5
The two servers whispered to each other for a moment, and their attitudes shifted instantly–they now looked at me with respect and even a touch of admiration.
The same server who had asked me for the membership card earlier bowed deeply.
“Ms. Adams, we had no idea you were a guest personally invited by the owner. I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding earlier!”
I shook my head, not wanting to make things difficult for him.
What I hadn’t expected, though, was that Logan–the man who had hit me with his car–was actually the owner of this restaurant.
Lola, however, wasn’t taking this well.
“An honored guest? Her?” she sneered, her voice dripping with disbelief. “You must be mistaken. She’s just some broke loser whose family went bankrupt. There’s no way she’s anyone important!”
But the server remained firm, repeating that there was no mistake.
Something flickered in Lola’s eyes, and then a twisted realization dawned on her face.
“Oh, I get it now,” she said, laughing as she clung to Isaac’s arm. “I was wondering how you suddenly had the money to pay Isaac back. Turns out you latched onto a richer man!”
She pouted dramatically, shaking Isaac’s arm.
“Isaac, everyone knows this restaurant is owned by the Carter family. That old Mr. Carter must be, what, in his sixties now? And she still went after him! How disgusting! Honestly, for money, she’d probably do anything. No wonder she dumped you. Unlike me, of course–I only have eyes for you.”
Isaac’s cold gaze pierced through me from behind his gold–rimmed glasses.
“Mia,” he said, his tone icy, “is that true?”
I exhaled slowly, wondering how I had ever been stupid enough to love this man.
“Think whatever you want,” I said, my voice flat.
I turned to leave, unwilling to waste another second on this nonsense, but Isaac stepped in front of me again, blocking my way.
“Mia, you’re not leaving until you explain everything!”
“Tell me–when did you start cozying up to the Carter family? How long have you been betraying me?”
I almost laughed out loud.
This man, who had paraded another woman in front of me without shame, had the audacity to accuse me of betrayal?
“Isaac, are you delusional? Or just plain stupid?”
“Do you really believe every word that comes out of her mouth? If she told you to jump off a bridge, would you wag your tail and do it?”
It was the first time I’d ever spoken to him with such biting sarcasm.
From the moment I met him, I’d given him all the gentleness and love I had in me. It was my love that had made him forget–I wasn’t just some pushover; I had once been a girl raised in comfort and pride.
Isaac’s composure cracked.
The calm collected persona he usually wore so carefully was gone.
3:08 PM
<
“So it’s true, isn’t it?” he shouted, his voice filled with rage. “I knew it! You’re nothing but a gold–digging, shameless woman. You’ll do anything for money, won’t you? You’re pathetic!”
The last word had barely left his mouth when the sharp sound
of
a
slap rang out in the hallway.
“Watch your mouth!” I snapped, my voice trembling with fury. “This is the last time I’m going to say it–we’re done. Stop acting like a lunatic in
front of me!”
I had used all my strength in that slap, and my hand burned from the impact.
Isaac slowly turned his head back to me, his cheek red and his eyes cold as ice. He stared at me with a chilling intensity, the tension between us almost suffocating.
And then, suddenly, from behind us, came the sound of someone clapping.
“Well done,” a familiar voice said. “Never go easy on a jerk like him.”
I spun around and saw Logan leaning casually against the wall, a small grin on his face.
“But seriously,” he added, looking at Lola with an amused expression, “who told you this restaurant is owned by my dad? Your information’s outdated. He transferred the ownership to me ages ago.”
