"We had spotted you the mont we stepped into the diner," Rosemary’s words sent Sean and Steward into a state of shock. Had their cover been blown so soon?
It must have been the diner manager’s poor attempt at discretion that led to their early discovery.
"My arm’s been injured, you see, so I’ve got to avoid anything too raw, spicy, or with a hint of alcohol. I’m not a fan of that sort of thing. Dishes like pork are just too greasy for my taste," Rosemary explained,
making a point to add, "Roo ordered according to my usual preferences. I even thought it was too much food for two people to finish."
"Knowing Rose’s tastes, I made sure to order her favorites. The diner’s nu was half filled with raw and spicy options, so that’s why I didn’t order much," Roo chid in.
Mostly because his fiancée wouldn’t allow it!
Hearing this, Sean turned sheepish. So, he was the one who didn’t understand his sister’s preferences,not knowing what she liked or couldn’t eat. He had thought that by simply instructing the diner manager
to serve the best dishes, he was doing what was best for his sister.
It turned out, the joke was on him.
It was at this point that Steward realized why Mr. McMillian hadn’t shown Ms. Rose the nu when ordering. He already knew what Ms. Rose liked and would’ve just verbally checked with her on each dish, seeing if she approved before finalizing the order.
It wasn’t that he was being presumptuous or disrespectful to Ms. Rose.
With this revelation, a wave of embarrassnt washed over Steward as well.
"But your relationship is all happened so fast." Sean was implying that they were getting cozy, holding hands, and nearly kissing, all before making their relationship official.
Rosemary glanced at Roo and they shared a knowing smile, as if they had reached an unspoken agreent. She then said, "Actually, Roo and I began seeing each other not long after I got ho."
Sean’s jaw dropped at this news.
Steward was equally incredulous.
"To be precise, I was the one who kept pestering Rose until she finally gave in and agreed to give us a chance," Roo confessed. "I wanted to clear the air with you when you ca to see at McMillian Corporation, but you kept interrupting , not letting speak."
Sean rembered how, back in the McMillian Corporation’s eting room, he was so eager for answers, wanting to know if Roo would pursue his sister and treat her right, that he had completely
ignored Roo’s attempts to explain.
If he had just listened a few seconds longer, so many misunderstandings could have been avoided.
"Roo told about this, and I decided to give you a surprise," Rosemary added.
Now, with the charming couple standing before him, hands intertwined, Sean realized he had made a huge blunder.
No wonder this guy had been so casual, calling him Sean and referring to his precious sister as Rose - they were already on intimate terms.
No wonder Roo didn’t mind sharing a drink with his sister. It wasn’t about being cheap; it was because their relationship had grown so close that sharing everything had beco second nature to them.
His sister truly didn’t mind drinking after Roo.
His heart suddenly felt a tinge of sourness, a hint of loss.
He hadn’t expected his sister to be swept off her feet so quickly.
As for the unfinished building’s surveillance, when his sister confronted Martha, Sean only knew about Serena’s repeated attempts to seduce Roo. He was unaware of his sister and Roo’s secret relationship of half a year.
In those videos, his sister never once ntioned that Roo was her boyfriend, nor did Martha.
Instead, Martha bizarrely blad his sister for returning to their family and for competing with Serena over Roo.
So, he had no idea that his sister had started dating Roo as soon as she returned ho, and that their connection was incredibly strong.
What’s the deal with Timothy?
Timothy was Roo’s buddy, and when he caught a glimpse of Sean chasing down Rose, he figured he’d lend a hand to his friend – nothing out of the ordinary there.
At the ti, Timothy was clueless about Rose’s true identity; he had no idea she was the precious daughter of the Collins clan, and little did he know that she was Sean’s own sister. So, he didn’t step in
to stop the siblings from their disastrous misunderstanding.
And boy, did that misunderstanding blow up.
Now he wished he could just vanish into thin air.
If he was cocky before, he was now the epito of awkwardness.
"It was my bad for stirring up a ss without getting the facts straight. My apologies," Sean admitted, wincing a bit from the embarrassnt.
"I purposely kept it from you, wanted to surprise you," Rosemary said with a sly grin.
There was no surprise, just a whole lot of shock.
Sean hadn’t expected his sister to pair up with Roo so quickly, and it left him feeling a bit hollow.
"This movie’s a bust. Shall we get out of here?"
Rosemary had barely taken a step forward when Sean and Roo positioned themselves on either side of her. Steward felt like a third wheel but scrambled to keep pace with Sean.
Exiting the theater on the third floor of the mall, they were surrounded by high-end boutiques.
"Rose, how about I treat you to a little shopping spree?" Sean suggested, eyeing a jewelry store.
But Rosemary wasn’t keen on him spending money and made no move to enter, "I’ve already got plenty of jewelry."
Mainly because she rarely wore any. It wasn’t practical for her line of work, and losing a piece could leave evidence, potentially blowing her cover.
"Just a quick look, okay?" Sean added, glancing at Roo for backup.
Roo chid in, "Sean’s just being generous. Why not take a look?"
With a raised eyebrow, Sean knew Roo was playing the ga well.
Fearing Rosemary might refuse, Sean tugged her by the arm and steered her into the jewelry store.
"Bring out your best pieces – necklaces, rings, bracelets, you na it. The designs should be trendy and suited for a young lady."
The staff, spotting a big spender, clamored to serve them.
"What a ruckus! Get it together!" The manager erged as the staff nearly ca to blows, then his knees buckled upon recognizing Roo and Sean. He steadied himself against a display case, "Mr.McMillian, Mr. Collins, forgive for not realizing your esteed presence. Shut the store for their exclusive service, now!"
"Do you have eyes only for ? Didn’t you see my sister?" Sean pulled Rosemary forward. "From now on, greet her first."
The manager hadn’t expected Sean to bring his sister, and although he wasn’t sure if she was a cousin or what, he saw the dollar signs in Sean’s protective attitude – this sale was going to be a jackpot!
"Miss Collins is stunning, making even our jewels pale in comparison. Please, this way." he said,leading them inside while lavishing praise, "Miss Collins is truly lucky to have Mr. McMillian and Mr.Collins for company. It’s the envy of many won."
The staff quickly presented their crowning jewels as the manager enthusiastically and respectfully introduced them, "These are our latest collections with auspicious anings. This one represents smooth sailing, that one symbolizes happiness and bliss, and this one here is for peace and health."
Sean was so moved by the symbolism. He wanted to buy them all for his sister!
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