Chapter 2

As I left work at dusk, I immediately noticed Carter standing outside the company's entrance. I resigned as soon as I decided to stop pretending to be poor, but I still had to come to the office for some necessary paperwork. Dressed in a sharp suit, Carter had a distinct and handsome face, and a tall figure resembling a runway model. Passersby couldn't help but gaze at him. Normally, I would hurry to stuff him into the car to avoid those girls’ stares, which bore a slight resemblance to my unattainable love. But today, I pretended not to see him.

I headed towards the parking garage on my own, but Carter quickly caught up without mentioning that incident, casually saying, “It's Nasr Lev's birthday today. He invited us for dinner.”

I stopped, looked up at him with a smirk, and replied, “Okay.”

We got into the car, enveloped in silence.

A breeze through the window carried a faint scent of citrus.

It was Hazel's scent.

The fragrance wasn't unpleasant, and on a whim, I asked, “Do you like the smell of citrus?”

Carter's eyes narrowed slightly as he responded, “Not really.”

“Really?” I thought. Then why did this scent always seem to linger around you?

Disgusted, I was relieved to have ended things with him.

I remained silent for the rest of the journey.

We arrived at the designated hotel.

They had been waiting inside for a while.

Hazel seemed surprised to see us together.

“Carter, Mira, you're here. We've been waiting for you for a long time,” she said.

I smiled nonchalantly, looking towards Nasr. “Sorry, I didn't bring a gift.”

Nasr was Carter's and Hazel's junior. Carter often brought me along to their gatherings, and over time, we became acquainted.

“I brought the gift. No need to apologize,” Carter said, pulling me towards the table.

Perhaps intentionally, the only seats left were directly across from each other.

I let go of his hand and walked to the opposite side to sit down.

Carter's expression shifted slightly, but he said nothing, taking the seat next to Hazel.

I knew what his friends thought of me.

They had never approved of my relationship with Carter, treating me with indifference.

But I didn't care. Why would I mind what they thought of me?

Since they didn't truly want to accept me, I had no intention of interacting with such people.

I ate quietly, not speaking a word.

Carter, however, was at ease chatting with them, continuously cutting his steak.

He never ate steak unless someone else prepared it, finding it too troublesome to do it himself.

Yet now, he effortlessly cut and pushed the steak towards Hazel, then meticulously wiped his hands with a wet wipe.

This was a courtesy I had never received.

As I watched all this, my disdain for him deepened.

Even after breaking up, he still managed to disgust me.

Nasr noticed Carter's actions and glanced at my expression, then nudged Carter, teasing, “Don't favor one over the other. Cut some for your girlfriend too.”

Realizing the situation, Carter looked at the now empty steak plate.

“Let's get another,” he suggested.

“No need.” I calmly sipped my drink, “I don't like steak.”

“How about pasta?”

“I don't like it.”

“Lasagna?”

“Don't like it.”

He looked surprised, not expecting such resolute responses.

I met his gaze calmly, wiping my mouth with a napkin, and added, “Anything you suggest, I don't like.”

“Mira, are you upset?”

Hazel cautiously spoke, “Here, take this plate of steak. Don't be mad at Carter.”