Chapter 289: Chapter 289

Erin Bishop heard clearly what he said, but she did not stop or look back.

She was frighteningly aware that when he said those words, her heart was moved.

People they have loved seem always able to easily break the promises they made in their hearts to never forgive, but she felt that his option appeared too late.

She attended Quincy Linden’s dinner on time that evening, without seeing Zane Rhodes in the restaurant again.

Quincy Linden was as gentle and considerate as ever, but Erin Bishop’s heart silently underwent some changes, and she was trying hard to control these changes.

She kept convincing herself that Quincy Linden was a good man, a man very suitable for marriage, and among all her blind dates, he was the one she found most pleasant to be with.

That night, she drank some wine, probably due to her mood, and Erin Bishop drank a little too much, though not to the point of being drunk.

"Rona, is something on your mind? You don’t seem to be in a good mood tonight."

"Just work stuff, let’s not talk about it."

"I’m sorry I can’t help you with it, but if you need any assistance, I’m more than willing to help."

Erin Bishop shook her head with a smile, looked at Quincy Linden, and asked, "Honestly, don’t you think you’re very popular with girls?"

Quincy Linden was taken aback and smiled modestly, "Why do you ask that?"

"You look good, you’ve got work skills, and the key is you have a good personality. This is what girls like about you."

"I won’t lie to you, when I was studying abroad, I did have a girlfriend. But my parents didn’t agree, they wanted me to find a girl in the country to marry."

"Do you still like her?"

"It’s been many years since those school days. Now, I just want to find a girl and live a good life. I think you’re a great choice. To be honest, I really like you, you’re cheerful, generous, independent, and you’re beautiful."

"Then let’s get married."

Erin Bishop’s sudden decision surprised Quincy Linden, causing him to freeze momentarily, then he asked with a dry laugh and a hint of doubt, "Why so suddenly?"

Erin Bishop swirled the wine in her glass, took another sip before saying, "After all, we’re quite satisfied with each other. Isn’t dating for the purpose of marriage? Let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow."

Quincy Linden hesitated as if contemplating his own intentions, then smiled and said, "I’m not sure if you’re drunk now, so let’s talk about it once you’re sober tomorrow."

"I’m not drunk. I’m very clear about what I’m saying. Do you not want to marry me?"

"No, it’s just that you seem a bit... strange tonight."

Before Erin Bishop could respond, Quincy Linden’s phone rang again, he glanced at it, then at Erin Bishop, and answered the call. The Spanish again, but Erin Bishop had no mood to explore who he was calling or what they were discussing.

Propping her chin with her hand, her eyes slightly intoxicated and somewhat empty, she looked at the dazzling night scene outside the window.

After hanging up the phone, Quincy Linden said, "Sorry, I have something urgent to deal with. Let me drive you home first?"

Erin Bishop withdrew her gaze, gave him a look, then smiled and said, "You go ahead, I’ll sit for a while longer."

Quincy Linden hesitated but still stood up and said, "I’ll go settle the bill then. If I finish early enough, I’ll come back for you. Since you’ve been drinking, don’t drive. If I can’t make it, get a driver, okay?"

Erin Bishop nodded, watching Quincy Linden leave.

When she was alone, she felt even lonelier. She poured herself another drink, and as the glass reached her lips, the bustling scene outside suddenly blurred. Official source is novęlfire.net

She tilted her head back, drank a full mouthful of wine, swallowed the bitterness, covered her face, and broke down sobbing.

She sat alone for a long time, the wine bottle was empty, Quincy Linden did not return, nor did he call or text.

She also didn’t call to inquire, just stood up, took her bag, and left the restaurant alone.

Standing on the lively street in the night, feeling the night breeze, she seemed much clearer in mind.

She didn’t drive home, instead, she walked alone on the bustling street, aimlessly, as if she was in the middle of the ocean, unable to see an island to rest.

When she was tired, she sat on a bench by the street, watching the traffic. She saw someone familiar at the entrance of the western restaurant across the street.

The man who was having dinner with her hours ago and left claiming he had something urgent.

Erin Bishop squinted slightly, looked more carefully, but the distance was too far, so she got up and walked across the road. She saw Quincy Linden’s car parked by the curb, and through the window, she looked inside the restaurant.

A table for two had two opposite seats, but the two were squeezed onto one sofa.

It was with a deep-featured foreign woman. Even if foreigners are enthusiastic, they wouldn’t be so intimate, right?

Quincy Linden was holding the woman, who was almost glued to him, and he fed her spoon by spoon while they unabashedly kissed, which made Erin Bishop silently turn away and leave.

She laughed self-deprecatingly, suddenly realizing who was truly lying to her.

The woman who was always speaking Spanish was not some female client. The first time they met, Zane Rhodes perceived something suspicious in their conversation, which is why he stepped in. And the reason Quincy Linden made a hasty retreat was not because Zane Rhodes claimed she was his girlfriend.

A gentle man is kind to everyone, his care is real but not exclusively hers.

Maybe she should feel fortunate that this was found out relatively early.

Erin Bishop returned home, and while soaking in the bathtub, Quincy Linden sent a message asking if she was home. She read it but did not reply, tossing her phone aside and closed her eyes, laying back in the tub.

Having seen all sorts of men, it seems she has seen through everything and nothing is surprising anymore.

Perhaps when Quincy Linden sent her the message, he was lying in the same bed with that woman.

Perhaps under the influence of alcohol, she slept surprisingly well that night.

When she woke up in the morning, she saw several new WeChat messages on her phone; aside from several messages from Shannon Quinn asking about her recent dating situation, the rest were from Quincy Linden.

If she hadn’t witnessed that scene last night, she might have believed that the concern in his words was genuine.

After getting dressed and putting on makeup, Erin Bishop replied to Quincy Linden’s message: Let’s have lunch together.

She then sent him a location of a restaurant.

Quincy Linden responded: I have a lunch meeting, how about the tea restaurant we went to last time in the afternoon?

Erin Bishop: Okay, 3 PM.

Quincy Linden: The work might be a bit busy these days, hope you don’t mind. Once I’m done, I’ll spend more quality time with you.

Erin Bishop sneered, does he intend to spend time with that woman before caring about her?