Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Didn’t Scarlet have enough troubles to deal with?
She was a realist, knowing that love wasn’t essential. It was nice to have, sure, but she could do perfectly fine without it. Ayla refused to give up. “Ryan is honestly amazing. He’s a gentleman, considerate, and knows how to care for others. “He’s nothing like William, that cheating jerk. He’s serious when he’s in a relationship. If it weren’t you, I wouldn’t even bother introducing him.”
Lucy’s eyes lit up. “If he’s that great, introduce him to me! She doesn’t want to date, but I do!”
“Give me a break Nyla scoffed. “You’d drag down our family’s average IQ”
Lucy lunged and locked an arm around her neck. “Say that again?”
Ayla immediately grabbed her back “You bully me every day and still think you can marry my brother? In your dreams!” “Let go of me!”
“You let go first!TM
“No! You grabbed me first. You should let go!”
Scarlet calmly lifted her plate off the table, well–practiced by now, just in case the two of them knocked it over mid–wrestle and dumped food all over her.
Genuinely baffled, she muttered, “I’m so mature and level–headed. Why am I friends with you two, exactly?”
Lucy and Xyla shouted together. “Three, two, one.”
Then, they released each other at the same time.
Lucy flipped her hair. “Don’t you remember? Back in school, if I hadn’t shamelessly clung to you, you wouldn’t have given me the time of day.”
“So you won people over by being relentless, too?” Xyla narrowed her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re ENFP as well.”
“Damn. You too?”
The two who’d just been trying to strangle each other now warmly shook hands like long–lost comrades. “Fellow ENFPS unite. We’re not doing anything wrong. We just like squeezing into introverts‘ space.”
Scarlet stared at them. What did introverts like her ever do to deserve this?
Tonight’s rooftop restaurant was Xyla’s pick. It was well–known, with glass walls on all sides and an unobstructed view of Lebavia’s dazzling nightscape. Snow dusted the roof, and inside, the lights were dim and warm. Candles flickered on every table, casting soft, romantic shadows.
As they were getting ready to leave, Lucy glanced around at all the couples seated together. “Honestly, the food was pretty average. It’s just the atmosphere that’s nice. This place is clearly meant for dates. Why are the three of us even here?”
“What’s wrong with the three of us?” Xyla said, digging through her bag for her credit card. “Can’t the three of us live our lives well together?”
Ignoring the cashier’s barely suppressed smile, Scarlet pulled out her phone. “I’ll get it today.”
The cashier pulled up their table’s bill and was about to scan the code when she paused. “Oh, sorry, this table’s already been paid.”
“Paid?”
X CLOSE
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Just then, Xyla shouted, “Ryan!”
Scarlet turned and saw Ryan walking out after finishing dinner with his friends.
Xyla leaned in and whispered urgently, “I swear this wasn’t a setup. If I’m lying, may lightning strike me the moment I step outside!”
Scarlet thought she didn’t have to be that brutal to herself.
“Are you done eating? I just wrapped up, too. I can give you a ride back,” Ryan said, exchanging a few words with his friend before the friend left.
Lucy said, “I drove here. I’ll take Scarlet back later. You just take Xyla home.”
Xyla shoved her bag into Ryan’s hands. “Wait for me a second. I need to use the restroom.”
“You’re unbelievable,” Lucy muttered, already following her. “Wait up. I’m coming, too.”
Scarlet and Ryan stayed by the restaurant exit to wait for them.
A notification popped up in the hospital group chat. Madison tagged her, and she lowered her head to check the message. After a moment of silence, Ryan said, “Xyla’s always acting on impulse. Has she been causing you trouble?”
Scarlet looked up and realized he was watching her.
Maybe it was the restaurant lighting, but his gaze felt softer, more intimate than she’d expected.
He must’ve heard what Xyla said earlier. She knew exactly what he meant.
“My divorce with William isn’t officially finalized yet. It’s messy as it is, and the paperwork still isn’t done. You’re his friend.
If you get caught up in it and people start talking, that wouldn’t be good for your reputation.”
“You’re always thinking about other people first, aren’t you?” Ryan said. “You said all that, but not a single word about yourself.”
I finally found a game
End of the Contract,Start of His Obsession
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