armand referring to her as his sister-in-law.
Previously, he hadn’t introduced her to his friends because he simply wasn’t interested in her.
Back then, he didn’t want this marriage.
But now things were different. He wanted to preserve this marriage and keep her by his side.
Now, he wanted to show her off.
Moreover, Armand and Boyce were his good friends.
He wanted them to know.
“If Dolores is busy, we can go first. Boyce and I can join her for drinks,” Armand declared, grabbing Theresa’s arm and starting to leave.
“Dolores!” Theresa cried out in panic.
“Wait,” Dolores reluctantly agreed.
“Let her go.”
Armand had done it on purpose. He knew that the woman Matthew loved wouldn’t stand idly by as her assistant was pulled away without a fight.
And it turned out, he was right.
He released his grip on Theresa.
She instinctively took a step back, increasing the distance between herself and Armand.
He seemed more like a terrifying monster than a human being.
“Let’s go then. I’ll decide where we’re going, and it’s on me today,” Armand said cheerfully, but Boyce dampened his spirits with his words, “Really? You, the cheapskate of the century, are paying?”
As long as Matthew was around, Armand never paid.
Armand glared at him. “Don’t ruin my reputation in front of these beautiful ladies. I’m very generous!”
Boyce smiled and hopped into his car.
“You get in my car,” Armand gestured to Theresa.
Theresa waved her hands quickly. “No, no, you guys go ahead. I’ll head back now.”
“What are you afraid of? I don’t bite,” Armand smiled.
Theresa still refused, saying, “I have other plans.”
She quickly came up with an excuse.
After saying her goodbyes to Dolores, she turned around and left.
Dolores bid her farewell, “Okay, take care.”
Theresa nodded. As she reached the side of the road, she realized there was a problem. There were no taxis passing by. Everyone who came to eat there had their own car to drive back.
She had given her car to Allison. What was she going to do now?
“Come with us. There are no taxis here,” Armand parked his car next to her.
Theresa wanted to find Dolores, but by then she was already in Matthew’s car.
“You don’t want to disturb the husband and wife, do you?” Armand teased.
“No.”
“Come on, I’ll drop you off.”
Theresa nervously stood her ground. “Um, no thanks!”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure!”
Theresa replied firmly.
She wasn’t blind. She knew they were a group of extraordinary people, and she didn’t want to get involved with someone like Armand, who seemed like a smooth-talking playboy.
Armand faced repeated rejections, and his enthusiasm dwindled.
He rolled up the window and observed Theresa for a while.
In his opinion, she looked funny, overly cautious.
He wasn’t a bad person.
Why was she so wary of him, as if he were a thief?
After his car disappeared into the distance, Theresa had no choice but to call Allison to come pick her up.
The place Armand chose was a high-end bar.
The nighttime atmosphere was lively, and the nightlife was just beginning.
The spacious lounge on the second floor provided a great view, overlooking the entire bar and the dance floor below. Men and women danced freely amidst the red and green lights.
Armand stood in front of the railing on the second floor, a glass of wine dangling from his hand, swinging his legs carelessly like a fool.
Boyce had grown accustomed to his behavior and found nothing strange about it.
“Behave yourself!” Boyce reminded Armand.
Dolores was with them today.
Armand was also surprised by how far he had gone. He quickly sat down, correcting his slouched posture. “Sister-in-law, I introduced myself last time. You still remember me, right?”
Dolores tucked her hair behind her ear, trying not to appear embarrassed by his address. “I remember.”
“This is Boyce Shawn,” Armand smiled, placing his hand on Boyce’s shoulder. “He’s also a friend of mine and Matthew’s.”
Boyce elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t I have a mouth? I can speak for myself.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to speak properly. Remember when you tried talking to girls in college? You blushed and… Ouch!”
“Oh, did that hurt? I didn’t realize,” Boyce pinched him harder. He had been through serious training, and Armand’s soft and tender skin was no match for him.
Armand winced in pain, his face wrinkled.
Dolores could see that their squabbles were a testament to their strong friendship.
She leaned toward Matthew and whispered, “I’m going to the bathroom.”
Matthew released her hand with a soft hum.
Dolores stood up and left, following the signs to find the restroom.
Unfortunately, as she entered, someone walked out and bumped into her at the door.