?Chapter 533:


    Lydia handed Elena the menu. “This ce is all over the inte! When I was stuck at home recovering, I had to eat in food. I spent hours watching food videos just to cope. I’ve been dying to eat here, and now I finally can!”


    It had been a long time since Lydia and Elena had eaten out together, and Lydia was in a great mood. She excitedly ordered everything she had been craving.


    “Elena, check out the menu. I’ll be right back—I need to use the restroom.”


    Lydia’s order was mostly meat, so Elena bnced it out with some sds.


    Just after Elena ced the order, she spotted a familiar figure. Was that Jeffry?


    A waiter walked past, carrying a tray, briefly blocking her view. By the time he moved, the figure was gone.


    Elena frowned. Jeffry had said he’d be workingte at the office. He couldn’t be here, right? She must have been mistaken.


    Lydia returned and found Elena deep in thought. She waved a wet hand in front of Elena’s face, sending droplets flying. “Hey! What’s on your mind? I called you, but you didn’t even blink.”


    Elena blinked and shook her head. “It’s nothing.” She told herself it was just a mistake.


    The restaurant had a ssy vibe, and the waiters looked like they had stepped straight off a runway.


    The private dining rooms were even fancier, soundproofed and perfect for an intimate date.


    Evelyn had carefully chosen this restaurant after much thought. This was her first private dinner with Jeffry, so she had put extra effort into her outfit—a ssy, Chanel-inspired look. Her hair was sleek and glossy, styled to perfection.


    She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and stared at Jeffry’s sharp, wless face. “I never thought… I didn’t expect you to say yes.”


    When Evelyn first heard Jeffry had agreed to the dinner, she had been so shocked she could hardly believe it. She’d always assumed Jeffry had no interest in her. But since he had agreed to this blind date, maybe he felt something—at least a little.


    Jeffry barely reacted, his face as unreadable as ever. He didn’t even acknowledge her words. Marriage wasn’t something he had any romantic notions about. He only needed someone from the right family—a suitable match. The person herself didn’t matter much.


    Jeffry maintained his usual politeness, pouring water for Evelyn. The date itself was uneventful. Not a single spark of romance ignited between them.


    Evelyn kept sneaking nces at Jeffry’s sharp features, her heart fluttering. God, he was so handsome. She tried to get a reaction, batting hershes. “Jeffry, what’s your type?”


    But Jeffry never bit. Not even a little.


    Evelyn didn’t take it personally. She figured he was just the no-nonsense type.


    When dinner ended, Evelyn secretly hoped he’d offer to drive her home. Instead, he mentioned unfinished work at the office and left without hesitation. All she could do was watch his car disappear.


    Jeffry’s ck Mercedes slid smoothly into the flow of cars.


    As dusk settled, the withered sycamore leaves cast restless shadows over the cobblestone pavement. Sometimes they stretched like a great beast, other times they whispered softly, carried by the wind.


    As night deepened, the shadows thickened, growing more vivid and alive. By the time Jeffry wrapped up at the office and made it home, midnight hade and gone.


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