I Knew You Were Trouble

getting engaged next month. You'd better

r a few seconds, then turned

him, bending slightly to retrieve something from her bag. H

da had booked a table at Riverside

inda, shifting it toward the river outside the window. The twinkling fis

gently pushing it closer. Bert was still gazing out the window. Her voice was light and cheerful as she picked up h

ing faintly, and took

ly, glancing repeatedly at

new addition to the table nor

dim lighting, it stood out against the whit

before finally meeting

ng with slight effort. "You can name a condition

aughing it off. "It's your birth

ized the true meani

and picked up his phone, typi

tood up, placing her hands on the tab

he

sfer the Riverside Community villa to your name. I'll have Assistan

standalone home was prohibitively expensive, owned exclusively by the wealthy

denly giving her su

ing rose i

ding looking at Linda, unwilling to see

uble you can't handle, you can always go to Assistant Ch

ealizing what he meant, she let o

There was no need fo

re. She had been leaning forward to kiss him. He reached out, trying to hol

eyes

eyes, the sharp bridge of his nose, and his entire face. She k

been the dominant one. That meant he could break up without war

s, he was truly ruthless. She was in the middle of celebrating his birthday, yet this was the momen

it until after the birthday dinner to bring up breaking up. And if sh

was n

nothing more than entertainment. S

r an outburst, but Lin

es move into the New York City district, introduce their business to my dad first." She didn't pretend to

her by sending business

as business t

immediately.

rare sense of guilt stirred within him, and he inexplicabl

his gaze landed on the g

mistakable-it was the bran

he didn't eat or drink, would

His voice

miling. "For someone who deserves it." She

deep breath, trying to steady he

h her sadness, but it was useless. After two yea

ch away, she ra

as the restaurant manager

r to personally serve her-only the other p

ling as he asked Bert, "Mr. White,

merely waved a ha

anager Harris, please see

vate room. Since she was the host ton

ad the courage, he wouldn't dare ask Bert to leave-u

rnoon decorating the place and ordering the cake. Now, before even the appetizers had been served, she was

, retrieved his jacket from the wardrobe, an

sorting her bag, her ex

ained silent and st

'click,' t

nd stood by the floor-to-ceiling window for an unknown amount of time. The

arrived. Should I send it over

other end was col

ied Helen's mother this month, ending a ten-year relation

t a dress for each of them

relation, had maintained a distant but peaceful relationship. They on

t to my home or my mom's

g up when she hesitated and added, "By the way, I heard Bert h

with him.

irs, but perhaps out of boredom, she asked, "Where a

ant. I'm about to

, "Want t

red reservations well in advance-there was no such

to pick up what some

.

erside Restaurant and arr

who escorted her to th

nce. Before getting into his car, Bert instructed him to ensure Linda was tak

like the previous times-just a little lovers' quarrel. Linda and Bert were frequent guests at the restauran

's specifications. Now, with an unexpected fallout, they were about to leave without even starting the

"Your sister is too headstrong. No matter what, today is Mr. White'

up for Linda. She retorted, unhurriedly, "Unlike Manager H

back-she was clearly calli

ore, and she always had a stern expression w

42nd floor, and Helen ste

e table, idly swirling the wine in her glass wh

ack out of her bag, contemplating what to do

from the outside, and

of wine, subconsciously covering up th

ce for a fancy meal-I had t

door, took the hint and instructed t

and had little in common, an awkward silen

ave an appetite?" Helen broke the s

leisurely. "With prices like th

while celebrating someone else's birthday. She casually placed her bag o

r six meters away. Debating whether to hang up her shirt, she u

way out, even if it meant her clothes would

that she had come all thi

, Linda glanced at her shoes-light-colored flats. Helen had always been

Linda said, grasping at

he had, in fact, grown two centimeters. At her recent physical exam, she mea

ed to her seat, Helen turned to look for her-only to find her stand

ble for Helen to personally deliver a dress t

n couldn't tell wh

e simply turned back and took a sip of wine. Her gaze landed on the watc

ebrow. "You boug

a no

ly to the cost. Linda's annual salary wouldn't even c

ed, "And

t to mention all the business he brought t

e watch. "You've broken up. Wha

have anyone else to give it to. "When I have time, I'll check with some industry contacts to see how much

pened to be the manager of a flagship watch store in New Yor

situation and asked, "Will s

over seven months in line and had to purchase additional items to qualify. Now she w

She never got the cha

emingly perfect couple that had split but also for

ay to minimiz

didn't care about your stepsister

at it was because Linda

n, "Will you be at the store to

"I'm he

eyebrow, "Aren't

or a conference, and his friend accidentally dropped his watch, cracking the case. He needs a replacement urg