Jason left in a hurry, his tone suggesting that his jealous girlfriend was involved. He seemed quite devoted to her. Whenever Aurora thought of devotion, Julian came to mind as the best person for her.
Once Jason left, only Aurora and Eric remained in the room, just like at noon. Julian couldn’t see them; he could only hear their voices. Eric didn’t bring up the past but kept serving dishes to Aurora, creating a cheerful atmosphere throughout the meal.
No one would guess that Aurora and Eric were actually competitors. “Miss, didn’t you say you liked horror movies at lunch? I heard there’s a new one out, ‘Shadow Whispers’. It’s set in the deep forests of the southwest. Remembering you liked horror, I bought us two tickets. Setting aside our competitive relationship, I’m also your cousin and we went to the same university. You wouldn’t refuse to give me this face, would you?”
Eric was a transparent person in his dealings. He quickly understood the leverage points with Aurora, knowing she couldn’t be forced directly. With the conversation turned this way, Aurora felt it would be impolite to refuse, perhaps because she bore no previous grudges against Eric, so she agreed.
“Will Mr. Gilpin have time to come later? Since it’s a horror movie, having more people might be comforting,” she shifted the topic to Jason.
Jason’s intentions had always been ambiguous, and Aurora wasn’t sure what he was really thinking, but she certainly hoped for more opportunities to interact with him.
“That might depend on Bella. Her personality is quite tricky; she might not let Jason go easily. I’ll call and ask,” Eric’s smartest move was not making any promises. He would inform Jason, but whether Jason would come was uncertain, giving Aurora a glimmer of hope.
“Why not invite Bella too? Since we’re all friends, I’d also like to get to know her,” Aurora thought quickly, eager to make the deal happen.
If she couldn’t approach through Jason, then perhaps Bella could be an opportunity.
“Alright, I’ll tell them,” Eric said, his eyes deep behind his glasses.
Meanwhile, Jason had already left in a luxury car, driven by the very girlfriend he often mentioned affectionately.
“Let’s go, it’s none of our business now.”
“Are they having dinner?” Bella asked, looking somewhat forlorn.
“Of course. You know well the boss’s feelings for her. He finally got an excuse to take her out, he wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. Have you eaten? If not, let me take you out, after all, you’re my darling too,” Jason teased Bella, but received a glare in response.
“Bella, give up. He’s never been interested in you. Didn’t you see the way he looks at Miss Montgomery? I’ve never seen him treat anyone with such care in all the years I’ve been by his side.”
“No need to tell me, I know,” Bella responded, already aware of his feelings for another, but it still pained her to see his affection for Aurora recently.
Irritated, she lit a cigarette, and her elegant face was tinged with melancholy in the smoke she exhaled.
Some people, no matter how deeply you love them, remain unattainable, and all your efforts are just futile, like a mirage or a dream.
She had no choice but to dutifully play her role, even if she was just a pawn, she aimed to be the most satisfactory one.
“You seem upset, let me drive.” The three were clearly long-time acquaintances, and Jason especially understood Bella’s feelings towards that person.
“No need, I’m not as weak as you think.” Bella skillfully shifted gears, knowing his intentions the moment she stayed by his side, her mental preparations already made.
The car had only driven halfway when Bella’s ringtone sounded, instantly dispelling her gloom upon hearing that ringtone designated for him.
“It’s me… okay, I understand.” Bella’s face, happy just a second ago, fell instantly.
“It seems to be about Miss Montgomery again,” Jason deduced from Bella’s expression.
“You don’t have to be silent for people to think you’re mute, let’s go see a movie, and remember your role,” Bella said fiercely, though she only acted so docilely like a lamb in front of that person.
“Tsk, since you are my dear darling, you can’t keep such a gloomy face, or Miss Montgomery might get suspicious,” Jason smirked, but the frustrated Bella hardly noticed the bitterness in his smile.
You love him, and I deeply love you, but in your eyes, there’s only him, never noticing the true devotion others offer you.
Bella ignored him, “Let’s go to the movie theater first.”
“I think we should grab something to eat first, I’m really hungry.” Jason knew Bella hadn’t had dinner either, his concern more for her than himself.
“Always making a fuss,” Bella pulled the car over, “You have fifteen minutes to eat, then come back up.”
“Got it, got it,” Jason said as he exited the car, but when he returned, he was carrying a bag, the scent of food wafting out.
“What are you doing bringing that into the car to eat, it smells so disgus… mmm…” Before she could finish, Jason had stuffed a chicken leg into her mouth.
Bella chewed subconsciously, her eyes lighting up, though she kept saying, “Take it away, I won’t eat such disgusting stuff.”
“Little girl, stop pretending in front of me, I know you like it. You just avoid these so-called junk foods because the boss doesn’t like them.”
“Life shouldn’t be so dull, you should indulge in what you like,” Jason ruffled her hair.
“I’ll do what I want without your meddling, and you better not tell him about me eating fried chicken,” Bella threatened vehemently.
“Okay, I won’t tell,” Jason doted on her, his eyes shining as he watched the girl who now looked her age.
Once Bella had finished, a look of satisfaction crossed her face.
Ever since he had labeled these foods as junk years ago, she had avoided them, but she always envied the children who ate them.
“Full now? We can go then,” Jason, seeing her satisfied expression, felt much happier.
Bella then realized the man beside her hadn’t eaten. Could it be he bought it just for her? What exactly was he thinking?