CHAPTER 853: CHAPTER 852

Confronted with the skepticism in Romeo’s increasingly wary gaze, Timothy scrambled for an explanation, "No, no. The girl I’m into is a racer with the Light Fleet! I told you ages ago, I fell for that girl who’s a professional racer. Your fiancée isn’t a pro, right?"

Though not entirely truthful, as the girl he liked was even more impressive than any professional racer.

"Besides, I went to the race for the girl I like, never expecting her to be a no-show. It was your fiancée who ended up competing, and by sheer chance, I found myself speaking up for her."

Romeo’s eyes was a blend of doubt and insight, looking as though he was trying to sift truth from lies.

"It wasn’t really just happenstance," Timothy admitted, "Defending your fiancée was also my attempt to impress the girl I adore, to maybe get her to take a shine to me."

"You mentioned that girl is very compassionate," Romeo suddenly said.

"Yeah, yeah, that’s right. She’s a regular in taking care of stray cats and dogs." Timothy invented.

At that moment, he felt a relief. It was good that he had never told Romeo about the girl’s compassionate act of saving a kid from a cage. Otherwise, explaining it would be a nightmare.

"You said that girl is slim, tall, beautiful, and has class, and crucially, looks younger than you," Romeo observed him closely.

"Right, there are a few on the Light Fleet who look younger than I do. You can’t assume I’m interested just because your fiancée fits that description, can you?" Timothy, though feeling a twinge of guilt,

refused to admit anything.

Romeo’s doubts alleviated, but he still inquired further, "You also said she agreed to have coffee with you. ’No time like present’?"

"Yeah, that’s true, but she had something come up last minute. I can’t be too pushy, or I’d risk scaring her off, right?" Timothy spun his tale with pretend honesty. "Your fiancée offered me coffee because I

helped her out twice. The contexts are totally different."

"You surely don’t have any inappropriate thoughts about my fiancée?"

"Me? How could I have any thoughts about her. Really, does everyone in love became this paranoid?

Worrying that someone’s going to claim their precious? Let me be clear, I’ve absolutely had no designs on your fiancée."

Even if he did, they were history.

From this moment on, he, Timothy, was heartbroken!

He had fallen for someone impossible.

Sunk by the reckless aim of an indifferent Cupid.

"Hey! Derrick’s just arrived! See! You can still spot his toned muscles under the coat. It’s been a while"

Timothy finally spied a diversion and pounced on it, slapping Derrick on the arm, "Man, you’ve been working out a lot, haven’t you?"

Derrick just smiled.

Had he known he’d meet his ideal girl, he would’ve spent extra hours every day sculpting his physique!

"I thought we were meeting at three? Why are you guys here so early?" Derrick thought he would be the first to arrive, but there they were, chatting outside the café. He checked his watch—it was only 2:50.

Romeo being early was one thing, but since when did Timothy stick to a schedule?

Moreover, they were both braving the chill.

Such brotherly unity.

"I heard you’re meeting the girl you fancy for coffee today? Where is it happening? Romeo and I thought we might swing by and see." Derrick teased Timothy, throwing a impish look in Romeo’s way, ignorant of the awkward conversation that had just occurred.

Timothy didn’t expect the topic he had just managed to avert making a swift return. He laughed awkwardly and said, "She had a last-minute thing. I had plans to ’wow’ you both."

"Isn’t she pretty?"

"More than that, she’s got it all."

"I’ve never heard you rave about a girl like this before. I’ve gotta see her for myself one day. But, you know, I’ve recently met a girl who’s pretty unique too."

Derrick looked like he was on cloud nine, having a spring in his step.

"What’s so special about her?" Timothy wished for nothing more than for Derrick’s entire attention to be on this topic.

"Why don’t we go inside and grab a seat?" Derrick suggested, and turned to Romeo, "Weren’t you going to introduce us to your fiancée? Don’t you need to pick her up?"

"She’s already here." Romeo teased, "You said the girl you met is really special, stunning, right?"

"Absolutely, I can guarantee you’ve never come across anyone as breathtaking in all your twenty-something years."

Romeo didn’t buy it – the only woman who had ever taken his breath away was his Rose.

You couldn’t find a second one with Rose’s skills in the whole world, let alone with her beauty and grace.

Timothy didn’t believe it either. The only person who had ever dazzled him was Romeo’s fiancée, the woman he loved but couldn’t have.

"Guess her job?" Derrick held the door to the coffee shop open for them to enter, grinning ear to ear,

"You’ll never guess."

"Artist? Writer? Celebrity?" Timothy blurted out, "Teacher? Lawyer? Doctor?"

"Eh, you guessed it right." Derrick laughed as they approached a table by the window. When his gaze met Rosemary’s, he thought, what a coincidence. Dr. Bell? She’s here too?

Rosemary stood up when she saw them, and Romeo’s hand found its way to her slender waist as he introduced her, "This is my fiancée, Rosemary Collins."

Derrick looked incredulously at Romeo’s hand on the girl’s waist. What had he just said – this girl was his fiancée??

Suddenly, Derrick could almost hear the sound of his own heart shattering.

Timothy was surprised too. The girl’s last name wasn’t Rose; was she a Collins?

What a coincidence – the same last name as Serena Collins.

But with so many people in the world named Collins, and considering she’d raced with Sean’s drift team, it was unlikely she had any connection to the Collins family.

Besides, he had attended several Collins family banquets, but had never seen a girl as striking as her.

It’s probably just a coincidence..

"Hello," Rosemary greeted Derrick warmly.

"So, is Rosemary Collins your real name? Nice to meet you."

Hearing Derrick’s comment, both Romeo and Timothy blurted out, "She has another name?"

Derrick was momentarily confused by their questions, "Dr. Bell, that’s her, right?"

Rosemary was taken aback; how did he know about her other identity?

"I saw you at my hospital saving a life yesterday." Derrick explained, "At first, I was puzzled at how there could be such a young lead surgeon, until someone mentioned Dr. Bell."