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