I Refused His Alms, Then He Fell In Love

Chapter 8: An Unexpected Sight

The day of the scheduled dinner arrived.

Lynn slipped into a simple, neat knit dress. Before heading out, she looked up the menu prices of the restaurant Elias had booked. Her heart sank a little. Given her tight finances, she would have preferred an ordinary casual café. Still, she could not back out of the arrangement last minute.

She clutched her wallet firmly, determined to pay for her own meal. She wanted to avoid owing Elias any favor she could not repay.

She arrived at the refined casual bistro, and Elias was already waiting inside.

Soft warm lights filled the quiet dining space. After sitting down, they chatted about memories from their graduate school years.

Once the small talk faded, Elias brought up the job opportunity. He explained the company’s internal referral process honestly and warned her plainly that lacking a practitioner license remained a major obstacle.

“I can hand in your resume for you, but I cannot promise you a position. It will only create one more chance.” Elias spoke earnestly.

Lynn thanked him quietly, mixed emotions swirling inside her. This was a rare opening, yet her strong pride made her uneasy about accepting his help. They talked gently for a while, and the constant tension weighing on her eased. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

Neither of them expected what happened next.

Kian had just finished a business meeting nearby and stopped by the bistro for a quick dinner. His gaze swept casually across the dining area and locked onto Lynn sitting by the window.

She listened carefully to Elias, relaxed, with a soft smile on her face.

Her distant, cold attitude inside the villa stood in stark contrast to how she looked right now.

Kian lingered in the shadows. He did not walk over, did not interrupt their conversation. Turbulent emotions stirred deep in his dark eyes, and a frigid aura clung to him. He stood there silently for a moment, then turned and left the restaurant without a word.

Night fell deeper as the dinner drew to an end. Lynn insisted on settling her own bill. She bid Elias farewell and took a ride back to the villa alone.

When she stepped into the living room, Kian was already home. Beneath the lamplight, his expression remained calm and unreadable, as if he knew nothing about where she had been that evening.

A strange, quiet unease crept over Lynn once again.