Elodie was caught completely off guard, her expression frozen in confusion for a couple of seconds before she finally processed what Watts had just said— *pursuing* her?

After all, in her mind, she and Watts hadn’t known each other long; they’d only met a handful of times. Now, out of nowhere, he’d… confessed that he liked her?

“I just wanted to say, if you ever need anything, you can always come to me. Being in a foreign country can be full of inconveniences. As for me, don’t feel pressured or let it affect any decisions you make. And please, don’t feel uncomfortable—just interact with me however you feel most at ease. Well then, Elodie, we’ll talk again soon.”

Watts spoke with an easy, measured tone, but his words were unguarded and earnest, making his feelings plain.

Before Elodie could even start agonizing over how to politely turn him down without making things awkward, Watts-sensible as ever-ended the call himself.

It seemed as if he simply wanted her to know how he felt. He wasn’t expecting anything from her, wasn’t demanding a response.

Elodie stared at her phone, a little bewildered.

Watts liked her?

Since when?

Across the table, Alexander was just as stunned. He’d been holding his glass of water for ages without taking a sip.

“So that was his angle all along! I knew there was something up with how friendly he was from the start.”

Now that he thought back, their very first meeting had felt odd.

Elodie didn’t find it hard to understand, exactly-just surprising that Watts was so openly direct. Ever since her school days, she’d never lacked admirers. She’d always known her looks attracted a lot of attention. Ivan, her ex-husband, had been so strict: no dating, no male friends, nothing even close. At university, she’d had plenty of admirers from other departments, too.

But after she faded out of campus life, got married, and later started working PR

at The Silverstein Group, even though she often interacted with all sorts of people, no one had seriously tried to pursue her anymore.

And now, out of nowhere, Watts appeared.

It was all a bit sudden.

“What do you think?” Alexander asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. “You’re divorced now, and honestly, a second chance at love with someone of this quality isn’t a bad idea. Maybe you should give it a try.” sŵnovel

From his perspective, Watts was exactly the kind of man young women would go for-clean-cut, straightforward, and with a certain underlying sharpness. He was direct in expressing himself, never one for playing games.

If he liked you, he made it clear-no beating around the bush.

And honestly, in a world where sincerity is so rare, who wouldn’t appreciate someone who isn’t afraid to show their feelings?

But Elodie didn’t seem troubled at all. She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m looking for. I’ll talk to him when I’m back home, clear things up face to face.”

Besides, between work and her health, she barely had the energy to think about romance.

Alexander grinned. “Seriously, though, Mr. Aldridge is young and

accomplished-what, only

twenty-three? He’s a rare tanet

already on the management team at Eldrion Global the moment he got back. That’s impressive. Plus, he’s easy on the eyes and in great shape.”

Elodie shot him a look. “Stop worrying about my love life and start thinking about your own for a change.”

Alexander had plenty of admirers himself, but he didn’t seem interested in anyone.

Who knew what he was waiting for?

“Ouch,” Alexander muttered with a playful wince. “Didn’t see that coming—your

words sting sometimes, you know.”

Elodie didn’t dwell on the incident. Adult relationships were

complicated-nothing like the all-or-nothing passion of teenage love. Grown-ups made choices based on a hundred considerations. When she got home, she’d have a proper conversation with Watts, just to make sure he wasn’t left waiting for something that wasn’t going to happen.

Besides, she suspected that, for someone Watts’s age, these crushes were often just passing fancies.

They finished their simple meal.

Elodie stood up, while Alexander helped gather the large bouquet of flowers

they’d just bought.

Only the single bloom left on the table-the one a little girl had given Elodie earlier -was left untouched, forgotten as they walked away.