Chapter b32 /b

Sean’s expression remained cold and unreadable. “They broke up. He’s her ex.”

Jan raised an eyebrow. “And that doesn’t bother you?”

Sean yed his card with a casual flick of his wrist, his tone Indifferent. “Who doesn’t have a past? Haven’t you ever dated someone before?”

Ian scratched his nose. “Yeah, but you haven’t. She’s your first love, but you’re not hers. Are you really okay with that?”

Sean’s dark eyes softened with a rare tendemess. “As long as 1

I get to be with her, bthat’s /bball /bthat matters”

Jordan whistled “Damn. Hopeless romantic, huhb?/b”

The game wrapped up soon after. Sean checked his watch before rising to his feet. “Time’s up. Let’s go.”

Tonight, he had nned a wee–back dinner for Charlotte.

bUnder /bthe glow bof /bdazzling city lights, a sleek blue Bentley pulled up to the grand entrance of Jersey City’s most luxurious five–star hotel.

The evening breeze carried ba /bcrisp chill bas /bbCharlotte /bstepped out of the car.

b“/bCharlotte! Over here!”

Lena stood at the hotel entrance, waving with a bright smile before quickly making her way over.

Walking beside her was Mia, Charlotte’s other close friend.

Charlotte’s heels clicked against the pavement as she approached, returning their smiles. “Lena, Mia–you’re both here.”

Mia crossed her arms, pretending to pour. “So you finally decided to show up? Thought byou’d /bforgotten about us.”

Charlotte’s lips curved into a grin. “Of course not! I missed you guys What, not happy bto /bsee me?”

“Hmph, you’re just sweet–talking us.

Lena yfully linked arms with Charlotte,ughing “Please, Mia’s been talking about you nonstop. If anything, she’s the happiest one here.”

The two of them bhad /balways been her closest friends–Lena, calm and elegant, and Misb, /blively and mischievous.

Lena smiled. “You’re getting engaged to Sean soon. That’s amazing.”

Mia, however, nced at Charlotte with concern “Charlotte are you okay with this? I mean, is it really what you want?!!

bCharlotte /bflicked her forehead yfully. “What are you thinking? No one can force meinto anything.”

Her two best friends knew she had been in a rtionship while living in Harbor bCity/b, though she bhad /bnever introduced them to her ex

Over the past three years, Charlotte had asionally shared bits and bpieces /bof her rtionship with them. But this time, she bhadn’t /bmentioned the bbreakup /bat all.

Lena nced at her. “Sp… you finally broke up with Zac?”

“Yeah.” Charlotte’s voice was calm. “I blocked him everywhere. He should get the message.”

Mia tilted her head. “What made you change your mind all of a sudden?”

A flicker of irony shed in Charlotte’s beyes/bb. /bb“He /bwas using me as ba /bstand–in.”

Mia’s eyes widened in outrage. “That asshole! Does he even know who he’s messing with? You’re way out of his league!”

Lena scoffed. “Good. bYou /bshould’ve dumped him ages ago. He never deserved you”

Charlotte’s expression remained unreadable, her voice steady. “It’s in the past. No point dwelling on it. Let’s go! Sean and the others are waiting upstairs.”

The three of them entered the hotel, where the restaurant manager personally came forward to greet them.

“Miss Riley, Miss Zeller, Miss Carter, this way, please.”

-25 bBonus /b

Following his lead, they arrived at a private dining room on the fourth floor.

The manager respectfully held the door open. “Please, go ahead.”

It was early October, and the air in Jersey City had tumed brisk.

Charlotte was dressed in an elegant cream–colored trench coat,yered over a light blouse. A pair of mid–heeled leather bootspleted her

With her wavy hair cascading loosely over her shouldersb, /bshe carried a bcool/b, sophisticated aura with a touch of mature elegance.