“Are the flowers growing well?”
Koi asked while they waited for the next course after finishing their appetizers. Ariel made a regretful expression and replied with a sigh.
“Sorry... I guess I’m just not good at growing things.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I gave them to you because I couldn’t handle them either...”
Koi genuinely ant it. Thinking back to the fact that nothing happened after, it seed the scent from the flowers had been the cause. It was a sha they withered, but if Ariel had ended up in the sa uncomfortable situation Koi did because of them, it could’ve turned into sothing worse. So maybe it was for the best. He let it go without giving it much more thought.
anwhile, Ariel had been thinking along similar lines. She’d briefly worried that Koi might have manifested sothing, but no symptoms had appeared since, and there was no lingering scent either. Most importantly, if it had been pheromones, Ashley would’ve noticed it first—and his attitude hadn’t changed at all.
So it really was just a cold, huh?
The thought that she had worried for nothing made her smile unconsciously, and she masked it by pretending to sip her water. Ashley had remained quiet until that point. Ariel, who had been cheerfully chatting with Koi, couldn’t help but feel suspicious of his silence.
That sneaky bastard—what’s he scheming this ti?
“Thanks for helping . It all worked out thanks to you two,”
Koi said at just the right mont. Ariel furrowed her brow and grumbled.
“You never should’ve let them get away with it in the first place. You should’ve called it out way earlier.”
Koi looked sheepish as he mumbled,
“Well... a lot of people quit all at once back then, and the boss was going through a tough ti too... I thought I could manage for a few weeks.”
He thought he’d be fine with the money he had saved up. But after facing the brutal cost of living in the East, he had paid dearly for that miscalculation. Ariel scolded him harshly.
“Most people, Koi, would sue or quit their job if they miss even one week of wages.”
“She’s right.”
Surprisingly, Ashley—who had been quiet until then—agreed. Though they were usually at odds, in this mont, they were united.
“You only end up losing when you’re too generous.”
Ashley added, following Ariel’s comnt.
“Being too nice isn’t always a good thing.”
Ariel shot him a glance and nodded.
“Yeah, and you’re way too an.”
“Thanks for the complint.”
They really did get along well, didn’t they?
Watching them snipe and bicker, Koi had a completely different thought. Ariel constantly badmouthed Ashley, and Ashley never seed fond of her either—but look at them now, getting along just fine. Sure, it was because they were both scolding Koi, but he didn’t mind. Sitting here with two of his favorite classmates from high school, chatting and laughing—it was a joy Koi hadn’t experienced in a long ti.
Noticing Koi smiling contentedly, Ariel frowned.
“It’s not like that. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
At her warning, Ashley comnted dryly,
“Let it go. Even if you and I stabbed each other with knives right in front of him, Koi would still think we were just joking.”
Ariel scowled—but unfortunately, Ashley wasn’t wrong.
“There’s no way you’d do sothing like that,”
Koi laughed, shaking his head. “Right?” he added, glancing between them. His cheeks were flushed pink with warmth. For once, it seed even Koi was starting to pick up on the atmosphere. His smile faltered with a hint of unease, and Ariel paused. That’s when Ashley spoke again.
“Of course we wouldn’t. Elle might stab , but I’d never do the sa to her.”
“Reeeeally?”
Ariel imdiately stretched the word out with a mocking tone. Ashley smirked and lifted his wine glass.
“I’m a lawyer. I don’t use violence when words can end a fight.”
Oh please, Nelson’s in the hospital right now.
Ariel barely stopped herself from blurting it out. She wanted to ask how much Koi knew, but if she pushed the topic, Ashley’s silver tongue might twist the whole thing—so she let it go.
“Yeah, Ash doesn’t use violence,”
Koi added, unknowingly backing up the wicked lawyer. Sure, he rarely used his fists. Ariel thought bitterly. But he’d destroy people socially with that cursed tongue of his.
And yet he beat Nelson that badly?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
It was impressive, in a way. As she pretended to sip her wine, Ariel glanced at Ashley. His expression hadn’t changed in the slightest. He barely spoke for the rest of dinner, only opening his mouth to occasionally mock Ariel—and she, in turn, didn’t hold back her own jabs. Koi was the only one truly enjoying the ti together.
Eventually, the main al ended, and only dessert remained when Koi stood up.
“Um, I’ll be right back.”
Clearly heading to the restroom, he glanced between them for a second, as if silently asking for permission. Ariel smiled reassuringly, telling him it was fine.
Once he left the table, a staff mber quickly followed. Koi rembered how the sa staff had kindly guided him to the restroom and opened the door the last ti. He said it was okay this ti—but the staff just smiled and walked ahead of him.
With no other choice, Koi followed. The staff mber opened the restroom door for him again, and once Koi stepped inside, he handed him a small shopping bag.
“Mr. Miller asked to deliver this to you.”
Koi took it with a puzzled expression. The staff briefly explained and left. Alone now, Koi tilted his head and peered into the small shopping bag. Inside was a neatly wrapped small box and a ssage card.
Wear this.
“Ah...”
Koi: “I’ll do anything.”
Koi rembered the promise he made the day before. He nodded at the card, then opened the box, curious to see what was inside.
What he found was nothing like what he expected.
His eyes widened—and didn’t blink. Then he noticed another ssage card tucked at the bottom of the box. With trembling hands, he pulled it out.
He gasped aloud.
*
They were nearly finished with their second bottle of wine. Ashley sipped the last glass the staff had poured, a loose smile tugging at his lips. By now, Koi must have seen what was inside the box. Imagining his reaction made Ashley chuckle.
Next ti, I want to watch him put it on in front of .
Originally, he had planned for Koi to wear it before arriving—but then changed his mind. If that had happened, Koi probably would’ve been too anxious to even enjoy the dinner. Tempting as that was, catching him off guard was just as sweet.
He’d already laughed and chatted away through dinner with Ariel. That was enough.
Noticing Ashley sipping wine with a smug smile, Ariel narrowed her eyes.
What the hell’s he smiling about now? Creepy bastard.
“What twisted plan are you hatching this ti?”
With Koi gone, there was no reason to hold back. Ariel’s blunt question made Ashley glance at her, feigning innocence. But Ariel pushed on with what she’d been holding in.
“You know Nelson’s on dical leave for sixteen weeks, right? That was your doing, wasn’t it? Why?”
Ashley answered without hesitation, his voice relaxed.
“Self-defense. Nelson hit first.”
He admitted it far too easily. Ariel looked him up and down with blatant disbelief before fixing her stare on his face.
“You don’t look that injured.”
Her tone was laced with mockery. Ashley chuckled.
“Getting hit by you hurt more.”
Ariel smiled back with satisfaction.
“I could hit you harder right now.”
“I’ll pass. You’ve already hit enough.”
His tone was polite, but the sarcasm was unmistakable. Though they bantered like it was a joke, Ariel knew full well that if Ashley’s mood soured, things could turn ugly. She dropped the smile and asked quietly,
“What did you do? You’re a lawyer.”
Repeating the words Ashley himself had said earlier, she watched as he twisted his lips into a chilling smirk. The cold sneer made her hesitate—then he spoke in a low voice.
“I’m going to handle things legally now.”
“You’re still not done with Nelson?”
Ariel asked, exasperated. But Ashley only smiled «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» in response. She stared at him in disbelief as he slowly said,
“I know you hate , but you’re especially hostile today. Don’t tell ... you were into Nelson?”
That ridiculous suggestion was clearly ant to provoke. Ariel snapped.
“You slept with Koi, didn’t you?”
Ashley, in the middle of sipping wine, stopped and looked at her. Ariel continued without missing a beat.
“Koi’s a beta. Do you have any idea how shocked I was when I heard that? You’re selfish, entitled, and an absolute bastard. How could you sleep with a beta—with a guy—if you really cared about him?”
Her words flew out in a rapid-fire accusation. But Ashley simply stared at her. The heavy silence made Ariel stop talking. When she glared at him, Ashley’s expression slowly shifted into one of satisfaction.
“You don’t know, do you?”
The whispered words made a chill run down Ariel’s spine.
What the hell is he talking about?
“What don’t I know?”
She demanded—but Ashley only took another sip of wine. She glared at him and asked,
“You beat Nelson up because of Koi, didn’t you?”
Ashley’s brows twitched slightly. Ariel pressed on.
“Just admit it—you lost your temper because Nelson hurt Koi, right?”
Ashley still said nothing. But his silence said more than words. Ariel’s voice turned stern.
“Admit it. You still have feelings for Koi. A lawyer who beat soone half to death—that says everything.”
She added that he should take back the crazy thing he said the other day too. But Ashley only looked at her quietly. Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“So what?”
“...What?”
Ariel frowned. Ashley, still expressionless, said flatly—
“I’ve never denied how I feel.”
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