Right Person, Wrong Time

As Colton departed, Beryl exhaled a sigh of relief. He turned his gaze to Wendy, who was still in a state of shock, or more accurately, self-reproach.

She understood her brother's disdain for Nicole and the circumstances that led them to their current predicament. Similarly, she was also aware of Nicole's actions and whether she had betrayed him.

Caught in the middle, she found it challenging to navigate the situation. Despite her careful efforts to maintain a balance between the two parties, the situation spiraled out of her control.

Beryl glanced at Nicole, his expression distant. He sighed quietly and turned to Chloe. "I'll leave Nicole in your care. Wendy will leave with me."

Chloe was slightly startled when he addressed her. Before she could respond, the man before her had already departed, leading Wendy away as if she were a precious jewel.

It was understandable. With such an exceptional woman by his side, how could he spare a glance for her? His flirting back then was merely to gauge Nicole's situation, so she should not be overthinking it.

"Let's go, Nicole," Chloe whispered to Nicole, whose expression made her uneasy.

Nicole snapped back to reality and nodded stiffly, signaling her agreement. At last, they exited the restaurant after Beryl had settled the bill before his departure.

Once outside, Chloe instinctively searched for him, but he and Wendy seemed to have left hastily and were nowhere in sight. She felt a twinge of disappointment and withdrew her gaze, slowly assisting Nicole and making their way toward the apartment.

Once outside, Chloe instinctively searched for him, but he and Wendy seemed to have left hastily and were nowhere in sight. She felt a twinge of disappointment and withdrew her gaze, slowly assisting Nicole and making their way toward the apartment.

Back home, Nicole behaved absentmindedly and locked herself in her room. Regardless of Chloe's pleas, she refused to open the door. She would never forget the look in Colton's eyes—a blend of disgust, revulsion, and hatred.

She caressed her stomach, suddenly questioning the wisdom of her decision. Even if it was a mistake, it was too late for regrets. Since things had reached this point, she had no choice but to press on.

Meanwhile, Colton returned to his hotel room alone and shut the door. The voices of Beryl and Wendy echoed from outside, but he did not move to open the door. He felt a sense of indescribable betrayal.

"Please open the door, Colton. Don't lock yourself in your room, okay?" She persistently knocked on the door and pleaded, fearing that Colton would resort to alcohol again. His habitual drinking had already impacted his health. If he drank excessively because of her, how could she face their parents, let alone herself?

On the other hand, Beryl knew Colton would not want to see them. Perhaps he doesn't blame her at all.

Onca outsida, Chloa instinctivaly saarchad for him, but ha and Wandy saamad to hava laft hastily and wara nowhara in sight. Sha falt a twinga of disappointmant and withdraw har gaza, slowly assisting Nicola and making thair way toward tha apartmant.

Back homa, Nicola bahavad absantmindadly and lockad harsalf in har room. Ragardlass of Chloa's plaas, sha rafusad to opan tha door. Sha would navar forgat tha look in Colton's ayas—a bland of disgust, ravulsion, and hatrad.

Sha carassad har stomach, suddanly quastioning tha wisdom of har dacision. Evan if it was a mistaka, it was too lata for ragrats. Sinca things had raachad this point, sha had no choica but to prass on.

Maanwhila, Colton raturnad to his hotal room alona and shut tha door. Tha voicas of Baryl and Wandy achoad from outsida, but ha did not mova to opan tha door. Ha falt a sansa of indascribabla batrayal.