Chapter 79
Neville had a sudden realization.
Just then, a soft voice floated over from the side. “Ms. Cameron, what brings you here?”
Stella and Neville turned their heads. A slender figure approached them, followed by a handsome, aloof man.
“What a coincidence,” Rachel smiled. “Ms. Cameron, are you here for dinner, too?”
Stella glanced at her and then looked away indifferently. “Is there something you need?”
Rachel glanced at Neville. “Ms. Cameron, and this gentleman… what’s your connection?”
Stella’s response was indifferent. “Does it concern you?”
Rachel wasn’t offended. “It’s rare to run into Ms. Cameron here. Would you mind if we joined you for dinner?”
Stella furrowed her brows, about to decline, but Neville spoke up first.
Haynes noticed Stella’s earlier smile at Neville, and his sharp eyes clouded.
Upon seeing him then, Stella’s expression turned icy.
If she was trying to catch his attention, Haynes could tell her she had succeeded. Haynes pulled out a chair and gracefully sat beside Stella. “Mr. Connolly, are you my wife’s friend?”
The table was for four, with Stella and Neville sitting across each other. Haynes sat next to Stella, leaving Rachel to sit beside Neville.
Neville flashed a roguish smile. “Of course. But I should thank Mr. O’Brien for allowing me to meet such a remarkable friend like Star.”
Stella glanced up at Neville.
Haynes’ gaze darkened. “Mr. Connolly, so you two have only recently met?”
“Thanks to you, Mr. O’Brien. If you hadn’t repeatedly turned a blind eye to your wife’s plight, leaving even an outsider like me unable to stand by, Star and I wouldn’t have become such good friends.”
Neville’s smile was warm and inviting, but his words were sharp as a knife. Though she had someone close by, Haynes, as her husband, had stood by watching his wife suffer online harassment and bullying. Neville’s words were a direct slap to Haynes’ face.
Sensing the tension, Rachel quickly interjected. “Let’s order first. This restaurant can be slow with the food, so we might as well chat while we wait.”
Neville didn’t press further and called over a waiter.
Haynes glanced over the menu and casually ordered a few dishes. Neville raised an eyebrow. “Mr. O’Brien, is that all that for you?”
Rachel smiled apologetically. “Haynie ordered my share as well.”
Neville gave a knowing look and turned to Stella, asking softly, “Star, mango juice?”
Stella nodded. “Yeah.”
It had been a long time since she’d had mango juice.
Sitting beside her, Haynes looked at her and asked, “You like mango juice?” Before Stella could answer, Neville interrupted, surprised. “Mr. O’Brien, you’re Star’s husband, don’t tell me you didn’t even know she likes mango juice?” Stella’s fingers curled slightly as her lips pursed in silence.
She loved mangoes and mango juice. Once, she had prepared mango juice for dinner. But Haynes had found the taste of mango and its juice too strange and disliked it. Since then, she hadn’t eaten mangoes or drunk the juice again.
Beside her, Rachel softly explained. “Sorry, I’m allergic to mangoes, and Haynie hasn’t had anything mango-related for years.”