Chapter 184 Chasing After Ashes
Lucian’s remark brought a sudden hush, and an awkward silence settled over the table.
Ironically, Lucian, the instigator of this awkward moment, seemed utterly unaware of the tension in the air. He maintained his composure and continued sipping his red wine with elegance.
Finally, Calista’s meal arrived.
A handsome young waiter in a suit with a bowtie placed a delicately presented steak in front of her, his long and well–proportioned fingers gracefully leaving the edge of the plate.
“You have beautiful hands,” Calista complimented the waiter.
His hands were model–worthy. Just yesterday, Lucas posted on his social media that he was
looking for a stand–in male hand model. Calista wondered if this waiter might be a good fit.
The waiter blushed, taken aback by the compliment.
While it wasn’t the first time someone had complimented his hands, it was the first time a
customer had done so in person, especially coming from such an attractive young lady.
“Thank you,” he replied.
“Can I have your number on WhatsApp?” Calista asked.
As the waiter was still on duty, Calista wanted to avoid broaching the topic of part–time work with
him, fearing the manager might overhear and misconstrue her intentions as an attempt to poach
their staff.
The waiter responded, “We’re not permitted to have our phones while on duty. Moreover, adding
customers‘ contact information is against the rules.”
It was a rule set to avoid disturbing the customers.
Calista took one of the feedback slips from the table, wrote down her phone number, and handed it
to him.
Sure, get in touch with me after your shift There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.
The young waiter’s face turned even redder as he stared at the graceful handwriting on the slip.
he felt a chilling gaze that seemed capable of freezing him in place as his fingers
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He raised his head and looked at the man beside Calista. Paul wasn’t looking at him, and judging by his gentle expression, he probably wouldn’t bore such an icy gaze.
After a while, the sensation of the piercing watch disappeared.
“Please enjoy your meal,” the waiter relaxed and said to Calista before walking away with his tray.
On the other hand, Charlotte finally noticed Calista at the adjacent table. She had sensed that Calista looked familiar in the hospital, but she hadn’t identified her at the time.
Only after Charlotte researched Lucian when she returned home did she discover Calista was his
former wife.
She bit her lip and said, “Mr. Northwood, let’s exchange numbers too.”
Lucian looked at the phone handed to him but remained silent. Calista and Paul had already
finished their meal and left.
“Alright, have a lawyer look it over. Once you’re certain, you can give it to me next Monday,” Paul
said as he handed Calista a contract in the car.
Calista was about to turn the page but paused and responded, “Okay.”
After driving Paul back to the company, she sent a message to Lucas, inquiring if he had found a
hand model
Lucas replied promptly, “Not yet. Do you have any recommendations?”
I met a guy today with beautiful hands. I’ll recommend him once he contacts me.”
Great
Calista arrived at the apartment building and noticed Lucian standing by his car, taking a drag
from his cigarette. The water stains on his attire had dried up but were still evident.
She switched off the engine, stepped out of the car, and paid no attention to Lucian as she headed
into the building
Lucian relaxedly followed her upstairs. He couldn’t help but notice the wallpaper on Calista’s
while she was engrossed in texting Yara with her head down
young actor who had recently risen to fame, similar to the male waiter a
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cian couldn’t resist a playful smirk as he teased, “Have you taken a liking to him? Thinking of coming his sugar mommy?”
lista stopped walking and turned to face Lucian.
.ucian, we’re divorced. If you don’t understand the concept, let Timothy explain it to you. You
ould face harassment charges for stalking and showing up at my doorstep uninvited.”
ucian scowled and responded, “You depend on that incompetent lawyer who failed miserably in
ourt?”
ven in the bright daylight, Lucian’s brows remained shadowed.
I’m asking you. Do you want to be a sugar mommy for that waiter?”
Calista raised her chin defiantly.
“Even if I were, do you have any right to meddle? I’m a single woman, and it’s my prerogative to date or even have a fling with anyone, good–looking or not. Just like you going on that blind date with the lady, it’s your choice, and I don’t interfere, do I?”
Lucian’s expression darkened further, creating an intense vortex capable of engulfing and tearing
someone apart.
He firmly grasped Calista’s hand, which held the contract and had once been held by Paul.
“Don’t push my buttons, or else he’ll be dead. It’s been ages since I’ve laid a hand on an innocent. Why are you so into his hands?” Lucian warned.
Calista remained silent for a moment. She thought Cade might be correct.
Lucian appeared to be emotionally struggling with a psychological issue, which seemed to
manifest as a form of emotional distortion.
Calista replied calmly, “Suit yourself. There’s plenty of fish in the sea. I can switch partners daily,
and you can pursue someone new every day. It’s a lifetime’s worth of dating.”
She stopped and continued, “But what’s with you? Is your sudden interest in interrogating me a
sion that you’ve developed feelings for me post divorce? You’d better shake that idea off sooner.
than later While others are trying to win back their spouses, you’d be chasing after ashes
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Lucian was a possessive man, and the more Calista engaged with him, the stronger his obsession
became. She didn’t want to drag an innocent young man into this to get back at Lucian.
“Don’t think highly of yourself. I’m questioning you because I’d rather not have people discover
that my ex–wife is dating a waiter.” Lucian gently held Calista’s chin and studied her eyes closely.
Calista’s smile faded, and she turned her head away.
“Don’t get so close. I’m afraid your gaze will blind me.”
Lucian scoffed, “Are you not blind already? Blushing doesn’t make him an innocent young man.
You haven’t even been intimate with a man when he’s in bed with a woman.”
Calista pushed him away, her expression one of disbelief.
“You investigated him?”
How else would Lucian know when the waiter had been with a woman?
Lucian retorted, “You told me to suit myself, so were you lying when you said that?”
Calista struggled to break free.
“Let go.”
Just then, the CrossTime project contract slipped from her hand amid the struggle and landed face -up on the ground.
Lucian lowered his head and read bold, enlarged words on the cover, “Employment Agreement“. He released Calista and picked up the contract, flipping through it.
Paul had already signed the document, and the company seal was affixed. The contract would become officially valid if Calista put her name on it.
So you’re going to work at Paul’s company for the CrossTime project? And you’ve already received a ten thousand–dollar advance from him?”
voice was husky and filled with veiled implications.
