Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Chapter 209

Chapter 209

Jordan wasn’t offended by her sarcastic remarks, though. Instead, he joked with her as usual, saying with a smile, “No, I’m not. I just happened to run into you because fate brings us together, no?”

“Then why are you sitting at my table?”

“I’m just making do with your table. The others are all taken.”

Elspeth pointed at the several free tables nearby before letting out an angry laugh. “Mr. Carr, do you have bad eyes or something?”

“You’re right that I always have bad eyes. As it happens, I’m not wearing my glasses today.”

Indeed, Jordan had always looked serious with his glasses on. Now that he had taken off his glasses, he looked somewhat… devilishly handsome with a few locks of hair dangling over his forehead.

“You’re only here because you have something to ask of me. What is it that you want to tell me this time? Spill it.”

Jordan didn’t hide his intentions either. He replied frankly, “Old Mr. Joneson wants you to get engaged to me.”

Elspeth snorted with laughter at once. “Engaged? Jordan, you know there’s no way I would get engaged to you.”

“Oh, really? That’s not for sure, though.” Jordan gave her a meaningful smile that betrayed an undetectable hint of slyness.

Elspeth grew suspicious. “What’s the matter? Is he doing something behind my back again?”

A sly smile tugged at the corners of Jordan’s mouth, which revealed an inexplicable hint of ridicule. “Well, I’m not certain about this, but Old Mr. Joneson really went to great pains to make you go home.”

Elspeth stared at the man’s face as her suspicions lingered. “Then why are you telling me about this? Aren’t you worried that I’ll prepare for this in advance?”

Jordan crossed his legs while pouring himself a glass of wine. “That’s because you can’t change anything.”

Elspeth smiled. “Jordan, I have to say you’re pretty thick-skinned.”

Jordan had an arrogant smile on his face. “Even if I want to go out with you, I’ll make you agree to it with my own capabilities. So what if I tell you in advance? You’ll have to go back and get engaged to me sooner or later, anyway.”

Elspeth thought that the man before her was no longer the Jordan she knew. In short… he looked a bit crazy. She stood up. I’d better leave as soon as possible. I can’t drink here any longer, after all.

However, no sooner had she walked a few steps than her wrist was held in a tight grip. “What’s the hurry to leave? Aren’t you curious about what’s going on with Callum?”

Although Elspeth was still able to mention Callum’s name with composure, it was nonetheless a sore point with her. She stopped before looking at Jordan’s face with a rare look of anger and embarrassment on her pretty face. “Why mention him?”

Jordan replied, “If it were me, I wouldn’t have put up with it when my boyfriend spent time with another woman and defended her in every way possible. Don’t you care about this at all? Do you know why Callum had such a sudden change in attitude?”

Elspeth was startled for a moment. “Why?”

“Because he couldn’t get over his ex, especially his first love. Don’t you know how much weight the words ‘first love’ carries?”

Jordan only gave a smirk of ridicule, from which Elspeth even detected a hint of sympathy. Though it lasted only for a second, his reaction betrayed feelings of pity and regret.

Elspeth’s heart twinged suddenly. Are the beliefs that I held onto previously just wishful thinking? Everyone has noticed Callum’s change of heart, yet I’m the only person who believes from start to finish that he would never change.

“Callum would still be attracted to Emma after four years of separation. If you don’t believe it, just wait until he dumps you and gets back together with her.” Jordan chuckled softly before letting go of her.

Elspeth’s heart ached. Maintaining her composure with great effort, she turned around and prepared to leave.

“Oh, right, there’s one thing that I forgot to tell you.” Jordan leaned over to her ear. He whispered, “Actually, I really like you.”

Elspeth stepped on his foot immediately.

Jordan broke out in a cold sweat; he had to clench his teeth hard to prevent himself from crying out in pain. “Elspeth…” He forced a smile. “Even though you don’t believe this, I really like you. I absolutely won’t lose to Callum in that regard.”

Elspeth didn’t bother to pay attention to what he said. At this very moment, all she wanted to do was find a secluded spot and quietly withdraw into herself. After leaving the bar, she was ready to go somewhere else for another drink, but she suddenly noticed a familiar figure at the door. Arthur? Why is he here?

Seeing Arthur walking straight into the bar, she hurriedly followed him inside.

Taking great pains to avoid Jordan, she followed Arthur to a booth and seated herself behind him, lowering her head to conceal herself. When she looked up again, her jaw dropped in surprise at the sight of the familiar person before her. Arthur and Emma? Why are they meeting up here in the middle of the night?

Before she realized what was going on, Arthur asked, “How are you doing lately? Is Callum treating you well?”

Emma raised her chin proudly. “Of course, he is. He’s very cold toward Elspeth now; not only does he only have eyes for me, but he also helped clean up my mess many times. If it weren’t that he hadn’t broken up with Elspeth yet, I would’ve made our relationship public.”

“You mean… Callum’s snubbing Elspeth and going out with you?” Arthur looked rather surprised before smiling in comprehension. After all, Emma was his first girlfriend, so it’s only natural that he still has feelings for her even though they’ve broken up. Seems like he was just pretending to dislike her in front of us previously.

Emma replied, “Yeah, that’s right. I think Callum doesn’t like Elspeth that much. Whenever she called him, he’d frown and keep the conversation short before hanging up on her. I think he hasn’t broken up with her because she hasn’t brought it up yet. Otherwise, he would’ve freed himself from her long ago.”

Elspeth was stunned in place as she listened to their conversation from behind. Emma was a cosseted lady, but what she said didn’t seem to be false. Could Callum really be waiting for me to break up with him?

“By the way, Arthur, did you get me here because you have something to talk to me about?”

Arthur nodded. “Yes, I do. I’m here this time because I’d like to know if you really love him.”

“Of course, I do. I’ve loved him for eight full years.”

Arthur drew back his lips into a forced smile that had a hint of unspeakable bitterness in it before it disappeared in an instant. “In that case, do you mean what happened between us last time doesn’t count anymore?”

A hint of shame and resentment flashed across Emma’s face. “Arthur, I only slept with you by accident last time because I was drunk. I already made it clear afterward that we should forget about this. Do you have to go so far as to threaten me with this?”

“I’m not threatening you.”

Emma stood up with her eyes full of disdain. “I’ve always loved Callum. He’s handsome, talented, and steady. If you’ve got any ideas, you’d better nip them in the bud,” she said. With that, she turned around and left, ignoring the frenzied look in Arthur’s eyes.

Arthur sat for a long time without saying a word. After that, he finished the wine in his glass in one go and left after Emma.