bChapter /bb381 /b

    bAs /bsoon as Madeline arrived in Yvoria, she immediately found a chance to swap identities back with her double.

    It was like fate was on her side. Brian was in Yvoria on a business trip this time, so she didn’t even have to think hard of an excuse to ask him to meetb. /b

    Delighted, Madeline checked herself in the mirror for

    Meanwhile, Brian had just left his partner’spany.

    a while,

    bia /i/b

    He frowned, wondering, ‘Why is she calling me at this time?

    “Something wrong?” Brian wondered but still answered the phone.

    she was in top form before calling Brian.

    to drive to the nearest specialty store to buy candy when Madeline’s call came in.

    He thought about his previous suspicions. ‘Maybe this is the pance to see if Madeline has actually listened to what I said, he thought.

    “Yes, Mr. Atkinson. I saw the domestic trending topics and knew you were in Yvoria. I haven’t seen any friends from home here in a long time. Could I ask you out for dinner?” Madeline’s voice came slowly, with a hint of nervousness and unease.

    Brian raised an eyebrow and spoke deliberately sarcastically. “You want to ask me out for dinner? Do you think that’s appropriate, given how things were between us before?”

    Madeline fell silent for a few seconds before speaking again. This time, her tone had a touch of sadness. “Mr. Atkinson, do you really think I’m that scheming a woman?

    “But I swear to God, that night before was just a moment of impulse. Now I’vepletelye to my senses and I’m letting go of my feelings for you. Can’t we even be friends?

    “Honestly, it’s been really hard being alone abroad these past few months.”

    Madeline let out a soft sigh. “Never mind. If you really don’t want to, it’s fine. I’ll just go back home in a while if I can’t hold on anymore.”

    “After all, with my abilities, I can always find a job to get by, whether it’s at home or abroad.” As she spoke, she moved to hang up.

    “Wait.” Brian stopped her quickly.

    Madeline smiled. She knew this “retreat to advance” trick would work.

    “Mr. Atkinson, did you need something else?” Madeline asked, deliberately using a distant tone.

    “Nine o’clock tomorrow morning, the café downstairs at Maraval Grand Hotel. I can give you 15 minutes,” Brian said coldly.

    “Really? Thank you, Mr. Atkinson,” Madeline replied, putting on a surprised tone.

    She didn’t push further. After a quick chat, she hung up the call first.

    Brian looked at the ended call. He thought about Madeline’s s

    s surprised voice and fell into thought.

    He wondered, ‘Could it be my earlier suspicions are all wrong? Has she really been staying abroad this whole time?‘

    Early the next day, Brian showed up at the café on time to keep the appointment, wanting to bcheck /bbif /bhis guess was right.

    Madeline had arrived early and was waiting for him.

    “Mr. Atkinson, long time ino /isee. You’re still as punctual as

    i” /i

    Brian ignored bit /bpletely. He just nodded at her, then pulled out the chair bacross /bbthe /btable, and bsat /bdown.

    Ver.” When she saw him, Madeline stood up and held out her hand.

    b1/2 /b

    Chapter b381 /b

    bIt /bwas impossible bnot /bbto /bfeel awkward when her outstretched hand was ignoredb, /bbbut /bMadeline bquickly /bbpulled /bbherself /bbtogether/b.

    bShe /bbsat /bbdown /bacross from Brian, looking embarrassed. She spoke with obvious loneliness, “Mr. Atkinson, I thought we bwere /bstill friends

    Brian waved over a waiter, ordered two coffees, and answered, “Is that so? Then I guess that’s just what you thought.”

    He had always seen Madeline as just a regr employee. At most, he’d felt a bit more sorry for her because of her background, but bthat /bbwas /bbit/b.

    “bIf /bthat had given Madeline the wrong idea, I could only say sorry,‘ he thought.

    Madeline was stuck for words, barely keeping up her lonely act.

    ?