Dave’s jaw tightened. Without saying a word, he walked past Bianca with a gloomy expression, heading to the opposite side of the table. He sank into a chair, crossing his legs and folding his arms defensively. His chin jutted out, exuding a cold disapproval that seemed to chill the atmosphere.
Bianca stole a glance at him, then quickly looked away, nervously fiddling with her glass. She couldn’t understand why Dave had reacted so strongly to her comment.
Maybe he wanted to keep their relationship a secret from Skylar, his cousin, to avoid suspicion.
Deciding to stay silent, Bianca chose not to push the issue.
Reece’s eyes flickered between Bianca and Skylar.
One was Dave’s girlfriend, the other his fiancee.
The tangled relationships left him feeling trapped in a social minefield, unsure of what to say.
Reece cleared his throat a bit too loudly to break the heavy silence.
“Joining Dave for dinner, Skylar?” he asked, immediately regretting the question as it felt too obvious, making him uncomfortable.
Skylar smiled sweetly at him.
“Yes,” she replied, glancing at the stoic man beside her, his head leaning slightly on his shoulder. “Dave knows I love this restaurant’s signature dish, so he brought me here for a treat.”
Bianca couldn’t help but glance at them again, a frown forming.
Hadn’t Dave said they were just distant relatives?
The closeness between them was confusing. Even if Skylar was his cousin, the sight of her leaning so possessively against him bothered Bianca.
Dave frowned in response, gently nudging Skylar away. He pulled his arm back and pushed the menu toward her with a hint of disdain.
“That’s new to me,” Dave said, his lips curling into a cold sneer. “Since you enjoy it so much, order as much as you please.”
The smile on Skylar’s face faded.
Was Dave’s coldness toward her because of Bianca?
The more he acted this way, the stronger Skylar’s competitive spirit grew. She was determined to prove to Bianca that she was the one meant for Dave.
Childhood friends, could someone like Bianca really compare?
“Remember how much you loved caviar as a kid, Dave?” Skylar said, her voice forced as she flipped through the menu. “We used to sneak it from the kitchen together. They have it here, so I’ll order some for you.”
Bianca kept her composure, but her fingers tightened into fists beneath the table.
Why did Dave’s story about Skylar didn’t match what she was seeing now?
Dave slammed his hand down on the menu, closing it sharply. “Wrong memory, Skylar. Caviar isn’t my thing. You only lived next door for a few years when we were little. You moved away when you were eight, and we haven’t seen each other until recently.”
His words, though aimed at Skylar, were clearly meant for Bianca.
Bianca let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Skylar’s smile tightened into a thin, strained line.
Caviar had been his childhood favorite. He was clearly distancing himself, likely to avoid any misunderstanding with Bianca.
His heart was elsewhere, and he wasn’t afraid to publicly contradict and humiliate her, his fiancee.
Anger and jealousy overwhelmed Skylar.
Sensing her discomfort, Reece tried to ease the tension by taking the menu from her. “The dishes we ordered before were excellent. Perhaps you’d like to try them as well?”
After placing their orders, an uncomfortable silence filled the table, and none of them dared to speak.
“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” Bianca said suddenly, standing up.
Reece quickly stood aside to let her pass. “Take your time.”
As an experienced lawyer, he was well-versed in social etiquette.
But his courteous gesture caught Skylar’s attention.
With narrowed eyes, Skylar observed Reece after Bianca left. “Speaking of Miss Scott, is there something more between you two?” she asked.
“No! Absolutely not!” Reece interrupted quickly, his eyes nervously flicking toward Dave.
He had no romantic interest in Bianca, and even if he did, he wouldn’t dare compete with Dave for her.
Besides, if he had feelings for Dave’s woman, he wouldn’t have stood by while Skylar became his fiancee.
A brief flicker of sadness crossed his face.
Skylar, surprised by his strong response, gave him a wounded look. “I was just asking. No need to get so defensive.”
Dave, however, kept his eyes fixed on Reece, showing a stern expression.
Reece forced a smile and quickly added, “Miss Scott and I have a purely professional relationship. She invited me here today to thank me for winning a previous case and to discuss another lawsuit for which she needs my help.”
“Another lawsuit? What’s it about?” Skylar asked out of curiosity.
Just as Reece was about to speak, Dave cut him off, his tone cold.
“It’s not appropriate for a distinguished lawyer to reveal a client’s confidential matters,” Dave said.
Reece was briefly taken aback but quickly understood. He smiled and replied, “Dave is right. Skylar, let’s not discuss this.”
“I’m just curious,” Skylar said, a slight smile tugging at her lips as she glanced at Dave.
Her grip on the water glass tightened. Dave had been focused on Bianca, completely disregarding her. It felt as if he was deliberately ignoring her.
Was Dave really so preoccupied with Bianca?
Despite Skylar’s efforts to secure his commitment, she realized that as long as Bianca remained in the picture, she couldn’t fully possess his heart.
As long as Dave held on to Bianca, Skylar’s place as his wife was uncertain.
She needed to take Dave entirely, which meant removing Bianca from the equation.
As Skylar’s thoughts raced, Dave stood up and casually said, “I’ll go outside to make a phone call.”
Skylar watched Dave leave; her lips pressed tightly together. He must be using the phone call as an excuse to see Bianca!
Just as she was about to get up and follow, Reece intervened.
“I don’t think Dave appreciates being followed when he makes calls, Skylar.”
His words calmed her, and she sat back down, glancing at him.
“Holding onto a man too tightly can have unintended consequences,” Reece said with a gentle smile, refilling her glass of water.
Skylar realized that Reece was cautioning her against following Dave, no matter what he was doing.
“Did Bianca talk to you because her company’s partners ended their collaboration, Reece?” Skylar asked, fixing her eyes on him.
“You’re aware?” Reece’s eyes flickered slightly.
“She wants you to represent her and sue those partners, right?” Skylar had pieced together the situation and guessed correctly.