At the entrance, a waiter held the door open while greeting incoming guests. “Mr. Flynn, your private room is ready. Your guest has already arrived. This way, please.”

Quentin trailed a few steps behind Ernest, maintaining a respectful distance. Ernest stopped abruptly, and Quentin nearly lost his balance.

“Mr. Flynn…” Quentin began to ask about the sudden halt, but Ernest had already changed direction and was striding purposefully forward.

“The waiter called out in confusion. He looked bewildered. “Sir, your table is this way!”

Ernest paid no attention, leaving the confused waiter to glance questioningly at Quentin. Quentin’s frown deepened as he shook his head apologetically at the waiter. “Don’t mind him.”

He had spotted what had captured Ernest’s attention as well. In the main hall by the window, Elissa and Robin sat facing each other, sharing dinner and animated conversation. It seemed Ernest would be running late for his appointment.

Meanwhile, Elissa held her phone, fingers flying across the screen as she recorded the points Robin had just raised in her notes app. Her concentration was so complete that she failed to notice Ernest’s silent approach to their table.

Robin saw him first, his expression freezing mid-smile. He hesitated for a heartbeat before gently calling her name. “Elissa…”

“Yeah?” Elissa replied without lifting her eyes from the screen. “Just give me a second—I’m almost finished.”

“Okay…” Robin didn’t press her, though his discomfort was evident.

“Heh.” A bitter sound escaped Ernest’s throat before he could stop it. The sound wasn’t loud, but it cut through the ambient noise enough to capture Elissa’s attention. She snapped her head up and found herself staring at Ernest—the man she hadn’t laid eyes on in days.

Ernest appeared as impeccable as ever—elegant, handsome, his gaze seemingly gentle. But Elissa knew better now. That wasn’t gentleness she saw—it was indifference, cold and complete. His very indifference created the illusion of gentleness.

What was he doing here? He had every right to dine at this restaurant. But why was he looming over their table like this?

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“You…” she began uncertainly.

“This is what you call ‘working late’?” His voice dripped with accusation. Ernest cut her off before she could form another word. His gaze raked over Robin with unmistakable contempt. “You chose him over Locke? Left Locke sitting at home, crying for you?”

The accusation hit Elissa like a physical blow, leaving her momentarily speechless. She struggled to contain her rising fury, her voice tight with control. “I didn’t abandon Locke—I called ahead—”

“Still making excuses!” Ernest cut her off again, refusing to let her finish. His composure finally cracked, anger blazing in his eyes. “If you’re on a date, just admit it. Stop hiding behind work as your excuse!”

His gaze flicked toward Robin again, every muscle in his face drawn tight with barely controlled emotion. Fury blazed through his chest like wildfire. “If you consider Locke such a burden, you should have stayed away from the beginning. I thought you cared too much about him to just walk away… Clearly, I was mistaken.”

“No! That’s not what this is!” Her voice cracked with emotion. Elissa’s anger erupted in a sound caught between fury and disbelief. “Are you saying all this just to keep me away from Locke? You’re twisting everything!”

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