Chapter 3:
Emma froze – she clearly remembered having over ten thousand dollars left on the
card.
“I haven’t used it today. Could there be a mistake?”
The waitress replied, “Our records show a Mr. Foster came in with another. woman…” She trailed off, realizing her slip–up.
Emma remained remarkably calm, letting out a small laugh. “I’ll come check it out.”
She quickly freshened up, threw on a coat, and drove to the restaurant. Through the glass windows, Emma saw James under the upscale restaurant’s soft lighting. Lucy Hayes sat across from him, flashing a shy smile.
Emma walked straight into the steakhouse.
As soon as she reached their table, she understood exactly where the ten
thousand had gone. Several unopened bottles of expensive wine sat on the table. James’s face darkened he hadn’t expected Emma to show up here tonight.
Lucy was the first to break the awkward silence.
“Hi, I’m Lucy Hayes, Mr. Foster is my business partner. We’re just discussing al collaboration deal – nothing else. Please don’t misunderstand, Mrs. Foster.”
Her lie was flawless, complete with an extended hand toward Emma.
Emma glanced at James before shaking Lucy’s hand.
“Hello, Miss Hayes. Your singles are quite good – I’m a fan myself.”
Lucy faltered, apparently surprised that Emma seemed to accept their relationship. without question.
Even James hadn’t expected Emma to let it slide without interrogation.
“I just came to check why ten thousand suddenly disappeared from the card. Now I know, so I won’t interrupt your evening.”
She threw a practiced smile in James’s direction.
James played along with Lucy’s story: “Yes, we’re just discussing investment opportunities.”
Emma didn’t bother exposing James’s obvious lie. The Foster family had been in pharmaceuticals for generations was he high thinking anyone would believe he
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was pursuing a business deal with a singer?
As Emma turned to leave, Lucy grabbed her hand, smiling sweetly. “Since you’re here, join us! You haven’t had dinner, right? This place is amazing – Mrs. Foster has excellent taste.”
She deliberately emphasized “Mrs. Foster,” the title dripping with mockery. Emma realized James must have shown Lucy the divorce papers immediately after she signed them. Lucy was playing dumb while twisting the knife.
Seeing Emma’s silence, James assumed she was trying to make things difficult for Lucy. “She invited you to eat, so eat. She’s a business partner – are you really going
to be this rude?”
His tone carried clear irritation.
Emboldened by James’s support, Lucy pulled Emma into a seat.
Emma scanned the table – king crab, salmon, all top quality.
But James had forgotten Emma was allergic to seafood.
Her heart trembled as she forced her voice steady: “I’m allergic to seafood, James.” James froze, stammering, “I… didn’t think about that.”
He’d expected Emma to cause a scene, like she might have done when they were
teenagers.
Instead, she just gritted her teeth and said coldly, “It’s fine.”
James’s heart clenched. Looking at this submissive woman before him, something
felt off..
Under the warm restaurant lights, Emma felt a chill in her heart.
So this was the supposedly unbeatable childhood sweetheart romance her friends.
had envied. How disappointing it turned out to be.
