Chapter 25
Chapter 26 The Confrontation
Quinton noticed Tatiana staring at the restaurant and assumed she envied the girls dining inside. His thoughts stirred, and he quickly said, “Let’s go in! I haven’t eaten yet, and I’m starving. You only had a bun, right? Come on, my treat p>
Startled, she shook her head at once. “No… no need, I’m not hungry p>
Quinton took her hesitation as shyness. He tugged her along, shamelessly adding, “ Come on, it’s my birthday today. Just keep me company, alright p>
With the words out, she couldn’t refuse. After all, Quinton had helped her many times.
They walked toward the restaurant, one behind the other.
But as soon as they reached the entrance, a waiter blocked them. “You can’t come in. If you want to collect trash, use the back door p>
Seeing their shabby clothes and the sack on Quinton’s back, the waiter immediately assumed they were scavengers.
Quinton explained, “We’re not here for trash. We came to eat p>
The waiter wrinkled his nose, even stepping back from the sour sweat on Quinton. “No. You’re too dirty. You’ll disturb the other guests p>
“So what, your restaurant opens its doors but doesn’t serve customers? That’s ridiculous! It’s my birthday today, and I’m going to eat here p>
Normally, Quinton would have walked away, not caring about the food. But today, wanting to impress Tatiana, he stubbornly insisted.
Afraid he might make a scene, the waiter reluctantly led them inside, setting up a small table in the far corner.
The moment they walked in, heads turned. Almost every look was filled with disgust and rejection.
Their dirt and sweat made the air itself seem fouled.
“What kind of restaurant lets beggars in p>
“Ugh, it stinks. I’ve lost my appetite p>
“Kick them out! They’re ruining the atmosphere p>
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The snide whispers made Quinton uneasy, but since they were already there, he forced himself to stay.
Tatiana kept her head bowed, following slowly. The words hardly touched her. Compared to what she’d heard in the past, these were nothing.
4
“What do you want to eat? Order whatever you like, my treat!” Quinton reached for the menu- then froze, eyes wide.
Holy hell, how was it this expensive? Ninety–eight for just a plate of vegetables?
He nearly bolted, but pride wouldn’t let him.
Tatiana saw his struggle and whispered, “Quinton, let’s leave. We can go to a small restaurant down the mountain. It’s cheaper there p>
Her words only made him dig in deeper. “Order! Don’t be shy with me p>
She sighed quietly and stopped pressing.
7
After scanning the menu, she chose the cheapest item a small slice of cake for twenty–eight
and two glasses of ice water, which were free.
Quinton exhaled in relief. “Just one cake? That’s not enough. Get more p>
“No need. I’m not hungry. The cake’s for you. Happy birthday, Quinton p>
As she spoke, she pulled a delicate little grasshopper from her pocket, woven from green stalks she’d picked on the way.
She’d been braiding it the whole walk and finished just in time.
The grasshopper was lifelike, even down to the wings — a tiny work of art.
Quinton’s eyes widened. “You can do this? Amazing p>
She ducked her head, embarrassed. “Too rushed… couldn’t make anything else. Only this p>
“No, I love it. Thank you. You’re the only one who’s ever given me a gift.” Quinton’s heart swelled, and he blurted what he’d been circling around all evening. “Would you maybe consider
He never finished.
`A loud crash cut him off. A chair toppled violently to the ground.
The man who had kicked it over stood before them, face black with fury, eyes dark and
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12:10 Sun, Oct 26
Chapter 26 The Confrontation
menacing.
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Tatiana looked up and her heart clenched. She shrank instinctively, fear written all over her Follow current novᴇls on ⓝovelFind.net
face.
It was Jasper.
His whole body radiated suffocating pressure, his gaze sharp and murderous.
Quinton blinked in confusion. “Sir, what are you doing p>
Jasper didn’t answer him. His eyes locked on Tatiana, and he spoke each word like ice.
“Did you forget my warning p>
She knew exactly what he meant
not to disgrace the Jackson family’s name.
Realizing he misunderstood, she flushed with frustration, stammering, “I didn’t… you’ve got it wrong! I haven’t done… anything p>
Jasper’s laugh was cold. “Sneaking around in public, making a scene what a disgrace p>
Quinton bristled and stepped in front of her, voice indignant. “Who the hell are you? We don’t even know you. Don’t you dare harass us. I’m not afraid of you p>
Broad–shouldered from years of labor, Quinton’s build outmatched Jasper’s in bulk, though not in height.
The two men faced off, the tension between them thick enough to choke the air.
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.