Chapter 3

By the fourth morning, I couldn't take it anymore, so I made dinner plans with a friend.

William drove over in a flashy sports car and took me to our usual restaurant.

"Linda, you're really not cool. Why is it so hard to get you out?"

William pulled out my chair while teasing me.

I rolled my eyes at him and leisurely ordered.

"Pan-seared sole, French terrine..."

As my words fell, a familiar voice responded.

"Right away, please wait."

I froze, looking up to see Anderson's cold face.

As if he didn't recognize me, he served dutifully and professionally.

My fingers twitched involuntarily, vaguely recalling scenes from my past life when I fought with him because I couldn't bear him working part-time.

"I'm giving you money, why do you still need to work? Just focus on school, and spend the rest of your time with me!"

But he just looked coldly at me losing it, then stubbornly said: "Linda, I'm not your pet canary."

I was hurt by his expression and spoke without thinking:

"Haven't you spent my money? Even the clothes on your back are what I bought you!"

Without a word, Anderson started stripping off his clothes in the street.

"I'll give it all back to you. What else do you want? Tell me!"

Scared, I threw myself at him, immediately compromising and soothing him.

"Never mind, calm down."

In the three years we were together, although he seemed controlled by me on the surface, he was always the one with the upper hand emotionally.

A snap of fingers suddenly sounded in front of my eyes.

William's handsome face, full of spirit, enlarged before me.

His tone melancholic: "He's already gone, what are you daydreaming about?"

My face suddenly flushed as I pushed my hand against his face.

William yelped and fell back with the force.

"Babe, give up. Your parents will never approve."

Thinking of something, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes showing a hint of seriousness.

"If you really want to get married, what do you think of me?"

My movement of drinking paused, my eyes shifting slightly.

As my gaze fell on William's striking features, my heart suddenly pounded.

Even though I'd seen this face for over twenty years, it was undeniably handsome.

But...

"Your order."

A cold, mechanical male voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

Exposed to Anderson's gaze, I awkwardly raised my glass to drink.

William didn't care, raising an eyebrow casually.

Fortunately, Anderson left after serving the dishes.

But William wasn't going to let me off, continuing his earlier proposal.

"Our families are well-matched in status, we have an emotional foundation, and as for looks, well, you're getting the better deal..."

I burst out laughing at his joke.

The server bringing soup seemed startled and spilled it all over my hand.

"Ah!"

William's expression changed instantly. He pushed that person away and checked my hand.

Milia fell to the ground, her crying immediately drawing a crowd, including Anderson.

My hand started blistering. The restaurant manager immediately took me to run it under cold water.

William couldn't swallow this insult, pointing at the still-crying Milia:

"Not even an apology. Fire this server."

Anderson's face turned iron-gray as he stood in front of her.

Looking at me, he said word by word: "I'm sorry. I'll apologize for her, is that enough?"

His impatient tone made it seem like I was the instigator.

William sneered, openly sizing him up for a few seconds.

"Doesn't she have a mouth?"

The atmosphere became tense instantly.

Though William usually joked around with me, he'd been pampered since childhood and couldn't tolerate being challenged.

I took a deep breath and blocked William.

"Go buy some medicine for me. I can handle this myself."

He glanced at me, reluctantly pulling at the corner of his mouth, but still dutifully headed out.

After William left, I calmly said to Milia: "You should apologize to me."

Milia's eyes were very red, her voice weak:

"I didn't mean to, it's because you laughed so loud—"

I interrupted her: "Whether it was intentional or not, you burned me. You should apologize, shouldn't you?"

Milia cried again. The manager was also getting impatient.

"If you don't apologize, don't bother coming in tomorrow!"

Milia's face went pale. She looked at me tremblingly, like a little white flower swaying in the wind.

Anderson couldn't watch anymore and grabbed my wrist.

His voice low: "Enough, Linda!"

"She's from a poor family. She relies on this salary to make ends meet. Why are you being so aggressive?"

So asking for an apology had become me being aggressive.

Anderson was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

Lifting his eyelids to look at me.

"It's all because of me that you're making trouble for Milia, isn't it?"

I shook my head: "You're overthinking it."

Anderson suddenly stepped closer, his eyes shooting cold light.

"Still denying it? Going to my house, coming to my workplace - don't you know what you're up to!"

"You just want to force me back, don't you? Linda, you—"

"You're really overthinking it." I decisively cut him off.

Dying miserably in the street in my past life was warning enough. I wasn't shameless enough to insist on him.

Seeing Anderson's obvious disbelief,

A flash of William's proposal crossed my mind.

So I looked at him calmly and said: "Anderson, you can rest assured, because I'm getting engaged."