Chapter 357
Viola asked probingly, “Were my ears playing tricks on me, Melanie?”
Melanie turned to look at Viola, an impatient look on her face as she said, “You don’t have to concern yourself with my matters.”
“I was just worried you were in trouble. After all, I hope that everyone can enjoy themselves at my birthday party.”
“Ms. Shaw,” Yvonne called out with a smile on her face. “You don’t have to keep reminding us it’s your birthday today. We’re more than capable of remembering that since you’re the main character for the day. We get it already.”
Viola had been acting like she owned the place, even emphasizing to Melanie multiple times she was in charge. To Yvonne, it seemed she was trying to shift the attention to something else so that she could cover her tracks.
Viola froze, but Melanie suddenly realized that Viola was trying to subtly find out if the man with her had been Eugene.
The light in her eyes dimmed slightly, and she was just about to begin speaking when she felt someone approaching her from the back.
Immediately, tears appeared in Viola’s eyes as she glanced over Melanie’s head. She asked in a soft and sweet voice, “What are you doing here, Eugene? Didn’t you say you had something else to take care of?”
Melanie pursed her lips tightly as Eugene’s deep voice rang out above her. “Everything’s been taken care of.”
She did not know if her senses were playing tricks on her or if it was a result of their intimacy in the room just now, but Melanie could feel her nostrils filling with the faint scent of cedar. That was Eugene’s signature scent.
It was a cool, gloomy scent that wrapped its arms around her.
Though she could not see him, she could still feel an inexplicable constricting feeling falling
over her.
Melanie did not turn back. She grabbed Yvonne’s hand so that they could leave. However, Viola got in their way.
Melanie had no choice but to say quietly, “Excuse me.”
Her voice had always been of a lower timbre, and she sounded even more stern now because she had purposely lowered it even more.
Viola’s heart skipped a beat when she met her stern gaze. She instinctively stepped aside.
She only jerked out of her reverie after Melanie grabbed Yvonne’s hand and walked away. When she turned to look at Eugene, she realized he had lowered his gaze. He had a thoughtful expression on his face.
“What are you thinking about, Eugene?” Viola asked hesitantly.
Eugene looked up and said flatly, “Nothing much.”
It had not been a pleasant birthday party. Yvonne began complaining to Melanie about Viola’s actions the minute they got into the car.
Melanie listened, and as they left the brightly lit venue, she could feel herself calming down again. She asked Yvonne, “Should I take
“Should I take you home?”
“Yes. I’ll have to go home and provide a run–down on the evening’s events.‘
Yvonne’s home was about a half–hour ride away. Melanie received an unexpected phone call while they were about halfway there.
It was an employee from Litman Manor. “Is this Ms. Melanie Smith’s number? You left purse at the manor. May I know when you’d like to come pick it up?”
Melanie was stunned. “My purse?”
your
“We found it on a couch in the lounge. The ID inside shows that this purse belongs to you. Melanie had been to Litman Manor several times, and LeapCo had also once hosted a forum there. All they needed to do to get in touch with Melanie was to cross–check their records. Melanie ran through the evening’s events in her mind. She must have dropped her purse while getting changed just now and had not realized it because Eugene had dropped by all of a sudden.
She promised she would return to pick it up. Yvonne asked, “Is something wrong?”
“I left my purse at Litman Manor. I’ll go pick it up later.“.
Melanie had taken the time into consideration too. There was a high chance she would end up bumping into Eugene and the others if she returned now, which was why she decided to go ahead and drop Yvonne off at home first.
The purse was left in the reception area. Melanie went ahead to verify her ID with the
receptionist and left after ensuring nothing was missing from her purse.
It was already 11 o’clock, and she had not bumped into anybody on her way here.
