Chapter 185
Chapter 185
99%
Raphael smiled faintly and said, “You flatter me. In my opinion, Mr. Calhoun is the one who’s truly exceptional.”
Gracie blushed a little, then looped her arm through Owen’s, leaning into him like a little bird, and said, “Miss Dalton, since your boyfriend’s here too, why don’t we all have a meal together? It’s fate that we’ve run into each other.”
Hailey was about to decline, but Raphael took her hand and smiled casually. “Of course, that sounds great.”
Hailey frowned slightly, confused, and looked at Raphael.
Owen didn’t say anything but was the first to turn and walk toward the restaurant.
Gracie, on the other hand, took charge and walked over to Hailey, hooking her arm around hers. “Let’s go together. I don’t want to hang around with these two grumpy men.”
Hailey smiled politely but didn’t respond.
Raphael followed behind them, walking at a leisurely pace.
The four of them ascended to the second floor of the restaurant and entered a private dining room.
Owen sat first, with Gracie beside him. Raphael sat next to Gracie, and Hailey’s seat was between Raphael and Owen.
The waiter brought over the menus.
Hailey preferred stronger flavors, so Raphael ordered some spicy dishes. Owen, on the other hand, ordered light, mild foods.
After Owen finished ordering, Gracie’s face twisted with dissatisfaction. “How do you never remember what I like to eat?”
Owen glanced at her coolly. “Didn’t you forget last time you had barbecue and got mouth ulcers?”
Gracie lowered her head, looking slightly pitiful. “It’s not like I can control my body’s tendency to get overheated.”
Owen shrugged. “Then just control yourself and eat less spicy food.”
“Humph.” Gracie pouted, turning her head away in a huff.
Without missing a beat, Owen calmly wiped down her utensils, while the two of them exchanged playful banter.
Hailey bit her lip and lowered her head, feeling like she might not be able to make it through this meal.
Gracie was lively and had a striking beauty–bold and dazzling, the kind of woman who easily drew attention.
“Miss Dalton, how did you meet your boyfriend?” Gracie asked curiously.
Raphael answered on Hailey’s behalf. “Well, it’s a bit like something out of a drama. Hailey fainted from low blood sugar in the street, and I happened to be there. I’m a doctor, so I saved her.”
Gracie raised an eyebrow. “So, Miss Dalton, did you offer–yourself to him in gratitude for saving your life?”
“That’s not it. We got close later on,” Hailey replied mildly.
“And how did you meet Mr. Calhoun?” Raphael asked, his tone light but questioning.
Gracie smiled sweetly and glanced at Owen before she could answer, but suddenly Hailey’s cup slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, spilling water all over her leg.
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r 08:21 Fr, 11 Apr
Chapter 185
“Sorry,” Hailey murmured, standing up. “You all continue, I’ll just go to the bathroom”
“Are you alright, Miss Dalton?” Gracie asked with concern.
Hailey shook her head, offering a strained smile. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Owen, to the quickly hurried out of the private room.
The restroom was shared.
Hailey stepped inside, placing both hands on the sink as she took a deep, shaky breath.
Lifting her head, she stared at her reflection in the mirror–her face was pale and drained, and no matter how hard she tried to force a smile, it looked utterly awful.
She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands, and splashed cold water onto her face, but it did nothing to stop the trembling in her fingers or the tight, twisting pain in her chest.
The feeling made her want to break down and sob, yet no tears would come. She felt frozen, as if no warmth could ever reach her again.
She had thought she could stop caring, that none of it mattered anymore, but in the end, she realized the truth–jealousy was eating her alive.
She couldn’t stand seeing Owen with another woman, but it was too late.
Now, all she could do was tell herself to accept it, to move on. Time would heal everything.
After spending five minutes in the restroom, Hailey finally stepped out, only to be stopped in her tracks.
The restroom was at the far end of the restaurant’s hallway, dimly lit by a single overhead light.
A soft, golden glow cast down over Owen, highlighting his tall, lean frame—a presence both restrained and overpowering.
His deep, beautiful eyes held a quiet intensity as he looked at Hailey’s pale, delicate face. Without a word, he reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her back into the restroom.
“Owen, what are you doing?” Hailey asked softly.
With a swift motion, Owen locked the door behind them.
He pinned her against the door, one hand bracing the door as he leaned close to her, a standard “wall slam” position.
Owen’s breath was warm against her ear. “Hailey, why do you look so sad just now?”
Hailey pressed her lips together, her face pale. “You’re mistaken.”
“Am I?” Owen tilted his head, his breath still warm against her skin, as his finger lightly traced her cheek. His voice was low and mocking, but there was a cold edge to it. “I thought maybe… you were jealous.”
Hailey’s heart jolted as if he’d touched a raw nerve. She suddenly shoved him away, her face icy as she said, “Owen, your girlfriend is out there.”
Hailey was torn she was crazed with jealousy over the woman beside Owen, but at the same time, she was sharp enough to realize that her relationship with Owen was over.
The battle between her sanity and her emotions raged within her, but ultimately, sanity won.
She would never allow herself to have any more connection with Owen.
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08:21 Fri, 11 Apr 0
Chapter 185
4 99%會
“But don’t you think this is exciting?” Owen asked, his voice soft and tempting. “Your boyfriend and my girlfriend are out there, and yet here we are, getting close.”
Hailey shuddered, her body frozen as she stared at Owen, her disbelief evident. For a moment, she didn’t even recognize him anymore.
Hailey thought, ‘How could he say something like that?
This was betrayal–this wasn’t the Owen she knew. What had happened to him?
She looked at his flawless side profile, a flicker of unease passing through her as she realized something–he had changed. He was no longer the man she once knew.
Owen sighed softly, raising a hand as if to pull her into an embrace, but Hailey pushed him away.
“Hailey…” he sighed, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness.
Hailey’s heart twisted painfully. She remembered the day she first returned to Wothaland when Owen had called Gracie in that same soft, tender voice.
Unable to stop herself, Hailey let out a bitter laugh. “Owen, don’t call me like that anymore.”
Owen narrowed his eyes, a faint flicker of coldness in them, as he looked at her with a detached gaze.
Hailey, sensing he had returned to his indifferent demeanor, turned toward the door.
But before she could open it, Owen suddenly bent down, grabbing her chin roughly and kissing her hard.
The kiss was fierce and commanding, and Hailey, stunned and overwhelmed, didn’t have the strength to resist. Her arms were pinned above her head, her legs trapped beneath his weight, and she couldn’t move.
