Love’s New Bloom By Simone Hastings - Season 2 Episode 10

While Erin was hesitating about how to answer, a familiar voice sounded from behind them. The voice was deep and extremely pleasant to the ears. “Simon.”

Simon looked toward the person and his consistently frigid face showed a hint of a smile. “Chandler!”

Erin froze upon hearing the man’s voice, while Holly turned around and saw Chandler. She whispered discreetly, “Erin, it’s Chandler …

Erin kept her head down and refused to turn around. On the other hand, Chandler followed Simon’s line of sight and spotted the two of them who were standing not far away.

“Chandler, your friend came to pick me up. She said she wanted to thank me by treating me to a meal.” Simon’s gaze landed squarely on Erin.

“Oh, who is it?” Chandler asked coldly.

Holly smiled awkwardly toward Chandler and pointed at Erin. “It’s her.”

No matter how much Erin tried to pretend this wasn’t happening, she had to face reality at the end of the day. She finally turned around and said, “Hey, long time no see.”

Seeing her greet him so nonchalantly, Chandler’s expression hardened as he turned to Simon and said, “Let’s go.”

Chandler’s apparent dislike toward Erin made Simon cast a subtle glance at her. Helpless, Erin looked at his aloof figure and pouted. She felt very uncomfortable, and a fiery flame of resentment surged in her heart.

After their breakup, he’d gone back to being that distant and unreachable handsome guy, and Erin had reverted to her former sell.

They were supposed to have nothing to do with each other anymore, yet they always seemed to encounter each other through their shared circle of friends. Feeling annoyed. Erin wondered if she should change her entire circle of friends.

Five minutes later, Holly and Erin walked out of the airport, preparing to take a taxi back. Unexpectedly, they saw Simon standing by the roadside not far away, waving at them.

Holly excitedly pulled Erin’s hand and walked forward.

When they reached Simon, he took the initiative to speak, “Miss Lane, is the lunch invitation still valid?”

“It’s valid! Of course, it’s still valid!” Holly immediately spoke up.

On the contrary, Erin glanced hesitantly at the man who was in the driver’s seat of the car.

“That’s a ‘yes,” then. Alright, please hop on.” Simon unexpectedly acted like a gentleman and opened the car door for them.

With a forced smile, Erin was pushed into the car by Holly. Once they were all seated, Chandler glanced at the rearview mirror and drove

away.

In the car, Simon, who was seated in the passenger seat, asked, “Why did you personally come to pick me up this time? You could have just sent a driver.”

“My old man asked me to pick you up.”

Simon chuckled. “That’s very nice of him.”

Chandler casually asked, “How’s Uncle Andrew doing? I heard he was hospitalized a couple of days ago.”

“It’s nothing serious. He was just exhausted. There are many things that could have been handled by someone else, but he insists on doing them personally.”

The two men chatted about family matters while the two women in the backseat awkwardly remained silent, not daring to interrupt them.

When the car became momentarily quiet, Simon suddenly looked toward the backseat and said, “I’m really sorry. We got carried away talking among ourselves and forgot about you two.”

“Oh, it’s fine. No worries,” Holly quickly responded with a casual wave and a bright smile.

Erin looked at her best friend who had completely fallen for Simon and couldn’t help but feel both happy and worried for her. She wondered if it was really a good idea to be so infatuated with a man.

Over an hour later, they arrived at the Grand Oyster Restaurant. Erin sat in the car, dumbfounded, wondering if Chandler chose this restaurant deliberately. It immediately reminded her of the scene when she met Quentin the other day.

Seeing that she was hesitant to get off the car, Simon asked, “Miss Lane, do you not like this restaurant?”

Erin looked up and saw Holly’s eyes that were filled with anticipation and a hint of anxiety. She silently suppressed the sadness in her heart and smiled pleasantly. “No, I’m fine with anything. If you like this restaurant, we’ll eat here.”

“Well, every time I come over, Chandler and I always eat here. Don’t worry. Miss Lane. I won’t make you pay.” Simon opened the car door for Erin.

After she got off the car, she thanked him.

The last time she met Quentin here, she didn’t really get to eat. Quentin merely asked her to come over to meet with him and nothing else. Upon returning to the same place, she actually wanted to try the food there.

Thinking of the estimated average price per person for a meal here that was circulated online. Erin’s smile became even brighter. Compared to almost dying from a poisoned needle, splurging and treating others to a lavish meal was nothing. Fortunately, she’d brought all her bank cards and credit cards with her today.

When the four of them entered the private room, Erin went to the restroom right away instead of sitting down. Seeing Erin’s unusual, behavior, Holly followed suit.

In the private room, there were only two exceptionally handsome men left looking at the menu. The nearby waitstaff couldn’t help but stare. They’d seen many wealthy heirs and celebrities from the entertainment industry, but the four individuals today were exceptionally pleasing to look at. It made them feel fortunate to be able to work as a waitstaff at the Grand Oyster Restaurant.

The impressive and luxurious style of the restaurant was refreshing to look at. They spared no expense in making their restroom equally lavish.

Holly stood next to Erin and asked, “Erin, you don’t look well. Are you feeling under the weather? If you’re worried about the expenses here. don’t be. I told you I’d pay.”

“No. I owe this to Simon’s father. Since I don’t have a chance to meet him, thanking Simon, in the same way, would make up for it. I have enough money to pay for the meal.”

*Then, why do you look so unwell?”

Erin’s tone became cool as she replied, “Chandler’s father asked me to meet him here the other day–in the same private room.”

This instantly infuriated Holly. “What? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Is Chandler doing this on purpose? There’s no way I’m tolerating this!”

After she said that, she grabbed Erin’s hand and started walking. “Forget it, even if I like Simon, I can’t let my happiness come at the expense of your discomfort. Let’s forget about this meal and head back right now!”

Erin stopped her. “No, it’s too late to leave now. If I show that this affects me, Chandler will be even more pleased. He deliberately brought us here to make me feel uneasy. So, I won’t let him have his way. This is all the more reason that we should enjoy the meal to the fullest!”

“But Erin…”

“No more ‘buts“! Let’s go!”

After the two of them were mentally prepared, they walked out of the restroom. Two dishes had already been served by then. Erin and Holly went ahead and got seated.

Shortly after they sat down, Simon asked, “Chandler, where were you on August 11th? Your phone was switched off the whole day.”

Chandler’s gaze froze, and he didn’t answer.

Simon seemed to realize something. “Did you go to visit your mother?”

“Yes.”

Hearing this answer, Simon felt touched. “You’ve maintained this habit for twenty–five years. It hasn’t been easy for you.”

Chandler calmly replied, “It’s nothing. Since my birth coincides with my mother’s death. I’ve never thought my birthday was a day worth

celebrating.”

His words tugged at Erin’s heartstrings. She finally found out why Chandler had been reluctant to reveal this reason to her. Thinking about how he never had the love of his biological mother from a young age and only had a strict and authoritarian father, Erin could feel her eyes getting moist.

Although her parents got divorced when she was very young, both her biological parents were good to her. So, she wasn’t lacking in parental love. On top of that, both her parents were also alive and well. Disregarding social status and wealth, Erin even felt that she was

much luckier than Chandler.

Chandler looked at Erin, who was hanging her head and wiping away tears. Then, he teasingly asked, “Miss Lane, do you feel sorry for me?”